Blackberry Cheesecake

I can help you prepare a delightful blackberry cheesecake. I propose a fresh and pleasant version, ideal for a summer snack or a dessert at the end of a meal. Remember that if you don’t have blackberries, you can use other berries like raspberries or strawberries. And now, let’s see the ingredients and then how to proceed.

Ingredients

• 250 g of Digestive biscuits
• 120 g of melted butter
• 500 g of cream cheese like Philadelphia
• 110 g of powdered sugar
• 300 ml of whipping cream
• 1 sachet of vanillin or vanilla extract
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 7 g of sheet gelatin (or fish glue) or 7 g of powdered gelatin
• 300 g of fresh blackberries
• 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar (for the blackberry compote)
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (for the blackberry compote)

Preparation

1. Start by grinding the biscuits until you get a fine sand-like consistency. Mix the crushed biscuits with the melted butter to obtain a homogeneous mixture.
2. Line the bottom of a springform pan (about 22-24 cm in diameter) with parchment paper and press the biscuit mixture onto the bottom to create the base of the cheesecake. Place in the fridge to harden for about 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, soften the gelatin in cold water for 10 minutes if using sheets, or prepare according to the package instructions if using powder.
4. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanillin until smooth.
5. Add the lemon juice to the cheese and mix well.
6. Heat a small amount of cream and dissolve the squeezed gelatin in it (or the ready-to-use gelatin if using powder). Allow it to cool.
7. Whip the remaining cream and gently fold it into the cheese mixture. Also add the melted gelatin and stir to make everything homogeneous.
8. Pour the cheese filling onto the cooled biscuit base and level the surface. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
9. For the blackberry compote, put the blackberries in a saucepan with granulated sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium-low heat until the blackberries release their juice and the sugar dissolves, creating a slightly thick sauce.
10. Allow the compote to cool and then pour it over the cheesecake before serving.

Curiosity

The cheesecake is a dessert with ancient origins, and it is believed that its first version was created in Greece. However, the modern version that we are familiar with was primarily developed in New York, where cream cheese was added, becoming the famous “New York Cheesecake”. The use of berries like blackberries, in addition to providing a delicious flavor, adds a touch of color and freshness characteristic of summer desserts.