Tiny Kitchen Big Appetite

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Quick Kiwi Cheesecake

With the essence of cheesecake, but much less effort, you’ll become fast friends with this recipe.

 

About 20 years ago I had a little round kiwi cheesecake at the now defunct Oscar’s Restaurant (rest in peace) in Barrie, that has been on my mind ever since. You don’t often see the pairing and the flavours and plating really made an imprint on me. Well, this is my-it’s hot as H-E-double hockey sticks outside and there’s no way I’m turning on my oven but I must have dessert-version.

This no bake cheesecake harkens back to the cool whip cheesecake of your childhood (my stepmom still makes an awesome cherry one!). It’s easy to whip up and can be swirled with any fruit or flavour and topped with any kind of cookie. Mmm, I’m thinking… dulce de leche with chocolate cookies, chocolate sauce with vanilla wafers, that Ikea lingonberry jam that I have in the back of the fridge with gingersnaps….

Let your imagination run wild. Or follow my lead and see the recipe below. Let me know if you try it!

Avoid over mixing the fruit into the cream mixture, so you get pretty swirls.

Ingredients

Cheesecake

1/2 cup cream cheese at room temperature

3/4 cup whipping cream (35%)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

zest of half a lemon

1 teaspoon lemon juice

4 cookies (I used Walkers shortbread)

Kiwi Compote

2 kiwis, peeled, chopped and mashed

Sliced kiwi for garnish (optional)

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

Quick Kiwi Cheesecake

Servings 4 Time 15 minutes

Recipe Amanda Weafer

Directions

On high speed, whip the whipping cream to soft peaks. This means, if you lift the beaters, peaks will form, but flop over. Set aside.

In another bowl, whip the cream cheese on high to lighten the texture. Add in the sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and juice and whip until combined.

On slow speed, or by hand with a spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture. Spoon cream cheese into 4 serving dishes.

Mix mashed kiwi with lemon juice and sugar until the sugar dissolves.

Spoon about 2 teaspoons of kiwi compote into each serving dish and gently swirl. Cover and refrigerate serving dishes until ready to serve.

When it is dessert time, crumble a cookie on top of each dish and top with a slice of kiwi.