Did you know that National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day is a day dedicated to celebrating this delightful combination in all of its glory? So grab a plate, get a slice of cheesecake, and dig in as everyone learns about the origins and celebration of this amazing dessert.
However, Cheesecake is a sweet dessert made with soft fresh, cream, or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar, on a crust of crushed graham crackers, cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Cheesecakes can either be baked or frozen until the cheese and other components settle into a solid piece. The dessert is often served topped with fruit, chocolate, compote, or whipped cream. The most common cheesecake flavors are blueberry and strawberry, but today is about their less popular, most special sibling, the white chocolate cheesecake. Here are some of the famous flavours of chocolate cheesecake, which one is your favourite
- Berry Swirls: Add a berry puree, like raspberry or strawberry, for a fruity twist.
- Lemon Zest: A hint of lemon can brighten the rich flavours.
- Mint: Fresh mint leaves or mint extract can add a refreshing touch.
- Espresso: A little coffee or espresso powder can complement the sweetness beautifully.
- Nutty Crunch: Consider adding crushed nuts or a cookie crust for texture.
History of National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Ancient records show that the early Aztec and Mayan people consumed chocolate in religious rituals. Not the chocolate we are familiar with today, but the cocoa bean. Once the early Europeans were introduced to chocolate, many consumed it as a beverage, and after gaining popularity, people started experimenting with many recipes. Soon after, chocolate cake enjoyed unparalleled popularity in the 19th century, and people started using chocolate in more baked goods. Confectioners realized that chocolate in desserts had an immense marketing value.
After that, the combination of chocolate cake arose when, throughout the 19th century, people started using chocolate and powdered cocoa in baked goods. Which promoted the marketing value of chocolate in desserts increased the motivation for chocolate makers to produce it and encouraged people to be creative with it in their kitchens.
Cheesecake, on the other hand, has a more direct and recent line of history that can be traced down through a few decades. During the 1930s, the famous New York style cheesecake began at a restaurant called Lindy’s in Manhattan, the first restaurant to ever create the delicious combination of cream cheese and cake into one delicate treat. Lindy’s was beloved for its creation of cheesecake and was also known for its famous clientele, including Harpo Marx, Woody Allen, Al Jolson and Milton Berle.
Meanwhile, in North America, Kuno Baedeker developed white chocolate in 1945. In the strictest sense of the term, white chocolate isn’t chocolate at all. It is made from cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids, and sometimes, vanilla. It does not contain cocoa solids, which are found in milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
While the restaurant sadly closed its doors in the 1960s, the owner of the restaurant had released their sought-after cheesecake recipe out to the public in the 1930s through the magazine, Duncan Hines, which critically acclaimed high-quality restaurants for their food innovations.
Today, there are many different kinds of cheesecakes out there that can be made, and white chocolate cheesecake is just one of the tasty creations that will make your mouth water for more.
White chocolate, on the other hand, appeared much later. The Nestle company began making white chocolate in the 1930s.
During the 1930s, the famous New York-style cheesecake was created at a restaurant called Lindy’s, combining cream cheese and cake into one delicious treat. While the restaurant shut down in the 1960s, the owner of the restaurant released the recipe to the public through the magazine Duncan Hines which acclaimed restaurants consult for their food innovations. Since then, the recipe has traveled far and wide, and today almost every restaurant serves cheesecake with its own variation of the original recipe.
5th Century B.C. (The Earliest Cheesecake) | The Greeks made rudimentary cheesecake called ‘plakous.’ |
1390 (Cheesecake in English Recipes) | A collection of medieval English cheesecake recipes are compiled by the cooks of King Richard II. |
The 1930s (New York-Style Cheesecake) | Arnold Reuben creates the first New York-style cheesecake. |
1972 (The Cheesecake Factory) | The restaurant is founded by David M. Overton in California. |
White Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup sugar
For the filling:
- 10 oz white chocolate, chopped
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
How to make:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, then let it cool.
- In a microwave or double boiler, melt the white chocolate until smooth. Let it cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add the melted white chocolate and vanilla, mixing until combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition.
- Finally, stir in the sour cream until smooth.
- Pour the filling over the cooled crust.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until the center is set but slightly jiggly.
- Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside with the door ajar for about an hour to cool gradually.
- Remove from the oven, let it cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
- Carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. You can top with whipped cream, fresh berries, or chocolate shavings for extra flair.
5 Facts About Cheesecake That Will Blow Your Mind
-
Some flavors are more popular than others- However, Red Velvet is America’s favorite cheesecake flavor.
-
Austrians have cheesecake postal stamps- Cheesecake-flavored postage stamps are available at the Austrian Postal Services.
-
Some cheesecakes can be very expensive- The most expensive cheesecake costs $5,000 and it takes five days to prepare it.
-
The largest Cheesecake ever made- Philadelphia Kraft Foods Mexico made the cake in 2009 in Mexico, which weighed 4,703 pounds.
-
Not all cheesecakes are desserts- Savoury smoked salmon cheesecake is made in Scotland.
Activities National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
Here are some of the activities that you can do on National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day.
- Baking Party: On this day you can gather friends or family for a cheesecake-making party. Each person can bring their own twist, like different flavors or toppings.
- Taste Testing: Visit local bakeries and cafes to sample different white chocolate cheesecakes. Create a tasting scorecard for fun comparisons!
- DIY Toppings Bar: Even you can set up a toppings bar with options like fresh fruits, nuts, chocolate drizzle, or whipped cream, and let everyone customize their cheesecake slice.
- Cheesecake Decorating Contest: After making cheesecakes, have a friendly competition to see who can create the most beautiful or creative cheesecake presentation.
- Cheesecake-Themed Trivia: Host a trivia night with cheesecake-related questions, or general dessert trivia for added fun.
- White Chocolate Pairings: Explore pairing white chocolate cheesecake with different beverages like coffee, dessert wines, or flavored teas.
- Photo Shoot: Set up a cute dessert table and take photos of your cheesecakes. Share them on social media with friends to inspire their own cheesecake creations!
- Virtual Baking Class: Moreover, you can also Join an online baking class focused on cheesecakes, or follow a tutorial together with friends via video chat.
Conclusion
Also, read more about National Canadian Bacon Day – March 3, 2025