Divine Dinner Party Classic:
Baked Kiwi and Stem Ginger Cheesecake
(Recipe)
I often have friends over for dinner and although I have a repertoire of fail-safe recipes when it comes to informal gatherings, I like to make something a little different some times, and nearly always based on what I have on my pantry or fridge. Kiwi fruit are popular in my home and I love them sliced and added to yoghurt for a quick breakfast, as well as eaten with a spoon (Kiwi style) after a heavy lunch or supper…..they are full of vitamin C and their tangy taste is so refreshing. I am also a ginger fanatic and add ginger to savoury and sweet recipes throughout the year, so, when I discovered three balls of stem ginger languishing at the back of my fridge, plus 6 rather wrinkled looking kiwi fruits in the fruit bowl and half a packet of ginger biscuits, I decided to dress up and old classic for a dinner party I was attending and make a traditional baked cheesecake with a kiwi and ginger topping.
I usually add fresh lemon to my baked cheesecake recipe and use digestive biscuits as the base, but, the ginger biscuits and kiwi and ginger topping was refreshingly different and worked very well as a topping and a base. This cheesecake went down a storm at my friend’s house (I offered to bring dessert to save her some work) and I ended up leaving the four slices that were left, by request! I think this recipe is perfect for all your summer (and winter come to think of it) gatherings whether that be with friends or family. I am going to try this recipe (with the ginger biscuit base) with some of my currants when they are in season, as I bet that mixed red, black and white currants would also make a stunning topping and will marry well with the ginger.
This month’s Alphabakes challenge that is hosted by Ros (The More Than Occasional Baker) and Caroline (Caroline Makes) is all about the letter “K”; so, as I made this cheesecake with Kiwi fruit, I am entering it into their baking challenge……a little late, sorry!
The recipe for my Baked Kiwi and Stem Ginger Cheesecake is shared below and is part of my weekly meal plan this week, which you can see on full here: Weekly Meal Plan: 5:2 Recipes and Smoky Mexican Bean Soup (170 Calories a Bowl). That’s all for today, see you later with more new recipes and lots of news. Have a great Wednesday, not long to go to the weekend now! Karen
Disclaimer: I made my cheesecake in one of the fabulous Mermaid Set of Two Loose Base Sponge Tins that were sent to me recently by the lovely Sarah and Ria! They are made from hard anodised aluminium, the ultimate conductor of heat, have a LIFETIME guarantee and were amazingly easy to use when I had to take the cheesecake out after cooling; the loose bottom was just pushed up and out the cheesecake came with ease! I am planning to make a classic Victoria Sandwich with the tins this weekend, and will post my results here, along with my recipe later……..but, as for the cheesecake, it baked evenly in one of these tins and as I said before, it was easy to take out after it had cooled, with no cracks or breakages! As always, all opinions and views are my own and I was not paid or asked to write my review here. Karen
Baked Kiwi and Stem Ginger Cheesecake
Serves | 10 to 12 slices |
Prep time | 15 minutes |
Cook time | 1 hour |
Total time | 1 hour, 15 minutes |
Allergy | Egg, Wheat |
Dietary | Vegetarian |
Meal type | Dessert, Snack |
Misc | Child Friendly, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold |
Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving, Valentines day |
By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 50g unsalted butter, melted
- 100g ginger biscuits, crushed into fine breadcrumbs (such as ginger snaps or ginger nuts)
- 450g cream cheese
- 100g caster sugar
- 3 large free-range eggs, beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 6 to 8 fresh kiwi fruit, depending on size (peeled and sliced thinly)
- 2 to 3 balls of stem ginger, depending on size (thinly sliced)
- a little syrup from the stem ginger
Note
A lovely traditional baked cheesecake with the added zing of a ginger biscuit base and stem ginger with kiwi fruit topping; this makes great use of those punnets of cheap kiwi fruit when they are in season and the stem ginger adds a little sophistication, making this cheesecake suitable to end any dinner party or special occasion meal.
