Cheesecake, a favourite sweet treat among many, is perhaps one of the most popular desserts in the world. Consisting of one or more layers, the mixture of the cheesecake consists of eggs, sugar and soft cheese. Almost all cheesecakes in the world are made with cream cheese while, in Italy, Ricotta is used in the cheesecake mixture. In Netherlands, Germany and Poland, quark is used for the mixture. The bottom part is made up of a crust. This crust can be of various things such as sponge cake, crushed cookies, pastry, digestive biscuits or graham crackers. It is usually topped or flavoured with fruits, whipped cream, nuts, chocolate or fruit syrup. Some popular cheesecake flavours can be named as strawberry, blueberry, passion fruit, chocolate, raspberry, orange, key limeor toffee. Cheesecake is available in both baked and unbaked versions.
What is a Baked Cheesecake?
Baked cheesecake is a mixture of cheese, sugar and eggs over a crust of cookie crumbs or sponge cake that undergoes a certain amount of baking. This can be done in a water bath where the tin containing the cheesecake is submerged in a large pan of hot water where its moist environment promotes even heat distribution and makes the texture of the cake smooth and creamy. Baked cheesecake can also be baked in the oven after which it is cooled. A baked cheesecake is quite dense in texture and it is also smooth and velvety. The New York style cheesecake may be the most popular type of baked cheesecake type available out there.
What is Unbaked Cheesecake?
Unbaked cheesecake as the name implied is not baked. It is simply refrigerated from where it gets its name chilled cheesecake. Unbaked cheesecake does not employ eggs, flour or other thickening agents that help them bake, but contain certain amounts of gelatin instead. Unbaked cheesecake features custard-like texture and is often light and airy. Some of the most popular unbaked cheesecakes are found in Australia, United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland.
What is the difference between Baked and Unbaked Cheesecake?
While cheesecake may be a favourite dessert among many, each person has their own preferences between baked and unbaked cheesecakes. While almost the same ingredients are used in both the cakes, the nature of the two is distinctly different thereby helping to identify them more easily.
• Baked cheesecake is baked in a water bath or an oven. Unbaked cheesecake is chilled in a refrigerator.
• Baked cheesecake contains eggs and flour which help set the cake. Unbaked cheesecake often does not have such thickening ingredients but include gelatine instead which help make it set.
• Baked cheesecake is dense and velvety. Unbaked cheesecake is light and airy.
• Unbaked cheesecake is ideal for layering. Baked cheesecake cannot be set into odd shaped baking moulds since the mixture tends to stick to the mould.
Further Reading:
- Difference Between Cheesecake and New York Cheesecake