The burnt basque cheesecake originating from San Sebastion in Spain is now a worldwide dessert. This is the mini version, a smooth and creamy cheesecake with a slightly charred and bitter top. Perfect for 2-4 people or just yourself!
Background
I know that basque cheesecakes blew up last year and I’m a little late to the trend, but I still wanted to make a contribution to the 1000s of cheesecake recipes that have been uploaded. That being said, out of the 1000s of cheesecake recipes there wasn’t a mini cheesecake recipe, so here it is! The size of these makes them so cute, but the unique texture of the basque cheesecake with a firmer edge and softer centre isn’t lost.
I find it so fascinating how a cheesecake without a base, toppings or sides can create a dessert that is so deep in terms of flavour and texture. To be honest I was a little hesitant when first recreating the cake. I was like “uh… no crust? but that’s what makes a cheesecake…”. Whoops I was wrong. The slightly charred top gives the cake a little smokiness that pairs so well with the creaminess of the cheese. And the textures of the soft creamy centre with the firmer outside…. why do other cheesecakes even exist. I honestly think I have found my ultimate cake.
Because there are no fancy twists it makes this cheesecake so easy its not even funny. Literally slap all the ingredients in a bowl and pop it in the oven. The hardest part is probably waiting overnight for it to set before you can eat it!
Perfecting the flavour
Vanilla
Flavour wise there is one thing I found that made a huge difference to its overall taste. Vanilla. For the first few tries I used some lemon zest. Nope. Took away from the cheesy creamy taste. Then my regular supermarket vanilla extract. It was okay. Way better than the lemon for sure, but it could be better.
When making this cheesecake vanilla is definitely needed as it takes away some of the eggy taste and enhances the cheeeese, but using vanilla bean paste is what I found made the biggest difference.
To be honest I never really thought about the kind of vanilla in my desserts. I just used whatever I had on hand and that tended to be some artificial vanilla flavouring… that was until I was on Zumbo’s Just Desserts. It was then I used my first ever vanilla bean… I was never the same…. Let’s just say I am now officially a vanilla snob.
The Cheese
I didn't think too much of the type of cream cheese when testing this recipe. Because I bake so much I reach for the more budget friendly options 😅, which tend to be homebrand... But while I was testing this recipe those cream cheeses didn't have that "cheesiness" that I was looking for.
After some research I found that in San Sebastian they use Philadelphia cream cheese. Not some fancy cheese from their region, but something we all have easy access to in the supermarkets too! Trust me, using the right cheese was a game changer and you'll love this cake even more.
Tips on Perfecting the Cake
As this is such a simple recipe it relies heavily on two things: the ingredients and the texture. The ingredients we addressed above, but when it comes to texture you need to have that slightly softer and creamy centre whilst also have a charred top.
- Using room temperature ingredients
- The texture of the cheesecake relies on the bake time, so having room temperature ingredients ensures that we have optimal control over the baking
- If your ingredients are cold it will take longer for the inside of the cheesecake to cook and could result in an overbaked exterior
- The jiggle!
- When testing the doneness of the cheesecake the jiggle is a good gage
- It should be slightly firm with a good wobble (check the video out to see what that perfect jiggle is!)
- Placing the cheesecake in the fridge to cool completely
- This step is important as it stops the cooking process. While the cake is cooling it is still warm, so it will continue to cook the centre of the cake. If we let it sit at room temperature after baking we won't have the soft and creamy interior we are looking for!
Let's get Baking!
I hope you like this recipe! I’ve posted a video up on my YouTube channel to help you through the steps and give you a good visual representation of that cheesecake jiggle, hope it helps~ As always, tag me on instagram @catherine.justdessertsau and hashtag #cattycakes so I can find and share your creations. Happy caking!
