Japanese Cotton Cheesecake

Make Ahead and Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days, covered. Freezes 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge, though it loses a little bounce.

Japanese Cotton Cheesecake: The Method

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1. Line the base and sides of a 20 cm round tin with baking paper, letting the sides stand 5 cm proud. Wrap the outside in two layers of foil if the tin is springform.

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2. Melt the cream cheese, butter and milk together over a pan of simmering water, whisking until completely smooth. Cool for 5 minutes.

   Mark done Start 5 min timer

3. Whisk in the egg yolks one at a time, then sift in the flour and cornflour and whisk until glossy and lump-free. Add the lemon juice and salt.

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4. In a spotlessly clean bowl, whisk the whites with the cream of tartar until foamy, then add the sugar in three additions and whisk to soft, drooping peaks — the tip should curl over, not stand up.

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5. Fold a third of the meringue into the cheese base to loosen, then fold in the remainder in two additions, stopping the moment it is combined.

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6. Pour into the tin from a height of 20 cm to burst large bubbles, then tap the tin on the counter twice.

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7. Set in a roasting tin and pour in boiling water to a depth of 3 cm. Bake at 150°C / 300°F for 30 minutes, then reduce to 130°C / 265°F for 40 minutes more.

   Mark done Start 30 min timer

8. Turn the oven off, prop the door open with a wooden spoon, and leave the cake inside for 30 minutes. This gradual cooling is what prevents collapse.

   Mark done Start 30 min timer

9. Remove, cool for no more than 2 hours, then brush with warm apricot jam. Chill for 2 hours before slicing with a hot, dry knife.

   Mark done Start 2 hr timer

Related guides: Prep, cook and total time · Pan and tin size.

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Worth Knowing

• Every ingredient should be at room temperature. Cold cream cheese will not emulsify and leaves lumps.
• A cracked top means the oven was too hot or the meringue too stiff. Both are easy fixes next time.
• Serve it slightly chilled but not fridge-cold, when the texture is at its most cotton-like.

Serving Ideas

Hojicha or a light oolong tea · Serve with fresh strawberries · A perfect close to a rich ramen dinner

Quick Answers

Japanese Cotton Cheesecake Nutrition Facts

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.