The Ultimate Guide To Every Type Of Cheesecake

What is cheesecake? It isn't exactly a pie and it's definitely not a cake. Cheesecake is a favorite dessert baked worldwide and enjoyed by many cultures. Thought to have originated in Ancient Greece, cheesecake has a long storied history that dates back 4,000 years to the 5th century B.C. In its original form, cheesecake was made from fresh cheese patties mixed with flour and honey and then patted smooth. It was considered a good source of energy, eaten by Olympic athletes before competition, and also made regular appearances as a dessert at Ancient Greek weddings.

Cheesecake remained a staple in the Greek diet and in the late Middle Ages it resurfaced in England, but now with the addition of a pastry crust at the bottom formed in a tart pan. An early cheesecake recipe is even found in the first English cookbook written in 1390. From then on, cheesecake recipes were a staple in English cookbooks, cementing its place as a beloved dessert. Since the Middle Ages, the dessert has transformed tremendously into hundreds of different iterations, from the dense New York style to the fluffy Japanese version. Let's explore cheesecake's various forms in an exciting — and delicious — deep dive.

Basque cheesecake gets its namesake from the coastal town of Donastia-San Sebastian in the Basque region of Spain. The birthplace of Basque cheesecake is La Vina, a small restaurant on the outskirts of town established in 1959. This dessert was discovered unexpectedly in 1990 by Spanish chef Santiago Rivera who was completing a bizarre quest to try and make a different type of cake every day. The outcome was the now global phenomenon known as Basque cheesecake.

This dessert is actually quite simple and only requires five ingredients: cream cheese, eggs, heavy cream, sugar, and a bit of flour. Resulting in an indulgently creamy and sweet take on cheesecake. The flan-like custard is baked at a very high heat that burns the outside forming a natural crust and leaves the inside soft and delicious. Those burnt spots and rough crustless appearance make it more rustic and break all the rules of a traditional American cheesecake. Traditionally served with nothing but a fork, Basque cheesecake is a delicious dessert without all the trappings and finery of other cheesecakes.

Who says your dessert has to be only one type of cake? Have your cake and eat it too with a decadent layered cheesecake cake. This dessert combines the best of both worlds with layers of sponge cake and cheesecake united into one indulgent dessert. Start by making two layers of a light fluffy sponge cake of your choice from scratch or use a store-bought boxed cake mix to speed up the prep time. Next craft your classic cheesecake and bake as normal.

Once the cheesecake and spongecake have both cooled completely, it's time to assemble your dessert. Use cream cheese icing to sandwich the cheesecake between the two layers of spongecake to make a three-layered cake. Finish by covering the outside of the cake with frosting and refrigerate until serving. A cheesecake cake is versatile and can be made in multiple different flavors including chocolate and vanilla, cookies and cream, and chocolate peanut butter.

The New York cheesecake is one of the more famous chapters in cheesecake's long and storied history. In 1872, a New York dairy farmer named William A. Lawrence was trying to recreate the soft French cheese Nuefchatel, but he ended up inventing what is now known as Philadelphia cream cheese by accident. In the 1920s, a stabilizing ingredient was introduced to the cream cheese making it more spreadable and easier to bake with. By the 1930s, a Jewish immigrant and accomplished restauranteur by the name of Arnold Rueben concocted the original recipe for a traditional New York-style cheesecake using the newly developed cream cheese. Coincidentally, Mr. Reuben is most famous for his creation of the Reuben sandwich, but his innovative cheesecake dessert also quickly took the city by storm as rival delis sought to recreate Reuben's delectable dessert recipe.

New York cheesecake is known for its dense and creamy texture that is brought about by adding heavy cream to the cheesecake mixture. The addition of the heavy cream and a few extra eggs makes the dessert bigger and bolder. It is commonly cooked at a high temperature to achieve a golden brown crust on the top. It's best at a timeless New York restaurant or deli, but you can try your hand at making classic New York-style cheesecake at home, too.