PrintMini Basque Cheesecake
The burnt basque cheesecake originating from San Sebastion in Spain is now a worldwide dessert. This is the mini version, a smooth and creamy cheesecake with a slightly charred and bitter top. Perfect for 2-4 people or just yourself!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 x 4 inch cake 1x
- Category: Cake
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients
- 150 g Cream cheese (⅔ cup)
- 50 g Sugar (¼ cup)
- 60 g Thickened/Heavy cream (¼ cup)
- 1 Egg, room temperature
- 3 g Cornstarch/Cornflour (1 tsp)
- ¼ tsp Vanilla paste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°C/ 480°F
- Line a 4-inch cake tin with baking paper*
- Beat the cream cheese with a rubber spatula/ wooden spoon until smooth
- Add the sugar, cornstarch and vanilla bean paste
- Beat until no clumps remain
- Add the egg and mix until completely smooth
- Stir in the cream and then pour into the lined cake tin
- Bake for 15-17 minutes
- Remove and cool for 15 minutes, then place in fridge to cool completely
Keywords: cheese, cream cheese, cheesecake, basque, burnt
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Awesome! Also ever thought about your Yuzu Ice Cream Recipe from Zumbo's Just Desserts?
(I love ice cream!)
Shared an espresso brownie ice-cream recently, might have to have a look at different flavours! 🙂
what to do if i don’t have cornstarch?
You can use potato starch or plain flour instead 🙂
If I want to make 12 cupcakes cheesecake, how do I measure the recipe ?
Would earl grey tea seeped into a warn heavy cream work?
How long should the cooking time be if i would make an 8-inch cake?
I would times the recipe by 3 and bake for 45-50 minutes!
Hi Catherine. What about the recipe for 6 inch ? Do I times 2 and bake for 30 mins ?
For a 6 inch cake I would double the recipe and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centre has a slight jiggle!
Hello!
Do you have any recommendations on cooking time if I wanted to make these smaller/cupcake size for individual servings?
Hi Lisa, I'd bake them for 15 mins 🙂
I am your fan !! Nr°1 !!
Can i use vainilla essence if i dont have vainilla paste? How much tsp world i have to use ?
Yep! about 1/2 tsp should be good 🙂
I don’t have vanilla bean extract available here and it’s so hard to find here in HK! 🙊
I used vanilla extract and the taste was amazing still! Been baking this for my husband over and over. Thank you for sharing this recipe! 🙏
-Kitty Wong
Hi Kitty,
So glad it worked out well and you enjoyed it! 🙂
will it taste different as i plan to use regular whipping cream (not thickened)
How tall is your cake tin? What kind of cake tin is it?
3-inches tall and 4-inches wide, an aluminium tin 🙂
Thank you. Is it a cheesecake pan or a regular cake pan?
I use a regular cake tin, but a cheesecake pan works too!
Hi,
Do I need to remove the pan when I leave it to cool ourside for 15 minutes and in the fridge?
Thanks
Hi Wendy, Leave it in the pan as it will be too soft to move safely!
I love this! So yummmmmy!
★★★★★
Yay! So glad 🙂
Hi,
Do you place this cheesecake in the fridge right after baking? should you wait until it cools off a little before doing so? thanks!
★★★★★
Hi Jay, Cool it for 15 minutes before placing it in your fridge to cool!
Absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
No problem!
I didn’t have vanilla paste and used the 1/2 tspn I saw you comment. Turned out soooo perfect thank you so much for your recipe!!
★★★★★
Yay! So glad they turned out well 🥳
Great results.
I now replace the creme cheese with a good drained ricotta!
Sounds yum!!
Hi, I don’t have a 4inch cake tin. Will a ramekin or muffin pan work? Thank you.
Hi Lyn, Yes both will work. Just reduce the bake time to about 10 minutes 🙂
Hi Catherine, my cake surface shrinks and looks wrinkly after refrigerated… but yours is so smooth! Mine only looks smooth right out of the oven… how can I achieve the smoothness? I tried it twice and still the same 😫
★★★★★
Hi Hel! The trick is using room temperature ingredients and not over mixing the batter. Mix until everything is just combined!
Hi
I couldn't find a 4 inch pan that is as tall as yours in the video. Should I split the batter into pans then? Does that shorten the baking time?
Thanks
Hi Mamie, if you don't have a tall 4-inch pan I'd recommend baking in cupcake tins for 15 mins. If you split the batter in half the cake would turn out quite thin and lose that creamy texture. Hope that helps!
So good! Will definitely make again.
I used 2x the recipe for a 6" cake, baked for 35mins.
★★★★★
So glad you liked it 🙂