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This “Burnt” Basque Cheesecake recipe (known here in Spain as ‘tarta de queso’) is uniquely light, creamy, delicious, caramelized, and so easy to make that it’s nearly foolproof!
Basque “burnt” cheesecake definitely seems to be having its moment in the sun trending around the world right now. But here in Spain, it has been a local fave for decades! ♡
Barclay and I finally got to try the real-deal, original, famous tarta de queso that inspired them all last year during a weekend getaway to San Sebastián. We arrived in the city with a deliciously long list of recommended places to sample the various pintxos, txuletas, anchovies, cheeses, and wines for which this gastronomic capital of the world has become so famous. But when it came to recommendations for where to try the Basque country’s iconic cheesecake, everyone agreed there was one spot we absolutely had to go — La Viña.
This cozy local restaurant is credited with inventing Basque cheesecake back in the 90s, when chef-owner Santiago Rivera was looking for a new dessert to put on the menu. By contrast to American-style cheesecakes that tend to be dense, firm, evenly-baked with (hopefully) zero cracks, and made with some type of cookie crust, Chef Rivera tweaked all of the proportions to create his own new style of Basque cheesecake that is uniquely airy and creamy, baked crustless in crisp parchment paper, rippling around the edges with beautiful cracks, and — famously — made with a deliciously “burnt” (more like caramelized) exterior.
It’s a stunning cheesecake that breaks all of the rules and is outrageously delicious. And best of all for home cooks, it’s insanely easy (arguably foolproof) to make with just a simple list of ingredients! Chef Rivera generously shared his original tarta de queso recipe with the world years ago, which simply calls for cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour and heavy cream. But he encourages home cooks to put their own spin on the recipe as they see fit. “If you want salt, add salt; if you want vanilla, add vanilla; some people add lemon zest.” And if you really want to be authentic, you can serve your cheesecake as they do at La Viña with a small glass of Spanish sherry on the side.
All of our friends here in Spain are major fans of this cheesecake, so we’ve had fun over time tasting different versions and tinkering around with the original recipe here at home to serve for various parties and gatherings. So for anyone interested, here’s our favorite slightly-tweaked spin on Chef Rivera’s tarta de queso recipe. We do, in fact, like to add vanilla and sea salt in our casa. But as he said, feel free to experiment and have fun making the recipe your own! The rules are meant to be broken here, which I must say is a fun change when it comes to usually-perfectionistic cheesecake making.
Let’s make some Basque cheesecake!
Our visit to try the original tarta de queso at La Viña in San Sebastián!
“Burnt” Basque Cheesecake Ingredients:
Before we get to the full recipe below, here are a few notes about the ingredients you will need to make this Basque cheesecake recipe. I have adjusted Chef Rivera’s recipe down slightly to fit an 8- or 9-inch springform pan, since that is mainly what I use in my kitchen. (If you have a 10-inch springform pan, however, that will work too — it will just need less baking time and will yield a thinner cheesecake.)
Cream cheese: It always makes me smile that this is always referred to here in Spain simply as “Philadelphia.” ;) I recommend using regular (full-fat) cream cheese for optimal flavor and texture.
Sugar: I follow Chef Rivera’s lead and use basic white granulated sugar as the sweetener.
Eggs: Basque cheesecake is famously a bit more eggy, which some people love more than others. I prefer a slightly less eggy cheesecake, so I’ve reduced the amount of eggs in this recipe to five.
Vanilla extract: This is optional, but I always love the flavor that it adds to cheesecake.
Heavy cream: No skimping on the fat here either. You’ll need to use heavy whipping cream (not half and half or whole milk) to achieve the right texture of these cheesecake. (If you are located here in Spain, be sure to buy nata de montar, not the nata de cocinar.)
Sea salt: I like to add a little to the cheesecake itself, as well as sprinkle some flaky sea salt on the slices when serving. (Please note that if you are using iodized table salt, you should use half as much salt.)
Flour: Finally, I like to add a little extra flour in there to really help the cheesecake rise up in the oven.
