Sunday 28 April 2013

Baileys and chocolate cheesecake - a birthday celebration





It never ceases to amaze me that the CCD (Caked Crusader’s Da) didn’t like cheesecake for the first 70 or so years of his life.  Now, he likes it so much that he requested it for his birthday cake this year.  Proof – if needed - that our taste buds never stop changing no matter what age we reach.  And further proof that we should continue to revisit foods we don’t like...although I’m still giving mushrooms a wide berth.  Fungus?  No thanks.




This cheesecake takes no time at all to prepare but really is something rather special.
  The addition of Baileys (even a small amount like this) gives a velvety taste and texture to the cheesecake – the harsh alcohol flavour isn’t there, but the creamy richness is.  The flaked chocolate provides extra bursts of flavour.  All in all, a hit!




I pondered how to decorate the cheesecake to give it more of a ‘birthday party feel’ and decided on covering the top with maltesers.  I’m not sure if that conjures up a ‘birthday party feel’ or not to a wider audience...we’re not really party people...more sit down and eat lots people.  So it was a success on that basis!




I am going to be (potentially) controversial here, but I do think the best cheesecake is an unbaked one.  Don’t get me wrong, there is love in my heart for all cheesecake, but I like the texture of the unbaked ones better and they are so quick to make; you can go from needing a cheesecake to having a cheesecake in about 20 minutes (if you're not fussy about chilling it).




The CCB (Caked Crusader’s Brother) is a connoisseur of cheesecake i.e. he eats a lot of it, and declared this the best one I’ve made.  I suspect it’s because it combines two of his favourite things: Baileys and cheesecake.  The malteser topping probably didn’t hurt its chances either!






Happy birthday CCD and Nunks (my uncle – they are twins!)




Ingredients

For the base:
250g digestive biscuits
100g unsalted butter, at room temperature

For the topping:
600g cream cheese – I used Philadelphia
100g icing sugar
4 tablespoons Baileys
4 Cadbury’s flakes, broken up – you could also use 100g grated chocolate
300ml double cream

To decorate: maltesers



Method

Place a 20cm food ring (or the ring part of a 20cm cake tin – springform would be easiest to release) on a plate.  Line the ring with baking paper – this aids release later on.

Place the biscuits in a food processor and blitz until you have crumbs.  You could instead place the biscuits in a bag and beat with a rolling pin.

Add the butter and blitz again until you have clumpy wet sand.  If you are making the base without a processor, melt the butter and stir into the crumbs.  NB. There is no need to melt the butter with the processor method.

Press the buttery crumbs into the base of the food ring and level out.

Refrigerate while you make the topping.

Beat the cream cheese in a bowl until smooth and glossy.

Add the icing sugar and Baileys and beat again.

Add the chocolate and beat again.

Pour in the cream and beat until the mixture starts to thicken up.  At first it will seem very wet but – have faith – the cream will start to thicken and you will get a silky cheesecake.  It will still be unset at this stage.

Spoon over the biscuit base and level the surface.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or – ideally – overnight.

On the day of serving cover the top with maltesers.  If you put the maltesers on when the cheesecake is still in the fridge they risk getting wet.  As it’s a softish texture, serve it from the fridge.

Bask in the glory of the wonderful thing you have created.

Eat.

23 comments:

Lisa Shannon said...

Happy Birthday CCD and CCUncle!! Two best things ever invented Baileys and chocolate. This is going to be my bank holiday make not bake. Thank you for the inspiration CC XX

Caroline said...

Looks delicious! Happy Birthday to your birthday twins, hope they enjoyed the day.

Gloria Baker said...

I think this cheescake look amazing!!!
I love Bayleys!
And happy birthday to CCD and CCuncle!
xo

Jo said...

This may be a way for me to have Baileys, great looking cheesecake. The malteaser topping definitely gives it more of an "occasion" look. Happy birthday to ccd and cc uncle!

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of unbaked cheesecakes too and this one looks & sounds lovely.

Joyce

Ulla said...

I prefer unbaked cheesecake as well. This must be nice even I'm no fan of Bailey's. There's not too much of it. I need to make this cake although we can't get Cadbury's Flakes (which I like) here in Finland.

Debs Dust Bunny said...

This cheesecake is a thing of beauty and joy forever! I'd have several birthdays a year if could have this for my birthday cake : )

Victory Rolls & Mixing Bowls said...

FUNGUS IS EVIL! ahem, and, cheesecake is good - fact. We are also eat lots party less people. I have to say I do prefer unbaked, mainly because I can then eat it faster as you say lol. Lovely cheesecake :)

Nom!

Susie @ Fold in the Flour said...

Oh My! Baileys and Chocolate? In a cheesecake? With Maltesers on top? You're really killing me with this one - I would so love to try that, it sounds amazing!

Happy Birthday to the Birthday Boys. :)

United Cakedom said...

The whole baked cheesecake vs non-baked cheesecake has been something that keeps me up at night! (not really) but it is something I have thought about and I have decided I like both and that one isn't necessarily better then the other. Like you said above it will all have to do with the amount of time you have!

I take a while to get to my point ;0)

Oh and I still can't eat raw onions even though my mom told me I would like them when I got older.

Hope your dad and his brother had a marvelous day!!

Baking Addict said...

Happy birthday to your dad and uncle! I do love a good cheesecake and this looks amazing. The maltesers on top are brilliant!

Cakelaw said...

This looks fabulous - and Maltesers say party to me. Happy birthday to your da.

Katie said...

Ohh yes cheesecakes for birthdays are somehow much more special and indulgant.
I'm afarid my heart belongs to baked cheesecakes though, although I wouldn't turn down a slice of this!

Soo said...

Gorgeous looking cake!

I'm on the baked cheesecake side of the fence if forced to choose - but love a no bake cheesecake as well.

Nickki said...

Oh my!! All of my favourite things in a cheesecake - heaven! Happy Birthday to your Dad & Uncle :-)

Cakeyboi said...

Oh my gosh - that is total Food Porn!! It looks delicious CC - i could dive right into that!

Jean said...

I haven't made a cheesecake in donkey's years. This could well be the one to get me into them again.....those Maltesers - inspirational and as Bailey's is one of my favourite things.....

Anonymous said...

It looks like perfection !
I love the idea of putting the malters on it as decoration. I think it gives it a beautiful detail

Kim said...

That looks amazing! I'm definitely in the 'no bake' cheesecake club too. Love the Malteser layer on top too! This is going right onto my to do list!

Maggie said...

Fabulous - I too think no bake cheesecake tastes better. Baileys, Chocolate and Maltezers too..... :)

Choclette said...

Ooh my, I think that definitely constitutes a party type of cake. Love the look of the whole thing. The flaked chocolate in the cheese mixture makes it particularly interesting and I am unable to resist maltesers. I'm sure the twins enjoyed it and a belated Happy Birthday to them.

Unknown said...

Since reading your blog , I have made this cheesecake 4 times for different friends birthdays. It looks and tastes amazing. Well done.

The Caked Crusader said...

Hi Denise

I'm so pleased you like this recipe and have made it so many times! That's the whole point of the blog - sharing good recipes!

Happy baking