The word “cheese” in a dessert indeed sounds strange, but when it comes to taste, it’s genuinely an incredible dessert! With a unique and wonderfully versatile flavor, you can have this sweet treat in any way you want, warm or cold.
If you’re new to this dessert, you may be curious about what cheesecake tastes like. Well, we can tell you that it doesn’t taste as cheesy as it sounds!
Cheesecake has a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors that blend well. Texture-wise, it tastes rich, decadent, and creamy, almost like custard. The most common flavors are the NY-style, strawberry, blueberry, lemon, Nutella, and lotus; all the variations taste equally delicious!
If you want to find out more, keep reading to learn about cheesecake, its taste, variations, and more!
What Does Cheesecake Taste Like?
The taste of cheesecake is dependent on the base and main ingredients used to make it. Regardless of the flavor, cream cheese is the primary ingredient; therefore, you’ll notice a sharp taste in almost all varieties.
However, the tartness is subdued once sweetened with sugar and other flavoring agents. Together, the flavors balance out the sourness by resulting in a rich taste and velvety texture that melts on the tongue.
As mentioned above, to get a better understanding of its flavor, we must look at what the base was made with. Graham crackers and digestive biscuits are two of the most popular choices to make the base of a cheesecake. The cookies are crushed and then mixed with butter to create a delicious, crumbly base that goes perfectly well with the rich flavors of the fillings.
The cream cheese has a thick, custard-like consistency with mildly tart and sweet flavor notes. You can add rich-tasting chocolates like Hershey’s, Cadbury, or Lindt to make the flavor sweeter and more intense. Other key flavoring agents are vanilla essence and lemon extract. You can also add a splash of food additives to replicate the scent of your favorite fruits.
Usually, cheesecakes are served with hearty toppings like fruit slices, jellies, and berry compotes. Strawberry and blueberry are two of the most popular topping choices in America. However, keep in mind that the sour, fruity flavors may not be up to everyone’s taste preference. So, you can cut down the level of tartness by choosing between different cheesecake flavors to see which one you like best.
Besides fruits, you can choose flavorings like Nutella, salted caramel, peanut, maple, and pecan. In short, there are numerous varieties to choose from. But one thing common between the variations is the flavor of the cheesecake, which remains right, creamy, and tangy-sweet.
All in all, cheesecake is a delightful and decadent dessert that’s hard to stop eating!
Flavor Profile of Different Variants of Cheesecake
Let’s take a look at the different variations of cheesecake and their taste profiles.
Baked Cheesecake
When it comes to the baked variety, it’s the classic New York-style cheesecake that comes to mind. With a buttery-sweet cookie base and tangy filling, it has everything to become the #1 dessert option.
The dense, satin texture and citrusy flavor notes take the baked NY-style cheesecake to another level! This classic and traditional cheesecake is made by combining egg, cream, cream cheese, and sugar with other flavors and toppings. The filling is baked in the oven to get a rich, creamy, smooth, and decadent dessert.
The primary difference between baked and no-bake cheesecakes is that the latter is served cold. However, you can serve baked cheesecakes, warm or cold. Moreover, the baked version tastes denser and richer as it contains eggs and corn starch.
Japanese Cheesecake
The fluffy and jiggly Japanese Cotton Cheesecake is a cross between an airy soufflé and a chiffon cake. Although less sweet than a regular American-style cheesecake, this rich and tangy treat has everything to make it to your list of favorite desserts!
This soft, airy, and cloud-like cake has the consistency of melting in the mouth. You can pair it with fruit compote, berries, or your favorite chocolate.
Since the main ingredient is cream cheese, you’ll notice it to be similar to American cheesecake, except much fluffier.
Basque Cheesecake
Basque cheesecake, also known as the burnt version, is a rich and velvety dessert with exceptional flavor notes. The burnt top leaves behind subtle bitter, caramel-like notes that taste fantastic.
To make this burnt-top cheesecake, you need to bake the filling at a relatively higher temperature, as this causes the crust to bake much more quickly. So while the edges crisp up, the filling remains silky smooth and flan-like.
Once you dig in, you get to devour the classic NY-style cheesecake but with bitter-caramel undertones. You can even make the filling with less sugar to enjoy the sharp cream cheese flavors.
Despite its dented and burnt appearance, this extra-creamy dessert tastes fantastic, all thanks to its airy, light, and mild smoky flavors.
Spoiled cheesecake
Since cheesecake is primarily made of dairy products, it’s at risk of getting spoiled due to mold or bacteria like salmonella. The mold may be visible to the naked eye!
Another prominent sign is getting a rotten or sour odor that’s highly off-putting; this may indicate that the cheesecake has gone bad. Although it may smell similar to cream cheese, you’ll notice an acidic reek.
Even if you don’t notice any mold or strange aroma, you’ll figure out if it’s a spoiled cheesecake by tasting it. Instead of the usual sweet and tangy flavor, you may get an unpleasant, rancid taste.
Over-baked Cheesecake
Although cheesecake is easy to make, if you don’t pay attention to the baking time, you may end up with an over-baked and burnt cheesecake. One of the first and obvious signs of an overcooked cheesecake is having a cracked surface. The filling will have a fall in the middle and may end up dry, crumbly, and starchy. Also, unlike regular cheesecake, it may have an eggy and won’t have the usual creamy consistency.
Is Cheesecake Supposed To Be Sweet?
The taste of cheesecake is so unique that it cannot be classified as sweet or sour. In fact, it has a combination of the two flavors!
According to some, cheesecakes have a slightly sour flavor. You can expect tangy notes with cream cheese being the main ingredient, but it’s not precisely sour. Once you add sugar and other flavorings to the cream cheese mixture, you get a well-rounded dessert with just the right amount of tartness.
The kind of toppings you use can also dictate how sweet or tart the flavor will be. You can expect a bit of tanginess with citrus fruits and sour berries. If you’re not too fond of tart flavors, you can try the no-bake versions, as they’re much sweeter.
Conclusion
The decadent, tangy-sweet goodness of a cheesecake is something that makes you want to try it at least once! Whether baked or unbaked, this rich and creamy dessert melts on the tongue.
The overall flavor notes vary depending on the filling and topping used. But, generally, you get a hint of tartness from the cream cheese, which the sugar and buttery biscuit base help to cut through.
With so many varieties of cheesecakes, you must try out the different flavors to find out which one suits your palate best. Oh, and there’s no reason to head to The Cheesecake Factory; you can easily make one home with just a few ingredients!