Tips for Making “Burnt” Basque Cheesecake:
Here are a few important tips I’ve learned over time for how to make Basque cheesecake:
Use room temperature ingredients: It really does help to yield a smooth and evenly-baked cheesecake, so plan ahead. (Or there are a number of shortcut methods you can read about online to carefully and quickly warm the cream cheese, eggs and heavy cream.)
Use the correct pan: Because the cheesecake batter poofs up and rises so high during baking, it’s essential that you use a pan with tall sides. (Otherwise, the batter may spill out if you just use a 1-inch tall round cake pan.) I recommend using an 9-inch springform pan. Or if you slightly alter the baking time, you could alternately use an 8-inch or 10-inch springform pan.
Sift the flour: If you want the cheesecake to be nice and smooth, it really helps to sift the flour (I do so using a fine-mesh strainer) into the batter instead of just dumping it in.
Don’t overmix the batter: It’s easy to accidentally whip a bunch of air into cheesecake batter if the ingredients are mixed too long or at too high a speed. In general, you want to mix in each ingredient until just incorporated, then move onto the next one as directed.
Skip the water bath: Another great thing about this cheesecake is that there is no water bath needed. The cake is intended to rise, fall, and create lots of beautiful ridges and rustic cracks. I just recommend baking it on a sheet pan in case a bit of the batter accidentally spills over the edge of the pan as the cheesecake rises.
Keep an eye on the top of the cheesecake: Different ovens will inevitably brown cheesecakes at slightly different rates. So I recommend keeping a close eye on the cheesecake during the final 15-20 minutes of baking to be sure that the top reaches your desired level of golden color. If it starts to get too dark, just gently lay a piece of aluminum foil over the cheesecake. Or if it’s not dark enough, switch the oven to broil the cheesecake ever-so-briefly once the center is cooked to your liking. (Just be careful, broiling will darken the cheesecake very quickly!)
Choose your desired consistency: Most of the Basque cheesecakes I’ve tried here in Spain are still slightly soft and creamy in the middle, which means that the center of the cheesecake will need to still be fairly jiggly when you pull it from the oven. But that said, feel free to bake yours longer if you prefer a more firmly-set cheesecake. Or you can bake it for even less time if you prefer the center to be extra soft and creamy.
No te preocupes (don’t worry!) about perfection: The whole point of a Basque cheesecake is that it’s meant to look rustic and a bit uneven, so don’t stress about the batter being perfectly even or the parchment being perfectly pressed into the edges of the pan. It will taste amazing however it looks!
Basque Cheesecake Recipe Variations:
As mentioned above, feel free to tinker around with the ingredient amounts in this recipe to create a Basque cheesecake that is more creamy, sweet, eggy, or cheesy, if you prefer. Or you could also…
Add citrus zest: Lemon or orange zest would be a delicious addition to this cheesecake batter.
Add bourbon: We’ve also made this recipe with bourbon — swapping 3 tablespoons of heavy cream for 3 tablespoons whiskey — and can vouch that it is another very delicious option.
Bake it for more/less time: I like the cheesecake to still be soft and a bit creamy in the center, but feel free to bake yours for less time if you like an even softer/creamier cheesecake or more time if you prefer a firmer/fully-cooked cheesecake. And if the top isn’t brown enough, you can very briefly turn the oven to broil to caramelize the top. (Just keep a very close eye on it, as the top will darken rapidly!) Or alternately, if the top seems too brown, just gently place a sheet of foil on top of the cheesecake as it finishes baking.
Add a topping: Basque cheesecake is typically served plain, but some type of fruit sauce, caramel sauce, or chocolate sauce on top would also be delicious!
More Favorite Cheesecake Recipes:
Looking for more delicious cheesecake recipes to try? Here are a few of my faves!
Prep oven and springform pan. Heat oven to 400°F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with two large crisscrossed sheets of parchment paper, pleating and pressing the parchment into the bottom edges of pan so that it extends straight up (not folded down) a few inches above the sides of the pan. Place the pan on a large baking sheet and set aside.