When thinking of the origins of Philadelphia cheesecake, it is often assumed the name refers to the city of Philadelphia, but that assumption is incorrect. Despite popular belief, Philadelphia cheesecake doesn't get its namesake from The City of Brotherly Love. Instead, it takes its name from the brand Philadelphia cream cheese. This style of cheesecake originated as a genius marketing ploy by Philadelphia to sell more of its product. It comes as no surprise that this recipe uses more cream cheese than a New York-style cheesecake.

This version of cheesecake uses no heavy cream or sour cream — just extra cream cheese, which makes it lighter and fluffier in texture compared to a New York-style cheesecake. The Philadelphia cheesecake has become the default cheesecake in America and is what is most commonly made and thought of when one says cheesecake. Without any creamy fillers, Philadelphia cheesecake gets straight to the point offering a sweet and tangy dessert centered around the cheese for which it's named.

Ever wish you could have cheesecake for dinner? Savory cheesecakes are a dark horse in the cheesecake landscape that swaps sweet ingredients with savory ones for an interesting twist on the beloved dessert. Because cream cheese possesses a mild flavor and an indulgent creamy richness, the mix-in options for this appetizing snack are potentially limitless. Explore the wide array of flavor combinations such as spicy jalapeno popper, classic BLT, or muffuletta stuffed with cured meats and olives. Though they might be a bit harder to find, most savory cheesecakes have fewer eggs than a frittata, and unlike a quiche, the crust is optional. This dish makes an interesting appetizer for a dinner party or a conversation starter on a charcuterie board. 

Using only cream cheese to make this treat isn't strictly necessary, and many recipes use feta, swiss, or even tangy blue cheese to elevate the flavors. To make a simple version of a savory cheesecake, start by patting down a crust of your choice — Parmesan cheese mixed with breadcrumbs works well- into the bottom of a springform pan. Next, sautee your savory add-ins on the stovetop until thoroughly cooked. Then, mix together all the filling, seasonings, and herbs before pouring on top of the crust, and bake for about 45 minutes. After baking and cooling, drizzle the savory cheesecake with a complementary flavor such as balsamic vinegar or a high-quality olive oil. Enjoy chilled with bruschetta, pretzels, or simply on its own.

Going vegan doesn't mean you have to give up this beloved dessert. There are many delicious dairy-free options to make a vegan cheesecake that might even be better than those you're used to. One straightforward option for making a dairy-free cheesecake is to simply swap the cream cheese out for dairy-free cream cheese, and skip the eggs. To thicken this version of a vegan cheesecake, a cornstarch slurry adds body to the dessert and doesn't add any flavor.

For a vegan alternative that's lower in fat, use sweetened and whipped tofu to fill the pie crust. Another option is to use blended cashews with coconut cream and sugar for an innovative protein-rich version of vegan cheesecake. Many vegan cheesecakes can be baked or no-bake, which makes them an easy and accessible way for those with dietary restrictions to enjoy a delicious treat. Just like non-vegan cheesecakes, though, the vegan versions are always better when topped with fresh, seasonal fruit. 

The earliest existing records of Swedish cheesecake date back to 1538, when it was commonly seen as a status symbol among the medieval population. Developed in the Smaland region of Sweden, this dessert was commonly baked to celebrate momentous events such as Christmas and weddings.

This provincial cheesecake is quite different from traditional New York-style cheesecake because it uses rennet to convert milk into a type of homemade cottage cheese. Rennet is a complex set of digestive enzymes found in certain animal stomachs that make the cheese curdle. This method of curdling cheese is no longer common in the United States and can be bypassed by just using store-bought cottage cheese. Swedish cheesecake is made from fresh cottage cheese, bitter almonds, and eggs — and it doesn't have a crust. Once baked and set, this dessert is traditionally served chilled and topped with raspberry jam and whipped cream for a light and refreshing Swedish delicacy.