Basque cheesecake

Basque cheesecake

Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Spain
Region or state	Basque Country
Created by	Santiago Rivera
Invented	1988
Main ingredients	Cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cream, flour

Basque cheesecake, also known as cheesecake San Sebastian or burnt Basque cheesecake (Spanish: tarta de queso vasca), is a crustless cheesecake originating from the Basque region of Spain. It is characterized by its caramelized, nearly burnt exterior and creamy, custard-like interior, achieved by baking at high temperatures.

History

Basque cheesecake was created in 1988 by Santiago Rivera at his pintxo bar La Viña in San Sebastián, a coastal city in the Basque Country, Spain.[1][2][3] It achieved popularity online in the 2010s, helped by a recipe published by the British food writer Nigella Lawson.[3] In 2021, Basque cheesecake was widely shared on Instagram and became "ubiquitous" in the UK.[2] That year, The New York Times listed it as a "flavor of the year".[4]

Preparation

Basque cheesecake has a caramelized, nearly burnt exterior and creamy, custard-like interior, achieved by baking at high temperatures.[2][3][5] The flavor is subtly sweet with notes of caramel and hints of bitterness from the browned top.[6] Chefs have added ingredients such as vanilla, citrus zest, or liquorice sauce.[2][3]

See also

• Cheesecake
• San Sebastián
• Basque cuisine
• Desserts

References

1. Buckley, Marti (4 October 2023). "The true story behind the burnt Basque cheesecake". CN Traveller. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
2. Turnbull, Tony (17 November 2023). "Basque cheesecake: the pudding that broke the internet". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
3. Cloake, Felicity (1 December 2021). "How to make the perfect Basque cheesecake – recipe". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
4. Severson, Kim (22 December 2020). "How Will We Eat in 2021? 11 Predictions to Chew On". The New York Times.
5. Buckley, Marti (24 January 2025). "The story behind Basque burnt cheesecake". Travel.
6. Cloake, Felicity (1 December 2021). "How to make the perfect Basque cheesecake – recipe". The Guardian.

External links

• La Viña Official Website