Charred To Perfection

A toasty cousin of the New York cheesecake takes desserts to another level

- Jolene Klassen

It’s not every day that burnt desserts capture the hearts (and taste buds) of diners, especially when it comes to cheesecake. Typically loved for their soft texture, rich cheese flavour and biscuit crust, cheesecakes continue to be a staple on dessert menus at cafes and restaurants everywhere.

But challenging cheesecake convention in almost every way is the Basque burnt cheesecake—a toasty cousin of the New York favourite. Hailing from Spain, the cheesecake is an unusual combination of charred and cracked edges that conceal melty indulgent interiors.

“[It] is essentially a twist on the normal cheesecake and is baked at high heat. It wants to be slightly burnt with cracked sides and a soft, melty and jiggly centre,” Syaira from FluffBakery quips.