San Sebastian Cheesecake: A Step-by-Step Recipe

San Sebastian – a classic cheesecake with a rich, creamy flavor, exquisite caramel notes, and a delicate, creamy texture. Today, we'll tell you how to make this delicious dessert at home, and we'll also offer a classic step-by-step recipe with detailed descriptions of each preparation step and photos.

San Sebastian Cheesecake: A Classic Step-by-Step Recipe

Nutritional value per serving

289 kcal

Proteins: 6.0 g
Fats: 23.0 g
Carbohydrates: 14.6 g

*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients

Total time: 3 hours 40 minutes
Time in the kitchen: 40 min
Complexity:

It's easy and straightforward to prepare, but it does require some experience. Not everyone can do it right the first time.
Number of servings: 8

It is believed that classic cheese pieThe word "cheesecake" originated in the United States. But the history of the San Sebastian cheesecake is somewhat different. The dessert was created relatively recently in Spain (in the region known as the Basque Country), which is why it is sometimes called "Basque cheesecake."

This Basque recipe was created by Santiago Rivera, chef of the restaurant La Vina in San Sebastián. He named the dish after his beloved city.

San Sebastian cheesecake is one of the many variations of the classic sweet cheesecake recipe, the distinctive feature of which is:

using the most delicate cream cheese (mascarpone, Philadelphia, etc.);
no dough or cookie base;
high temperature baking;
caramelized crispy cheese crust;
delicate creamy texture inside;
a bright flavor obtained by adding salt.

The recipe for the Spanish San Sebastian cheesecake was first discovered in Turkey (today, you can find this cheesecake in almost any Turkish restaurant). In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the price of this dessert ranges from 1,650 to 1,980 rubles per kilogram. Although Sebastian cheesecake is easy to find, many home cooks prefer to make this treat at home. There are several reasons for this:

Following the step-by-step recipe, it’s very easy to make a delicious cheesecake.
By choosing the right ingredients, you can vary the energy value and calorie content of the dessert (important for those following a healthy diet due to the number of kcal consumed).
Homemade San Sebastian does not contain any unwanted additives in its recipe, so it will be as beneficial as possible for children.

Spanish Burnt San Sebastian Cheesecake – A Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos

Basque Cheesecake at Home – A Simple Step-by-Step Recipe

Ingredients

Servings

Creamy cottage cheese

540 G
Sugar

120 G
Egg C1

4 pcs
Cream 33%

340 G
Cornstarch

25 G
Lemon juice

1 tbsp
Vanilla sugar

8 G
Salt

1 pinch

Preparation

Step 1

Place 540 grams of softened cream cheese in a suitable container. Add 120 grams of sugar and 10 grams of vanilla sugar. Mix thoroughly until a soft, smooth mixture forms.

Step 2

Add 4 eggs to the mixture (use both the white and the yolk) and mix thoroughly again with a spoon, spatula or hand whisk.

It is not advisable to use a mixer to whip the cheese cream, as it will introduce air bubbles into the mixture, and we need to obtain a dense, homogeneous mass.

Step 3

Add 25 grams of corn starch to the cheese mixture.

If you don’t have starch, you can add the appropriate amount of flour, but the dough will be more tender with starch.

Step 4

Add 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix well. The juice will give our baked goods a special citrusy flavor.

Step 5

Add 340 grams of heavy cream and mix thoroughly until smooth. The consistency will be about the same as custard or condensed milk.

Step 6

Line a 20 cm diameter pan with parchment paper, making sure the sides are completely covered all the way to the top. It's recommended to crumple the parchment paper well first to make it easier to lay.

The pan should be small in diameter but tall enough. The taller the pastry, the more tender the center will be.

Step 7

Pour the cheese dough into the mold.

Step 8

We bake the San Sebastian dessert for 20-25 minutes at temperature 240℃ – this is what makes the Spanish recipe so special.

Step 9

In 20 minutes, the pie will expand and develop a beautiful golden brown crust, as shown in the photo. The cheese mixture may rise above the edges of the pan during baking, but the pie will shrink slightly as it cools; this is normal.

Don't worry if the crust turns out too browned. Our pie is also known as "burnt cheesecake," because the crust needs to be as browned as possible to caramelize the top layer.

Step 10

Don't rush to remove the cheesecake from the pan. Remove the finished cake from the oven and let it cool and settle in the pan at room temperature. Then, refrigerate for 3-4 hours to fully set (you can leave it in the refrigerator overnight).

Step 11

Once the baked goods have cooled and set, remove them from the pan, place them on a plate, and cut into portions.

The classic San Sebastian dessert recipe doesn't require any additional decorations, but if you want to make the pie look like a cake, you can decorate it as you wish: