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    Home » Recipes » Cheesecake Recipes

    Burnt Basque Cheesecake Recipe

    Published: Jan 4, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

    71 shares
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    • Yummly
    5 from 29 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for burnt basque cheesecake

    I first tasted Burnt Basque Cheesecake on a trip through Spain, and one bite of this creamy, rich cheesecake with its caramelized crust, and I was hooked! Made with five simple ingredients, this is the Best Basque Cheesecake Recipe.

    slice of basque cheesecake being taken out of the whole cheesecake

    I wasn’t in the Basque Region of Spain but stumbled upon an authentic Basque restaurant while visiting Madrid. After dinner and a tour of his kitchen, the proprietor of the restaurant was kind enough to share his mother’s recipe for Basque-Style Cheesecake with me.

    The cheesecake originates from La Viña, a cafe in the resort town of San Sebastian in the Basque region of Spain. The original recipe for this crustless cheesecake was developed by Chef Santiago Rivera in his quest to make a new cake every day in 1990.

    whole basque cheesecake with parchment paper

    I had forgotten about that recipe when a friend asked me if I had ever tried a Burnt Basque Cheesecake, and all those delicious memories came back. Of course, I had to make one of these burnt cheesecakes, and it was even better than I remembered.

    Slice of basque cheesecake on a white plate

    The creamy texture of this light and flavorful Basque Burnt Cheesecake recipe is quite different from the dense traditional cheesecake we all know and love. But if you love cheesecake, you must try this recipe!

    You might also want to try my recipe for traditional New York-Style Cheesecake.

    Ingredients to make Basque Cheesecake

    ingredients to make recipe

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Basque Cheesecake. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Simple Pantry Ingredients

    • Philadelphia cream cheese
    • eggs
    • heavy cream
    • sugar
    • flour

    The original recipe doesn’t call for vanilla, lemon zest or orange zest, but feel free to adjust the recipe to your tastes.

    How to make Basque Cheesecake

    collage showing how to make recipe
    • Add all the ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large bowl with an electric mixer).
    • Using the paddle attachment, mix the ingredients on medium speed until smooth and creamy, scaping the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Line a 10-inch springform pan with sheets of parchment paper so that the paper extends past the edges of the pan, overlaping the sheets for full coverage.
    • Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared pan.
    • Place the springform pan on a baking sheet, into the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake the basque cheesecake for 40-50 minutes (baking time may vary)
    • When the top of the cheesecake turns dark brown and almost looks burnt, turn the oven off. Remove the pan from the oven and let the cheesecake cool on a wire rack. *The center of the baked cheesecake won’t be completely set and will have a fair amount of jiggle to it (think of jello). *You’re going to get an impressive rise, but the cheesecake will settle and fall after its been taken out of the oven.

    *Water bath is not necessary for this cheesecake.

    basque cheesecake removed from springform pan with parchment around cake

    Let the cheesecake completely cool before removing from the springform pan. Allow it to finish cooling for about an hour. Then place the cheesecake into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (overnight is best) to completley chill and set up.

    Do not remove the Basque Cheesecake from the parchment paper until it’s been fully cooled and you are ready to cut and serve the cheesecake.

    slice of basque cheesecake on a white plate with the rest of the cake behind it

    You’re going to love this Burnt Basque Cheesecake, a perfectly caramelized crust with a rich, creamy interior that makes every bite a culinary event.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    How do I know when the Basque Cheesecake is done?

    Insert a digital thermometer one inch into the cheesecake, one inch from the edge of the pan. For a perfectly cooked cheesecake the internal temperature should read  185°F. 

    Why isn’t my Basque Cheesecake burnt?

    Make sure the oven has been fully preheated before baking tghe cheesecake.
    Basque cheesecake is cooked quickly in a very hot oven. This helps give a beautiful deep brown color to the top of the cheesecake.

    Should I use a water bath to bake the cheesecake?

    Absolutely not. Using a water bath will keep the cheesecake from getting that beautiful bronze burnt top that makes it unique.

    More Cheesecake Recipes You’ll Love!

    • Chicago Style Cheesecake Recipe
    • Italian Ricotta Cheesecake with Berries
    • Lemon Cheesecake with a White Chocolate Ganache
    • Torta di Ricotta Recipe {Italian Cheesecake}

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    slice of basque cheesecake being taken out of the whole cheesecake
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 29 votes

    Basque Cheesecake

    Made with five ingredients my Burnt Basque Cheesecake has a perfectly caramelized crust with a rich, creamy interior that makes every bite a culinary event.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time50 mins
    Total Time1 hr
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Basque, Spanish
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 399kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Equipment

    • 10 inch Springform pan

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs cream cheese four 8 ounce blocks (not whipped)- room temperature
    • 6 large eggs room temperature
    • ¾ cups granulated sugar
    • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
    • 6 oz heavy cream
    US Customary – Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 410°F
    • Place all the ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large bowl with an electric mixer).
    • Using the paddle attachment, mix the ingredients on medium speed until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • Line a 10-inch springform pan with sheets of parchment paper so that the paper extends past the edges of the pan, overlaping the sheets for full coverage.
    • Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared pan.
    • Place the springform pan (on a baking sheet) into the preheated oven on the center rack.
    • Bake the basque cheesecake for 40-50 minutes (baking time may vary) 
      *Water bath is not necessary for this cheesecake.
    • When the top of the cheesecake turns dark brown and almost looks burnt, turn the oven off.
      Remove the pan from the oven and let the cheesecake cool on a wire rack. 
      *The center of the baked cheesecake won’t be completely set and will have a fair amount of jiggle to it (think of jello).
      *You’re going to get an impressive rise, but the cheesecake will settle and fall after its been taken out of the oven.
    • Let the cheesecake completely cool before removing from the springform pan. Allow it to finish cooling for about an hour. Then place the cheesecake into the refrigerator for at least 4 hours (overnight is best) to completely chill and set up.
      Do not remove the Basque Cheesecake from the parchment paper until it’s been fully cooled and you are ready to cut and serve the cheesecake.

    Notes

    How do I know when the cheesecake is done?
    Insert a digital thermometer one inch into the cheesecake, one inch from the edge of the pan. For a perfectly cooked cheesecake the internal temperature should read  185°F. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1359IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

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    My name is Dennis Littley or "Chef Dennis" as I'm known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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