Burnt Basque Cheesecake with Caramelized Top & Vanilla
Basque Cheesecake
Velvety, crustless cheesecake with a deeply caramelized top—rich, creamy, and effortlessly impressive.
This Burnt Basque Cheesecake is the kind of dessert that wins people over with its dramatic, deeply caramelized top and lusciously creamy center. It’s crustless, surprisingly simple to make, and relies on a hot oven and minimal ingredients—cream cheese, heavy cream, eggs, and sugar—to create a custardy interior framed by a beautifully singed exterior.
I love serving it chilled so the interior firms just enough to slice while still staying silky. It’s forgiving to prepare, wildly impressive on a dessert table, and perfect for a dinner party or a weekend treat—slice straight from the fridge or let it come to room temperature for an even softer mouthfeel.
Nutrition (per serving)
Directions
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1
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Generously butter a 9-inch springform pan or round cake pan and line it with a tall collar of parchment paper, leaving at least 2 inches above the rim.
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2
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the granulated sugar until completely smooth and lump-free, about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed.
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3
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed and scraping the bowl after each addition so the batter stays silky. Do not overbeat.
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4
Sift in the all-purpose flour and add the salt and vanilla; mix just until incorporated.
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5
Slowly stream in the heavy cream and fold with a spatula or mix on low speed until the batter is uniform and pourable. The batter should be smooth and slightly loose.
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6
Pour the batter into the prepared pan through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any remaining lumps, smoothing the top with a spatula.
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7
Bake at 450°F for 45–55 minutes, rotating once if your oven bakes unevenly. The top should be deeply caramelized and dark brown; the center will still wobble slightly when you gently shake the pan.
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8
Remove from the oven and let the cake cool to room temperature in the pan. The center will firm up as it cools. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best texture.
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9
To serve, run a thin knife around the parchment, release the pan, and peel the parchment away from the cake sides. Slice with a hot, clean knife for neat pieces. Serve chilled or slightly warmed to preference.
Ingredients
- Full-fat cream cheese (softened):24 oz
- Granulated sugar:1 cup
- Large eggs:4 pieces
- Heavy cream:1 1/2 cup
- All-purpose flour:2 tbsp
- Pure vanilla extract:2 tsp
- Fine sea salt:1/2 tsp
- Unsalted butter (for pan):1 tbsp
Tips & Notes
- Use room-temperature cream cheese and eggs so the batter becomes silky without overmixing.
- The tall parchment collar is key — it protects the sides while allowing the top to caramelize deeply.
- Don’t worry if the top looks very dark; that char is the signature flavor. Focus on the wobble in the center, not the exact time.
- Chill the cake at least 4 hours (overnight is ideal) to get clean slices and the best texture.
