Basque Cheesecake ~ We Love delicious Food, Recipes, and Cooking Techniques

Try not to judge Basque cheesecake by its burnt outer layer… It’s meant to be caramelized to perfection! You will be blown away by the rich and creamy inside of this unique cheesecake.

Cream cheese makes the most decadent desserts. Using cream cheese in cheesecakes is a given, but have you tried it in cookies? I also love cream cheese in fruit dip and brownies. I know that any dessert that involves cream cheese is going to be good!

A close-up photo of a slice of Basque cheesecake. A piece of cheesecake on a fork lying next to the slice of cheesecake.

What is Basque Cheesecake?

Known for its “burnt” top, the look of Basque cheesecake gets people talking. The ingredients used to make Basque cheesecake are the same ingredients to make regular cheesecake except for one. This cheesecake has the addition of flour to help prevent the protein in the egg from thickening too much. As a result, the texture of the basque cheesecake isn’t dense like normal cheesecake. Instead, the filling is much smoother and creamier.

Once you cut through that “burnt” layer, your knife will sink into silky, creamy goodness. People often ask me what it tastes like, and I always say it tastes similar to creme brûlée. Cheesecake is one of my all-time favorite desserts and I love all the different flavor combinations you can use when you make one! And if you really want to get creative, instead of making a traditional cheesecake, make individual mini cheesecakes, or even cheesecake bars. All of them are major crowd pleasers!

What Ingredients Make Basque Cheesecake?

Making this cheesecake is a MUST and you will see exactly why as soon as you take a bite of its creamy deliciousness. Plus, you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Cream Cheese: Make sure that you let your cream cheese soften to room temperature before you use it. That way, it will mix in with no lumps!
Granulated Sugar: The sweetness from granulated sugar is best for cheesecake.
Large Eggs: Room temperature eggs helps ingredients mix more evenly and helps add volume to baked goods. It’s a science!
Heavy Cream: Anything with the word cream guarantees a creamy texture!
Flour: All purpose flour works great in this recipe. This ingredient is the trick to this cheesecake.
Salt: Salt always helps balance the sweetness in baked goods.
Vanilla Extract: A good quality vanilla extract makes ALL the difference. I love a good Mexican vanilla.

How To Make Basque Cheesecake

There is no reason to not make this cheesecake. It’s one of the easiest cheesecakes you will ever make. You don’t even need to make it using a water bath. It’s so easy and is the perfect dessert to make ahead of time!

Prepare:

Prepare the pan: Preheat the oven to 400° and make sure there is a rack right in the center of the oven. Line a 9-inch springform pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper so they overlap in the middle and leave about a 2-inch overhang all around the rim of the pan. You will have to crease and pleat the parchment to get it to fit, but that will help give this cheesecake it’s signature edge. Place the prepared pan on a baking sheet and set aside.
Beat cream cheese and sugar: In a large bowl, add the cream cheese and sugar. Beat with the paddle attachment on a stand mixer or a hand mixer on medium speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mix again until smooth and no lumps of cream cheese remain.
Add eggs: Add the eggs one at a time. Incorporate each one before adding in the next one. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl again and mix for 10-15 seconds longer.
Mix: Add the flour, cream, salt, and vanilla and mix on medium-low until fully combined.

Bake and Chill:

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 60-65 minutes, until the top is a deep brown, and the center of the Basque cheesecake is still jiggly. It will puff up significantly in the center, but it will fall as it cools.
Chill: Allow to chill for about 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Let cool until room temperature on a cooling rack. Transfer to the fridge and chill uncovered for at least 4 hours before serving.
Wait: Let the cheesecake sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before peeling off the parchment before serving.

Four process shots of how to make Basque cheesecake. The first photo is the prepared pan with parchment paper inside. The second photo is cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl. The third photo is the blended ingredients in a bowl with flour and vanilla on top of the ingredients to be mixed. The fourth photo is a top view of the mixed ingredients in the prepared pan.

Basque Cheesecake vs. Regular Cheesecake

Basque cheesecake originated in the Basque region between the border of France and Spain. You’re definitely going to want to make this version of cheesecakes soon as possible!

No Crust: Unlike regular cheesecake, Basque cheesecake does NOT have a crust.
Addition of flour: Flour mixed with the eggs helps give Basque cheesecake its creamy and smooth texture. Regular cheesecake is much denser and thick.
Temperature: Regular cheesecake is baked at a low temperature you make it with a water bath. Basque cheesecake is baked fast at a high temperature without a water bath.
Burnt Top: This is the signature look of a Basque cheesecake! The top is burnt and caramelized and is SO delicious. Regular cheesecake does NOT have a burnt top, but instead has cracks on the top so that you know when it’s done.

A side view photo of the cheesecake with a large slice cut out of it. The view is of the inside of the creamy cheesecake.

Storing Leftover Cheesecake

Basque cheesecake is so rich and creamy that you might not be able to eat the whole cheesecake in one sitting! That’s okay because this cheesecake can be saved to be enjoyed later!

In the Refrigerator: Once your cheesecake has cooled to room temperature after baking the wrap it tightly with plastic or put it in an airtight container. Place it in your fridge and it will last for up to 3 days.

Side view of a slice of cheesecake being lifted away from the cheesecake.