Il Cucinologo
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Key lime cheesecake

17/11/2023

Although the Key lime cheesecake is not a traditional Italian dessert, I can give you the recipe and perhaps suggest some Italian touches to personalize it. Here is the basic recipe:

Ingredients

  • 200 g Digestive biscuits or similar (for an Italian touch you could use cantucci-style biscuits)
  • 100 g butter, melted
  • 500 g cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
  • 120 g sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • The grated zest and juice of 5-6 Key limes (or regular limes if unavailable)
  • 100 ml whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional; for a more Mediterranean variation you could omit it)

For decoration (optional):

  • Lime slices
  • Whipped cream or Italian meringue

Preparation

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 160 °C.
  2. Finely crush the biscuits and mix them with the melted butter. Press this mixture onto the bottom of a springform pan that has been buttered or lined with parchment paper to create the cheesecake base. Let it cool in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
  3. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with the sugar until you obtain a smooth cream.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  5. Incorporate the grated lime zest and juice, then the cream and vanilla extract, and stir until everything is well combined.
  6. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the biscuit base and level the surface.
  7. Bake for about 55-60 minutes or until the center of the cheesecake is almost completely set but still slightly wobbly.
  8. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the door slightly ajar for about 1 hour to allow it to cool slowly and reduce the risk of cracks on the surface.
  9. Afterwards, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it cool completely for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
  10. Before serving, decorate with lime slices and, if desired, with whipped cream or Italian meringue.

Trivia

The Key lime cheesecake takes its name from Key limes, a smaller and more aromatic variety of lime compared to common limes, typical of the Florida Keys, from which the name derives. One of the characteristics of this dessert is its freshness from the citrusy lime, which pairs pleasantly with the creaminess of the cheese.

For an Italian touch, you could serve it with a small glass of Limoncello or Grappa to your lemon cream, to further enhance the citrus flavors.