Il Cucinologo
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Fluffy Cheesecake Cake

17/11/2023

The “piumino” cheesecake is a variant of the classic cheesecake that features a particularly soft and light texture, similar to a down comforter. Let’s take a look at the ingredients and method together.

Ingredients

  • 200 g digestive biscuits or other type of dry biscuits
  • 100 g melted butter
  • 500 g spreadable cheese (such as Philadelphia)
  • 120 g powdered sugar
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 packet of vanillin or vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 200 ml fresh whipping cream

For the topping (optional):

  • Jam or berries to taste
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Preparation

  1. Start by crushing the biscuits until they become a fine powder, then mix them with the melted butter until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Press this mixture onto the bottom of a springform pan (preferably lined with parchment paper) to form a compact base. Place it in the refrigerator to set for about 30 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the spreadable cheese with the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and vanillin until you obtain a smooth and creamy mixture.
  3. Separate the yolks from the whites. Add the yolks one at a time to the cheese mixture, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Whip the fresh cream and gently fold it into the cheese mixture, trying to maintain the air in the mixture for that “piumino” texture.
  5. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and then incorporate them into the mixture, stirring from the bottom up to avoid deflating everything.
  6. Pour the filling over the chilled biscuit base and level the surface.
  7. Bake the cheesecake in a preheated oven at 150 °C for about 60-70 minutes or until the surface appears almost completely set but the center slightly wobbly.
  8. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool completely before removing the ring of the pan. Then refrigerate it for at least 3-4 hours.
  9. Before serving, you can garnish it with some jam or fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Trivia

Cheesecake is a dessert with ancient origins, dating back to classical Greece, but it was American cuisine that made it famous worldwide with the chilled or oven-baked version. This “piumino” version is appreciated for its incredible lightness and creaminess.