Thursday, January 10, 2013

Creamy Japanese Cheesecake with Sponge base

 
 
This cheesecake is kind of a cross between cotton soft Japanese cheesecake and American (NY style) cheesecake. Though it does not have the chiffon cake properties of the former, it is not as dense as its American counterpart. From the photos here, you can sort of tell that the cheese layer is slightly fluffy, and there is a layer of sponge cake on the base as well. This version of cheesecake is quite similar to the Hokkaido cheesecake sold at Breadtop, However, I would have preferred a lighter, smoother and fluffier texture, and less "cheesey". Maybe it's just that I overfolded the egg whites and lost all that air and fluffiness. In my next attempt (not so soon), I might use use less cream cheese, add more fresh cream and toss in some cake flour, and see how that turns out. 

 
 
Japanese Cheesecake
Adapted from Kuali.com

Ingredients

Sponge base

4 egg yolks
20g sugar
4 egg whites
80g sugar
100g plain flour
50g butter (melted)

Cheese filling:

500g cream cheese
150g icing sugar
5 egg yolks
20g corn flour
150g thickened/whipping cream
5 egg whites
30g sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
3 tbsp lemon juice

Method


Sponge base: 
 
  1. Preheat oven at 180 degrees Celcius.Whip yolks and sugar until light and fluffyFor meringue, whip whites until soft peak and add sugar, continue to whip until stiff peak.
  2. Incorporate the meringue into the yolks mixture.
  3. Sift and fold in flour and lastly stir in melted butter and mix well.
  4. Pour batter into 23cm greased mould and bake at preheated oven for 25 - 30 minutes.
  5. Invert the cake directly from the mould once it is baked.
 
Cheese filling:
  1. Line a thin layer (slice the cake to 1cm thick) of sponge base on to a 23cm (9in) springform cake pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with 2-3 layers of aluminium foil to prevent water seeping in from the water bath. Preheat oven at 160 degrees Celcius.
  2. Whisk cream cheese, icing sugar, corn flour and cream over simmering water until smooth. Remove from heat.Mix in yolks, zest and juice, mix until well incorporated and set aside.
  3. To make meringue, whisk egg whites until foamy.
  4. Add in sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks.
  5. Lightly fold one third of the meringue (egg white mixture) into the cheese mixture, gently fold in the remaining meringue until just combined.
  6. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake in a water bath in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes until firm and golden brown.
  7. Transfer to a cooling rack, allow to cool and refrigerate overnight.
  8. Glaze with warm apricot jam before serving and garnish as desired.

 
 

8 comments:

Chef and Sommelier said...

Hi Fern! I think this cross-between version of the cheese cake suits my taste perfectly! I always like the cheesy version of the NY version but find it to dense at times. This will be perfect.

Beautiful shots!

What's Baking?? said...

Oh my..this is so delicious. I could almost taste the cottony softness of the cheesecake!

Mel said...

Hi Fern
Your cheesecake looks beautiful! And so perfect too.

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Absolutely gorgeous and delicious Fern! I can eat the entire cake if I have 3 days. The strawberry topping is beautiful and nice idea to go with cheesecake. :)

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Remind me of too long did not bake a Japanese cotton cheesecake . Like to try out this version one day .

Sook said...

Oh my.. this is one of my favorites! I never thought to make it at home! Mmm

Lee said...

Fern, that is a very good idea for cheesecake. I have 2 questions.
Cheesingfilling put on the thin layer of sponge base then bake in water bath together?
Can I cut half of all ingredients to make a small cake? Thx

Fern @ To Food With Love said...

Hi Lee,
Yes bake them together, and you can cut ingredients by half.