Easy Basque Burnt Cheesecake

This easy Basque Burnt Cheesecake has an unbelievable texture and taste and a beautifully rustic appearance. It is the perfect choice if you feel intimidated by making traditional cheesecakes; it is the easiest cheesecake of all!

This recipe was first shared on the blog back in 2021. Since then, I've updated it with new photos, added helpful baking tips based on your questions, and included several flavor and ingredient substitution options.

Best Basque Burnt cheesecake recipe

This has to be the easiest type of cheesecake. There are no fancy ingredients or pieces of equipment, and don't worry about any advanced baking techniques or the hassle of using a water bath. The mixing and baking processes for this recipe are very simple, even if you are a beginner in the kitchen.

You only have to mix 5 simple ingredients together and then bake. The entire process is done in one bowl!

Normally, we want a neat side, a neat top, no burning, and a perfect appearance. But the Basque cheesecake recipe is meant to look rustic and is all the more attractive and tasty!

It takes only a few minutes to make the Basque cheesecake batter

Preheat the oven to 220C / 430F (no fan) and loosely line an 8-inch / 20 cm spring form pan with 2 square pieces of parchment paper. The papers must stick out around 2 inches / 5 cm above the edges to hold the cheesecake in as it rises.

Put the room-temperature cream cheese into a bowl and slowly add the sugar and flour while mixing on low with an electric hand mixer. Alternatively, place the ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, but do not whip the ingredients.

Slowly add the room-temperature eggs to the mixture, one by one. Keep the mixer set to low speed, as we do not want to whip the ingredients.

Finally, slowly pour in the heavy cream (this also needs to be at room temperature).

Pour the cheesecake batter into the prepared springform pan.

Bake, and don't be afraid to burn it

Bake the cheesecake for about 40 minutes 220C / 430F (no fan), checking after 30 minutes of baking time. It is ready when the top part is puffed up, the edge looks baked, and the middle is jiggly but not raw.

Cover it with aluminum foil if it browns too fast; however, it should be very caramelized on the top, so don't be afraid of it if this is your first time.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan. Then, cover it with plastic food wrap (still in the pan) and transfer it to the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Carefully remove the baked Basque cheesecake from the springform pan and serve.

I don't expect there to be any leftovers, but if there is, here's what you can do with it

After baking, the cheesecake should be covered and stored in the fridge until it sets. Store any leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days in an airtight container. It is important to keep it well covered, or it can absorb other smells and flavors from the fridge.

I do not recommend freezing this cheesecake. The creaminess of the cheesecake might be spoiled by the process of freezing, so it is best enjoyed fresh.

Have the cheesecake on its own first... then maybe try some of these flavor variations

Basque cheesecake is one of my favorite types of cheesecake. I regularly enjoy it on its own, and that is how you should try it the first time.

You can possibly serve it with a dessert wine or my creme anglaise sauce. Fresh raspberries or strawberries scattered on top always add a pop of color and taste!

You can, of course, adapt the recipe to suit you by adding other flavorings like vanilla, matcha, lemon or orange zest, or even some chocolate chips. If you decide to add vanilla, avoid artificial flavorings. I recommend making your own vanilla extract.

Do not substitute the ingredients

Normally, if you are baking around a dietary restriction or have run out of ingredients (which happens to us all!), I recommend checking out my substitution guides.

But this Basque burnt cheesecake recipe is very simple and only has 5 ingredients, all of which are essential to its taste and texture. So, I really do not recommend swapping out ingredients for this recipe.

Read my baking guides for more information on ingredients and the crucial roles they play in baking.

Katalin´s Expert Tips To Make Basque Cheesecake

1. Take the cream cheese, eggs, and cream out of the fridge before you make this recipe so that they are all at room temperature. This allows for proper emulsification, and you'll get better results.
2. I always use full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese, but you can use any high-quality substitute. Avoid using low-fat cream cheese in this recipe. Similarly, use high-quality, high-fat heavy cream with between 36% and 40% fat.
3. I use less sugar than most other Basque burnt cheesecake recipes so that it is not overly sweet. Avoid reducing it further, as this will impact how the burnt cheesecake will caramelize in the oven.
4. The small quantity of flour is not a typo! It is just there to add some structure. I used to add the flour at the end (like most other burnt cheesecake recipes) but found upon further testing that the batter was too liquid at that stage to incorporate the flour smoothly.
5. Don't smooth the parchment papers while lining the springform pan, as a slightly wrinkled appearance looks even more charming and rustic!
6. Cover the cheesecake with aluminum foil if it caramelizes too fast in the oven. But remember that it is a 'burnt' cheesecake, so be brave and don't cover too soon.
7. Slightly underbaked (but not raw) cheesecake will have the best final texture as it then sets completely in the fridge.
8. The cheesecake's center should still be slightly jiggly when you take it out of the oven. Aim for slightly underbaked (but not raw) cheesecake for best results. Your cheesecake might taste eggy if overbaked.
9. Do not remove the cheesecake from the cake pan while it is still warm, or it might collapse. I recommend chilling the cheesecake for at least 4 hours first before releasing it and serving your baked Basque cheesecake.

What equipment to use

Always weigh your ingredients by the gram using a digital scale for precision rather than measuring by volume. Baking is a science and requires precision.

Combine ingredients using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, and then fold in the flour using a rubber spatula.

This is an 8-inch Basque cheesecake recipe that serves 6 people, and I use an 8-inch / 20 cm Spring form pan. Line the bottom and side of the pan with 2 square pieces of parchment paper (baking paper), so it will be easier to remove the cheese cake from the prepared pan once baked. The parchment paper also gives a lovely wrinkled effect to the outside of the cheesecake.

All ovens vary, so ensure you're baking at the right temperature by using a digital oven thermometer. This burnt cheesecake recipe needs a very hot oven to get that signature 'burnt' top (that is actually caramelized, not burnt).

Basque Burnt Cheesecake Origin

Burnt cheesecake originates in Northern Spain's Basque region and is sometimes called San Sebastian cheesecake. Basque cheesecake is a crustless, rustic-looking cheesecake with an ultra-creamy texture that is baked at a very high temperature to achieve the iconic caramelized crust.

It should be slightly underbaked (but not raw) and will set as it cools. It is said that a restaurant called La Viña Bar in San Sebastián makes the very best burnt cheesecake recipe - and it's (unsurprisingly) a popular destination for foodies!

Try some of my other cheesecake recipes

• Jiggy Japanese Cheesecake
• Baklava cheesecake
• No bake raspberry cheesecake
• Biscoff cheesecake
• Pistachio cheesecake

Why not also try some of my other European desserts?

Have you tried this recipe?

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