Recipe: A Tropical Twist On The Classic Spanish Dessert
50 mins
Cooking Time
Easy
Difficulty
9
Ingredients
Veg
Diet
Creamy, velvety, topped with the perfect crust, and a refreshing, tropical flavour – that’s what you can get when you follow this mango cheesecake recipe. Made from mango pulp (you can use fresh pulp, but canned works just as well), softened cream cheese, eggs, and sugar, this is one dessert that truly celebrates the king of summer fruits, mango.
The main difference between this mango cheesecake recipe and general cheesecakes is the use of the oven because it’s a basque cheesecake. The high-heat baking lends the basque cheesecake its signature browning, courtesy of a burnt, caramelised top. It noticeably sets it apart from a regular cheesecake that is made in a water bath and has a dense and creamy texture with a graham cracker crust.
Basque cheesecake is a crustless dessert, with a light, custard or soufflé-like, molten centre. Mango pulp is smooth, aromatic, and naturally velvety. The two come together like peas in a pod, with the mango adding a refreshing sweetness to the dessert. It also deepens the colour of the cheesecake, giving the silky smooth centre a pale, golden-yellow hue. This offers a striking contrast to the dark burnt top, making it a visually appealing dessert.
Preheat the oven to 220–230°C and line an 8 or 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, leaving 2–3 inches overhanging. Press the paper against the bottom and sides — it’s okay if the paper overlaps and creases in places, but fit it to the pan as much as possible.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Make the batter
Add all the ingredients to a large food processor and blend for 30 seconds or 1 minute till smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then blend again for 10 seconds to ensure everything is incorporated.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Bake the cheesecake
Pour the batter into the lined pan. Lightly tap the pan to pop the surface bubbles. Now, bake in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. The high-heat baking gives the cheesecake its signature brown (and burnt) top. The cheesecake should be deeply browned on top but still wobbly in the centre.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Cool, slice, and serve
Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. Once it’s chilled, gently remove from the tin. Slice with a dry knife and serve it chilled, with whipped cream, sliced mangoes, or as is.
Both are mango cheesecake recipes, but basque cheesecake is crustless, baked at high heat, and has a burnt top with a creamy centre, unlike regular cheesecake, which is baked low and slow.
Basque cheesecake is named after the Basque region in Spain, where it originated, specifically at La Viña restaurant in San Sebastián.
Cheesecake is considered an indulgent dessert due to its high sugar and fat content, though it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
A slight wobble in the centre is normal for Basque cheesecake. It continues to set as it cools and chills, resulting in a creamy texture.