Basque cheesecake

Basque cheesecake, also known as cheesecake San Sebastian or burnt Basque cheesecake (Spanish: tarta de queso vasca), is a crustless cheesecake originating from the Basque Country, Spain. It is characterized by its caramelized, nearly burnt exterior and creamy, custard-like interior, achieved by baking at high temperatures.

Basque cheesecake

Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Spain
Region or state	Basque Country
Created by	Santiago Rivera
Invented	1988
Main ingredients	Cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cream, flour

History

Basque cheesecake was created in 1988 by Santiago Rivera at his pintxo bar La Viña in San Sebastián, a coastal city in the Basque Country, Spain.^[1][2][3] It achieved popularity online in the 2010s, helped by a recipe published by the British food writer Nigella Lawson.^[3] In 2021, Basque cheesecake was widely shared on Instagram and became "ubiquitous" in the UK.^[2] That year, The New York Times listed it as a "flavor of the year".^[4]

Preparation

Basque cheesecake has a caramelized, nearly burnt exterior and creamy, custard-like interior, achieved by baking at high temperatures.^[2][3][5] The flavor is subtly sweet with notes of caramel and hints of bitterness from the browned top.^[6] Chefs have added ingredients such as vanilla, citrus zest, or liquorice sauce.^[2][3]

See also

• Cheesecake
• San Sebastián
• Basque cuisine
• Desserts