Directions
Step 1 | Mix the ginger biscuit crumbs with the melted butter and press them into a greased and lined loose-bottom cake tin, 20cm/8" in diameter. |
Step 2 | Bake for 10 minutes at 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Remove from oven and set to one side. |
Step 3 | Beat the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla paste together until light and fluffy. |
Step 4 | Pour or spoon the cheesecake mixture into the cake tin and level the mixture with the back of a spoon. Bake for 1 hour or until well risen and the centre of the cheesecake is firm to the touch. |
Step 5 | Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin. |
Step 6 | Carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin and place on a serving platter. |
Step 7 | Arrange the kiwi fruit slices around the top of the cheesecake and then slide sliced of stem ginger in and amongst the kiwi slices.s Drizzle some ginger syrup over the fruit and ginger and chill until ready to serve. |
Step 8 | Serve cut into slices with crème fraîche or cream. |
The cheesecake looks stunning. I wish I could have a bite of that.
Making me hungry! I love ginger!
what a beautiful cheesecake… the amazing combination of kiwi and stem ginger sounds really fabulous… lovely stuff, this has cheered me right up!
That looks glorious Karen. I could really do with a slice of that just now!
This is one of the most beautiful cheesecakes I have ever seen. Gorgeous colours!! I’ve actually never thought to put ginger in a cheesecake before. It sounds like a beautiful combination though, especially with the vibrant kiwifruit topping. Thanks for the inspiration!
Two of my favourite ingredients ginger and kiwi – looks great too.
Oh my goodness this looks divine!
this looks beautiful and such an unusual combination I bet it is really nice and tasty 🙂
tweeted to share this
tweetine again becuase this needs to be shared 🙂
and again 🙂
I can’t get over how pretty this is (why I keep coming back to it to comment, sorry) it looks just like a flower 🙂
I must try this it looks and sounds amazing 😀
I’ve never thought about putting Kiwi in a cheese cake before, what a fantastic idea.
I love that idea of kiwi and ginger, It sounds truly moreish. This is a proper use of kiwi – do you remember the time in the 1980s when kiwi fruit seemed to be the garnish for just about everything in trendy restaurants?
This sounds so different yet refreshing in a way that regular cheesecake isn’t. I too am a fan of kiwi and of course ginger has a nice bite to it. This is also a gorgeous looking dessert.
The combination is great and it looks great. It would be an unusual and fabulous dinner dessert.
Sounds lovely! G+’d
This looks great Karen. I too adore kiwi fruit and ginger!
Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/341097083362742272
I agree this would definitely be a great dinner party dessert…and it’s a little bit different as well as sometimes I think I can get stuck in a pudding rut! 🙂
Might use lemons instead of limes! Re-tweeted!
This looks amazing.
Thanks! 🙂
What a different idea 🙂
Mmmmmm, looks so delicious. I love cheesecake too.
Love the idea of kiwi and ginger together! Looks fabulous!
looks absolutely divine. Going to give it a try this weekend for the inlaws visiting from France
Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/345439587532935169
This looks delicious i will definitely have to make this next time we have friends over! 🙂
WOW! If I made that (and Lord knows I never could…) I don’t think I’d be able to bring myself to cut into it. I’d probably have it varnished and kept on display! It looks divine.
Re-tweeted thanks!
Really unusual but I love kiwi so might try this.
think i will have to give it a try , looks fab!
Looks gorgeous,Cheesecake is my favourite dessert,new tried kiwi and ginger together,but it sounds lovely 🙂
Wow! Kiwi- I love. Ginger- Stupendous. Combining them with cheesecake?! Could be a masterpiece! I’m very tempted to try this one out.
Oh wow, going to make this for my daughter, she loves cheesecake but absolutely loves kiwis 🙂
deffo bookmarked this one!
I LOVE CHEESCAKE. This one looks yummy.
Sharing via twitter!
Mmmmm Cheesecake has got to be my favourite dessert and this sound lovely!
Sounds and looks delicious
It’s a great dinner party dish – unusually and tasty, I’m sure. I’d be tempted to pipe dabs of cream on top.
Looks delicious, first Kiwi Cheesecake recipe I have seen, thank you