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Key lime cheesecake

17/11/2023

Although Key lime cheesecake is not a traditional Italian dessert, I can give you the recipe and maybe recommend some Italian touches to personalize it. Here is the basic recipe:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of Digestive biscuits or similar (for an Italian touch you could use cantucci biscuits)
  • 100 g of butter, melted
  • 500 g of cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
  • 120 g of sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • The grated zest and juice of 5-6 Key limes (or regular limes if not available)
  • 100 ml of whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional, for a more Mediterranean variation you could leave it out)

For the decoration (optional):

  • Lime slices
  • Whipped cream or Italian meringue

Preparation

  1. Start by preheating the oven to 160 °C.
  2. Finely chop the biscuits and mix them with the melted butter. Press this mixture into the bottom of a springform pan that you’ve previously buttered or lined with parchment paper, to create the base of the cheesecake. Let it cool in the fridge while you prepare the filling.
  3. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with the sugar until smooth.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  5. Incorporate the grated lime zest and juice, then the cream and vanilla extract, and mix until everything is well combined.
  6. Pour the cheese cream over the biscuit base and level the surface.
  7. Bake in the oven for about 55-60 minutes or until the center of the cheesecake is almost completely set, but still slightly wobbly.
  8. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the door ajar for about 1 hour, to allow it to cool slowly and reduce the risk of cracks on the surface.
  9. After that, transfer it to the fridge and let it cool completely for at least 4 hours, or better, overnight.
  10. Before serving, decorate with lime slices and, if you like, with whipped cream or Italian meringue.

Curiosity

The Key lime cheesecake gets its name from the Key limes, a variety of lime that is smaller and more aromatic than the common lime, typical of the Florida Keys, hence the name. One of the characteristics of this dessert is its freshness given by the lime’s citrusy flavor, which pleasantly pairs with the creaminess of the cheese.

For an Italian touch, you could serve it with a shot of Limoncello or lemon cream Grappa to further enhance the citrus flavors.