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    Home » Cheesecake

    San Sebastian cheesecake

    Published: Aug 8, 2023 by Anna

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    Made with cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and a touch of vanilla, this easy San Sebastian cheesecake is a crustless cheesecake that you can easily make at home. It has a very creamy and smooth texture with a beautiful caramelized top that adds a contrast of flavors and makes it a truly irresistible dessert.

    A piece of burnt San Sebastian cheesecake on a serving plate with a silver spoon.
    Jump to:
    • Why is it called San Sebastian cheesecake
    • Difference between Basque burnt cheesecake and New York cheesecake
    • Why you should try this recipe
    • What ingredients you will need
    • What tool you will need
    • Cooking tips
    • Step by step directions
    • Serving options
    • FAQ
    • More recipes you may like
    • Recipe card

    Why is it called San Sebastian cheesecake

    The San Sebastian cheesecake, also known as Basque cheesecake, or Burnt cheesecake is named after the city of San Sebastian in the Basque Country, Spain. The cheesecake gained popularity due to its unusual appearance and flavor. The recipe intentionally bakes the cake until the top turns dark brown, almost burnt, resulting in a contrast between the creamy, custard-like center and the caramelized outer layer. 

    Difference between Basque burnt cheesecake and New York cheesecake

    They vary in textures. The Basque version skips the crust, featuring a creamy custard-like interior topped with a caramelized layer. 

    New York Cheesecake is known for its dense and creamy consistency, as well as a graham cracker crust, offering a more traditional cheesecake taste.

    Freshly baked Basque cheesecake on a round serving plate.

    Why you should try this recipe

    Gluten-free – The Spanish Basque cheesecake is made without a crust, naturally making it a gluten-free dessert.

    No water bath – Say goodbye to the fuss of a water bath. The San Sebastian cheesecake recipe doesn't require you to use the water bath technique for baking.

    What ingredients you will need

    • Cream cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese such as Original Philadelphia cream cheese to make this burnt Basque cheesecake.
    • Sugar
    • Eggs
    • Cornstarch 
    • Heavy whipping cream
    • Vanilla 
    • Lemon juice
    A piece of burnt Basque cheesecake on a serving plate. One spoon was taken.

    What tool you will need

    For this recipe, you won't need any special equipment. A mixing bowl, a metal whisk, and a springform pan will be enough to make this San Sebastian cheesecake. However, if you prefer, you can also use a hand mixer to thoroughly combine all the ingredients. And if you have a stand mixer, you can beat all the ingredients together using a paddle attachment.

    Cooking tips

    • Room temperature ingredients – To ensure a smooth and lump-free batter, make sure your cream cheese, eggs, and other dairy ingredients are at room temperature before mixing. This allows them to incorporate more easily and evenly, resulting in a creamy and consistent texture. Take the ingredients out of the refrigerator about 1-2 hours before you plan to start baking.
    • Patience for cooling – While it might be tempting to dig into the cheesecake as soon as it's out of the oven, allowing it to cool properly is key to achieving the desired taste and texture. After baking, let the cheesecake cool to room temperature on a wire rack before transferring it to the fridge. This gradual cooling process helps the flavors meld and the texture set properly. 
    A spoon with creamy cheesecake.

    Step by step directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 220C (425F) and line an 8” (20cm) springform pan with parchment paper.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on low until well combined.
    3. Add one egg at a time and beat on low until fully incorporated.
    4. Add the cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and beat again.
    5. Pour the heavy cream and beat once again to incorporate.
    6. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, tap it several times on a flat surface to remove large air bubbles, and bake for 40-50 minutes or until the cheesecake is jiggly in the center and the top is dark brown, almost burnt. 
    7. Let the cheesecake cool down to room temperature. Then place the cheesecake into the fridge to cool down further for 3-4 hours, or overnight.
    8. Remove from the pan onto a serving plate and serve.
    A collage image shows how to make San Sebastian cheesecake in six steps.

    Serving options

    • Variety of Toppings – While the classic San Sebastian cheesecake is delicious on its own, you can experiment with various toppings to suit different preferences. Consider serving a slice of burnt cheesecake with fresh berries, Raspberry coulis, Lemon curd, chocolate shavings, Chocolate ganache, or a drizzle of Salted caramel before serving.
    • Flavor Infusions – Modify the recipe by incorporating different flavors into the cheesecake batter. You could fold in lemon zest or orange zest. Mix in 2-3 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter to make peanut butter cheesecake or add a little bit of melted chocolate for a chocolate cheesecake instead.
    A spoon with creamy cheesecake.

    FAQ

    How to store San Sebastian cheesecake?

    Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Can you freeze it?

    Yes, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

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    Castella cake

    Chocolate mousse cake

    Recipe card

    A piece of burnt San Sebastian cheesecake on a serving plate with a silver spoon.

    San Sebastian cheesecake

    Made with cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and a touch of vanilla, this easy San Sebastian cheesecake is a crustless cheesecake that you can easily make at home. It has a very creamy and smooth texture with a beautiful caramelized top that adds a contrast of flavors and makes it a truly irresistible dessert.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Chilling time: 4 hours hours
    Total Time: 5 hours hours
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 375kcal
    Author: Anna

    Equipment

    • Digital kitchen scale
    • Mixing bowl
    • Hand mixer or whisk
    • an 8" (20cm) springform pan
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 600 g cream cheese
    • 130 g granulated sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • 25 g cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 250 ml heavy whipping cream

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 220C (425F) and line an 8” (20cm) springform pan with parchment paper so the bottom and the sides are completely covered.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on low until well combined.
    • Then, add one egg at a time and beat on low until fully incorporated.
    • Add the cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and beat again.
    • Pour the heavy cream and beat once again to incorporate.
    • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, tap it several times on a flat surface to remove large air bubbles, and bake for 40-50 minutes or until the cheesecake is jiggly in the center and the top is dark brown, almost burnt. The cheesecake will rise and a few cracks can appear during baking.
    • Let the cheesecake cool down to room temperature. Then place the cheesecake into the fridge to cool down further for 2-4 hours, or overnight.
    • Remove from the pan onto a serving plate and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    Freeze for up to 2 months.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    San Sebastian cheesecake
    Serving Size
     
    1 serving
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    375
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    31
    g
    48
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    18
    g
    113
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    8
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    138
    mg
    46
    %
    Sodium
     
    214
    mg
    9
    %
    Potassium
     
    124
    mg
    4
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    20
    g
    7
    %
    Fiber
     
    0.03
    g
    0
    %
    Sugar
     
    16
    g
    18
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1247
    IU
    25
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    83
    mg
    8
    %
    Iron
     
    0.3
    mg
    2
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarpursuit or tag #sugarpursuit!

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    Hey there! My name is Anna, and I am here to share with you my sweet and savory baking recipes and show you how to make beautiful cakes.

    More about me →

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