Make the batter. Add the cream cheese and granulated sugar to a large mixing bowl and use a handheld mixer (or a stand mixer) to beat the mixture on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until it is very smooth with no lumps remaining, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium-low speed until each egg is combined before adding in the next. Add the cream, vanilla extract, salt and mix on low speed until evenly combined. Then sprinkle the flour evenly over the batter (it helps to sift it through a fine-mesh strainer to prevent lumps) and mix on low speed until evenly combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Bake. Pour the mixture into the parchment-lined pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top of the cheesecake has risen up high, the top is a deep golden brown, and the center is still slightly jiggly. (Keep a close eye on it — if the top starts to get too browned or starts to burn, just gently lay a sheet of aluminum foil on top of the cheesecake until it has finished cooking.)
Cool. Transfer the cheesecake to a wire baking rack and let it cool completely to room temperature. (You can also cover and refrigerate the cheesecake at this point for up to 3 days if you prefer.)
Serve. Once the cheesecake is no longer warm, remove the sides of the springform pan, peel back the parchment, and cut your desired size of slices. Then serve, sprinkled with a pinch of flaky sea salt if you’d like, and enjoy!
Salt: If you instead plan to use iodized table salt, reduce the amount of salt by half.
Pan options: You can also bake this recipe in an 8-inch springform pan (baking time will need to be a bit longer and the cheesecake will be thicker) or a 10-inch springform pan (baking time will be less and the cheesecake will be thinner).
This sounds divine. I have 2 questions. Since there are only two of us these days what do you think of using oven proof custard cups and making a much smaller amount? This would mean eating it out of the custard cups and reducing cooking time. The other question: do you think full fat coconut milk could work here, non dairy cream cheese, coconut sugar and arrowroot (instead of flour or another gluten free one)? I know it won’t be the same and the color will change, but wondering if you think it’s worth a try, leaving the proportions he same. You’ve got a lot more experience than I. Thanks so much for your opinion!
My daughter had this when she visited the Basque Country while a student in Madrid. She loved it and so now I get to make and taste it too . Thanks for providing the recipe and best wishes on your upcoming blessed event!
Carly —
When do you add the 1 tsp of salt? I don’t see it in the instructions.
This looks like a fun recipe to make!
Could I bake this in a 9″ circle cake pan if I don’t have a cheescake pan?
Thanks! Keep the recipes going, we love em!
Reid —
The recipe doesn’t say anything about the fine sea salt… Was It supposed to add it when I creamed the sugar and Philadelphia together?
Now the caveats: I halved it (halved exactly but used 3 eggs) but still cooked it in a 9 inch springform. I started at 30 mins, but ended up cooking it for 40. It is thinner than the beauty posted here, but for two, we don’t need double the volume.
I will definitely make the full version someday when we have company or want to impress. The flavor is phenomenal. It will be tough for me not to eat it all in one sitting.
This looks amazing! Here is Switzerland our Philadelphia is not sold in bricks, on,y 8n plastic tubs and it’s consistency is spreadable. I assume that the fat content is lower, and certainly the water content might be higher. Any suggestions on how I might tweak the recipe to account for this? It remains my umber one issue when making recipes that call for full fat cream cheese (frosting, etc). Many thanks.
Made this last night, in 7” springform, using half recipe. Came out perfect. Same cooking time. Super easy, quick, and very delicious. Definitely will serve again.
Agnieszka —
Made it today and it turned out perfect! It is really foolproof ;)
Made it with my 3-year old for my hubby to celebrate his success in work. He enjoyed it very much!
I’m very excited to make this today for Valentines! One question – you mentioned adding salt into the recipe but I don’t see it included with the steps. Would it go in the same time as the flour?
This was great and very easy. There are only two of us so I made a half recipe and baked it in a springform pan that is about 6 1/2 inches in diameter for 45 minutes.
Since there is such a small amount of flour, can I eliminate it or use almond flour or potato starch? It’s not because I am gluten-free, but only because I want to make this for Passover and flour is prohibited. Thank you!
