August 21, 2013

Goat Cheese Cake with Berries

It was only a short while ago that I went on an epic rant of how American cheesecake is not really my cup of tea.  How I can’t get over the obscene discrepancy between crust and custard, and all the nitty-gritty and scandalous number of hours required to make what is virtually just a cake.  Long story short, I still haven’t come to terms with this American classic.  But then I came across this delightfully decadent Goat Cheese Cake!




Yes, this week I’m bringing you even more goat cheese paired with outrageously bright berries.  Aside from desperately getting my hands on these lively little treasures before their season is out the window, I have to come clean and admit that I never really thought beyond the savory qualities of goat cheese.  I could never have imagined that goat cheese could represent the epitome of a sensational... cheesecake! 





Then again, this is neither your classic cheesecake nor a Romanian cheesecake!  There’s no crust involved, no appallingly excessive cream cheese filling, no ridiculous amount of time needed to whip it up.  In fact, this goat cheesecake comes together in less than an hour!  How fabulous is that?  





When you take a bite, it’s like eating a tangy, pleasantly rich yet airy, sweet and silky cheese mousse spotted with juicy, tart, fat berries.  And while in the oven, the cake forms a crusty and caramelly outside coating that pleasantly crackles between your teeth.  Heaven!   And, to make this cheesecake even more heavenly: add a spoonful of berry sauce right on top!  
                  




Goat Cheese Cake with Berries
Adapted from Bon Appétit (June 2013)

Makes:  8+ slices

Ingredients for the cheesecake:

·         Unsalted butter for the pan
·         ¾ cup sugar, plus more for the pan
·         12 oz. goat cheese, at room temperature
·         1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, from 1 lemon
·         1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice from half a lemon
·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract
·         6 large eggs, separated
·         3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
·         150 grams (1 heaped cup) berries (I used raspberries and blackberries)

Ingredients for the Fresh Berry Sauce (this is the same berry sauce I used for the Panna Cotta):

·         2 cups assorted fresh berries, plus a few fresh berries for decoration
·         1 ½ Tablespoon sugar





Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Butter a 9”-diameter springform pan and dust it with sugar, tapping out any excess. 

Using an electric hand mixer on medium speed, beat the goat cheese, ¾ cup sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.  Add the egg yolks two at a time, beating to blend and scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions.  Reduce speed to low, add the flour, and mix just until blended.  Gently stir in the berries.  Set aside.  





Using clean, dry beaters, beat the egg whites in a medium bowl until soft peaks form.  In batches, fold the egg whites into the goat cheese and berry mixture just until blended. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap the pan to level the batter.  Bake the cheesecake until the top is set but still jiggles slightly in the center, about 35 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool in the pan.  The cake will pull away from the pan.  If it doesn’t, run a thin knife around the sides of the pan and gently unmold the cake.   





Instructions for the Fresh Berry Sauce:

Place the berries in a small saucepan and sprinkle with sugar.  Heat up the berries over medium-low heat until juicy and soft and mash some of them with a fork.  Continue to stir until the sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.  Let it cool.  Serve it with the goat cheesecake.   





Poftă Bună! (Bon Appétit!)

35 comments:

  1. Hi Dana! Your goat cheese cake with mixed berries recipe looks so yummy!! I can't wait to try it this weekend and I'll let you know how it turns out :) Laura

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  2. The goat cheesecake with berries recipe is super delicious! Even my daughter who's an incredibly picky eater loved it :) Laura

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    1. Ohhh! I'm so happy to hear that even your daughter loved this cheesecake with berries! It's definitely one of our favorite cakes, too :)

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  3. This looks so lovely Dana. I've never had a goat cheese cheesecake, but I have to say I will absolutely give this one a go. On a side note, thank you for your kind words and comments on my cobbler recipe today. I accidentally deleted the post! I'm so sorry, but I did want you to know that I am grateful for your readership and support! :)

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    1. Thank you, Maria, and I hope you like this goat cheesecake! On a side note, I reposted my comment on the cobbler recipe. It looked so good and it had to be acknowledged. I always love to read your posts. The recipes look delicious and the pictures are gorgeous every single time :)

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  4. Such a perfect cheesecake, love it my friend :D

    Cheers
    CCU

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  5. I love cheesecake of all kinds, and would definitely polish off a slice of this goat cheese cheesecake! The photos have me drooling!

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    1. Thank you so much, Bianca! I'm totally obsessed with this cheesecake! I definitely didn't think I would love it this much :)

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  6. How divine! And the berry topping just pushes it over.the.top!!! Gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you, Liz! You're right: the berry topping takes this cheesecake to a whole different level :)

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  7. I love your presentation and the cheesecake looks gorgeous. The images are stunning xx

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    1. Thank you so much, Charlie! The cheesecake is delicious just as it looks in the pictures :)

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous Dana, and though I love goat cheese I never tried a sweet recipe. Don´t know why, since I love mixing up things in the kitchen. Beautiful pics!

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    1. Thank you so much, Paula! I didn't think that goat cheese would work so well in a sweet recipe either, but it totally does :)

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  9. Arata grozav! Va pup,
    Sanda F

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  10. Hi Dana,

    Interesting that you are using goat cheese for sweet baking... I prefer them in form of savoury :D For curiosity, I would love to try using goat cheese for sweet baking too!

    Zoe

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    1. Thank you, Zoe! Before trying this recipe, I didn't think that goat cheese is a good pick for sweet baking, but it works wonders! You should give it a try :)

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  11. Gorgeous cheese cake. Love the use of the goats cheese in this - it is so perfect with berries. Delicious photos too.

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    1. Thank you so much, Hester! Indeed – goat cheese works beautifully with berries :)

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  12. ooo I've never heard of goats cheesecake before it sounds amazing!

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    1. Thank you, Jenny! I had never heard of goat cheesecake before this recipe either, but it's truly amazing :)

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  13. A goat cheese cheesecake is news to me, but it looks and sounds AMAZING! I can imagine that the tartness pairs so well with the fruit. yum!

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    1. Thanks so much, Alex! You're right – the tartness of the goat cheese pairs really well with the berries :)

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  14. I love goat cheese, but have never thought of making a cake with it. This looks fantastic!!

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    1. Thank you so much, Cathleen! I love goat cheese, too, and it works really well in this cake :)

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  15. I have been on such a goat cheese kick recently! this cheesecake sounds absolutely delicious, especially with those luscious berries!

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    1. Thanks, Jenn! It seems like I've been obsessed with goat cheese recently, too :D And this goat cheesecake is wonderful with the berry sauce!

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  16. Simply gorgeous, Dana! I made a goat cheesecake a couple years ago...but you've given me a huge craving for another. Totally delish!!!

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    1. Thanks so much, Liz! I hope you try this goat cheesecake; I think you'll love it :)

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  17. Lovely cake and interesting blog! I guess I will be following ;)
    Have a nice week

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a wonderful comment! Thank you for following and I hope you keep enjoying the blog and the cake :)

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