Basque Cheesecake

Prep time: 1 hour (incl 30 mins chilling time) Cook time: 1 hour 45 mins Total time: 2 hours 45 mins

Ingredients

The Crust

3 cup digestive crumbs

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

The Cheese Filling

450g full fat cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/4 cup sour cream, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

3 tbsp all purpose flour

1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs, room temperature

1 banana, sliced in round shapes (optional)

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons

7 inch springform round cake pan

1 large bowl

1 medium bowl

Standing or handheld electric mixer

Food processor

2 Spatulas

How To

The Crust

Place digestive biscuits into a food processor or plastic bag and beat down and blend until you have a fine texture. Place in a medium bowl together with the butter and mix well. 

Place into a 7 inch (18 cm) springform pan and using your fingers, start pressing the mixture against the pan's wall all the way up to the brim. Then do the base by pressing the mixture to the bottom of the pan. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

The Cheese Filling

Add cream cheese into a large bowl and using a handheld whisk at low speed. Whisk it just until creamy.

Now add in sour cream, sugar, vanilla extract, flour and lemon juice. Beat until everything is well combined and set aside.

Crack the eggs into another bowl and lightly whisk them. Now pour into the cheese mixture and fold everything together. Pour mixture into our prepared pan.

Bake in a preheated oven at 285ºF/140ºC for 1 hour 45 minutes or until you see the top is golden brown and the surrounding of the cheesecake has set but the center still wiggles a bit when you gently shake the pan.

Remove from the oven and leave it cool completely. Then chill in the fridge for min 8 hours.

How To Remove The Cheesecake From The Pan

This is how I do it with all my cheesecakes. Take out the cheesecake from the fridge. Remove the springform. Insert a small knife underneath the cheesecake crust and gently move it all around to help loosen the cheesecake from the pan. Using the same knife, lift the cheesecake a bit and insert a flat spatula underneath. Do the same in the opposite direction.

Holding both spatulas, swiftly and confidently transfer the cheesecake to a serving plate. Top with chopped bananas (optional).