Wow! This was absolutely delicious! I had my Spaniard friend living in the US say, “This tastes like home!” It was the best compliment I could have received. Thanks for such a simple and delicious recipe!!!
Hello,
I’m so excited to try to make the Basque cheesecake for my daughter’s birthday, but I do have a question, what oven rack position does the cake bake at.
I’ve tried this in several fancy restaurants and finally decided to try and make it myself. Used this exact recipe, plus an egg, and it came out perfect. All loved it, so easy. Just remember to allow plenty of parchment paper above the lip of the tin. It rises alot before cooling right back. Good luck.
Hi! I was at the store and the only option was table cream instead of whipping cream. Will they work for this recipe ? Thank you!!! Ps every time I make this cheesecake it’s a massive hit !
Can I make this with Philadelphia caramilk cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese? Caramilk is sweeter and not as hard as regular Philadelphia cream cheese so should I add more flour to the recipe?
I made this for the first time last year and getting ready to make once more-it was superb! Any tips on how to fully remove the cheesecake from the parchment to place on a platter? Last time I just served pieces on individual plates but now need to bring it to a dinner party. Thanks!
My partner and I have been making this recipe for each other a handful of times over the past 2 years (it’s our favorite). How would you make it chocolate??? And how would you make it half chocolate half vanilla?! Thanks in advance 🥰
We made this for Valentine’s Day and it was unbelievably delicious. It’s definitely going to be our main cheesecake recipe from now on. So much less fussy than the usual New York style cheesecakes.
This is divine!!!! I made it yesterday for our Easter celebration with extended family, and it was a huge hit! It was not complicated to make either! I had to make it gluten free since my cheesecake-loving-daughter has celiac, so I used King Arthur GF measure for measure but only used 3 T. I’ve made so many of your recipes over the years, and we love them all! Thank you for all of your hard work in the kitchen! It’s much appreciated by my family!
Hey, I’m Ali!
My favorite thing in life is time spent around the table. And all the better with some seriously tasty food to bring us all together. more about me »
This sounds divine. I have 2 questions. Since there are only two of us these days what do you think of using oven proof custard cups and making a much smaller amount? This would mean eating it out of the custard cups and reducing cooking time. The other question: do you think full fat coconut milk could work here, non dairy cream cheese, coconut sugar and arrowroot (instead of flour or another gluten free one)? I know it won’t be the same and the color will change, but wondering if you think it’s worth a try, leaving the proportions he same. You’ve got a lot more experience than I. Thanks so much for your opinion!
My daughter had this when she visited the Basque Country while a student in Madrid. She loved it and so now I get to make and taste it too . Thanks for providing the recipe and best wishes on your upcoming blessed event!
When do you add the 1 tsp of salt? I don’t see it in the instructions.
My apologies, I somehow missed including that in the recipe instructions! The salt can be added along with the cream and vanilla extract.
Could this recipe be halved to fit into a 6 1/2 in bundt pan? Is it also freezable?
Do you think i could use 2 pounds of quark for this? We make it at our creamery and I am always looking for recipes to use it in.
This looks like a fun recipe to make!
Could I bake this in a 9″ circle cake pan if I don’t have a cheescake pan?
Thanks! Keep the recipes going, we love em!
The recipe doesn’t say anything about the fine sea salt… Was It supposed to add it when I creamed the sugar and Philadelphia together?
My apologies, I somehow missed including that in the recipe instructions! The salt can be added along with the cream and vanilla extract.
I just made this, and wow. So good!
Now the caveats: I halved it (halved exactly but used 3 eggs) but still cooked it in a 9 inch springform. I started at 30 mins, but ended up cooking it for 40. It is thinner than the beauty posted here, but for two, we don’t need double the volume.
I will definitely make the full version someday when we have company or want to impress. The flavor is phenomenal. It will be tough for me not to eat it all in one sitting.
The directions do not say with to put the salt in, so mine didn’t get salted ?
My apologies, I somehow missed including that in the recipe instructions! The salt can be added along with the cream and vanilla extract.
This looks amazing! Here is Switzerland our Philadelphia is not sold in bricks, on,y 8n plastic tubs and it’s consistency is spreadable. I assume that the fat content is lower, and certainly the water content might be higher. Any suggestions on how I might tweak the recipe to account for this? It remains my umber one issue when making recipes that call for full fat cream cheese (frosting, etc). Many thanks.
Made this last night, in 7” springform, using half recipe. Came out perfect. Same cooking time. Super easy, quick, and very delicious. Definitely will serve again.
Made it today and it turned out perfect! It is really foolproof ;)
Made it with my 3-year old for my hubby to celebrate his success in work. He enjoyed it very much!
I’m very excited to make this today for Valentines! One question – you mentioned adding salt into the recipe but I don’t see it included with the steps. Would it go in the same time as the flour?
My apologies, I somehow missed including that in the recipe instructions! The salt can be added along with the cream and vanilla extract.
This was great and very easy. There are only two of us so I made a half recipe and baked it in a springform pan that is about 6 1/2 inches in diameter for 45 minutes.
This was incredible! I made it for our family Valentines Day dinner. Super easy, and really, really delicious.
This was amazing!!! We made ours in an 8 inch pan and the texture turned out perfectly.
I just made this as my birthday cake and it is so amazing. I’m not much of a baker but it was very easy and worth the effort.
Very easy and tasty recipe, I love the creamy center and the burnt almost caramel taste of the edges. Super easy to make!
Since there is such a small amount of flour, can I eliminate it or use almond flour or potato starch? It’s not because I am gluten-free, but only because I want to make this for Passover and flour is prohibited. Thank you!
Wow! This was absolutely delicious! I had my Spaniard friend living in the US say, “This tastes like home!” It was the best compliment I could have received. Thanks for such a simple and delicious recipe!!!
Hello,
I’m so excited to try to make the Basque cheesecake for my daughter’s birthday, but I do have a question, what oven rack position does the cake bake at.
I’ve tried this in several fancy restaurants and finally decided to try and make it myself. Used this exact recipe, plus an egg, and it came out perfect. All loved it, so easy. Just remember to allow plenty of parchment paper above the lip of the tin. It rises alot before cooling right back. Good luck.
Third time making this yummy cheesecake, first time with this recipe and it was perfect!
Hi! I was at the store and the only option was table cream instead of whipping cream. Will they work for this recipe ? Thank you!!! Ps every time I make this cheesecake it’s a massive hit !
Can I make this with Philadelphia caramilk cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese? Caramilk is sweeter and not as hard as regular Philadelphia cream cheese so should I add more flour to the recipe?
What temp and duration do you suggest for a 4 inch pan?
I tried once, at 20 min 425° then 35 min at 375°… the tops cracked tho and didnt set well. Also, didnt get the smokey aroma.
Thank you!
Incredible!
I made this for the first time last year and getting ready to make once more-it was superb! Any tips on how to fully remove the cheesecake from the parchment to place on a platter? Last time I just served pieces on individual plates but now need to bring it to a dinner party. Thanks!
Very good.easy.
My partner and I have been making this recipe for each other a handful of times over the past 2 years (it’s our favorite). How would you make it chocolate??? And how would you make it half chocolate half vanilla?! Thanks in advance 🥰
Whats a cup in grams please?
This turned out perfectly and was much easier to make than we expected!
We made this for Valentine’s Day and it was unbelievably delicious. It’s definitely going to be our main cheesecake recipe from now on. So much less fussy than the usual New York style cheesecakes.
Seriously incredible. The consistency and taste are to die for
This is divine!!!! I made it yesterday for our Easter celebration with extended family, and it was a huge hit! It was not complicated to make either! I had to make it gluten free since my cheesecake-loving-daughter has celiac, so I used King Arthur GF measure for measure but only used 3 T. I’ve made so many of your recipes over the years, and we love them all! Thank you for all of your hard work in the kitchen! It’s much appreciated by my family!