Hojicha Souffle Cheesecake

My first bake (and taste) with Hojicha!

The roasted flavor of Hojicha reminds me of coffee a bit. It lends a unique savory note that cuts down on sweetness and pairs well with dessert.

This cheesecake takes on different textures when it's fresh and still warm vs after it has been refrigerated and is cold. When warm, the texture is custard-y and melts in your mouth. When cold, the crumb is dense and creamy. The extra richness is probably due to my sub of heavy cream with milk which is not at all necessary. (I had heavy cream waiting to be used up.)

Hojicha Souffle Cheesecake
recipe adapted from Magic Ingredients
makes one 6" round pan


3 eggs
60g (1/4 cup) milk
160g cream cheese
35g unsalted butter
25g cake flour
10g hojicha powder
3g (1/2 tsp) white vinegar
40g (3 Tbsp) sugar

*subbed milk with heavy cream and used 138g cream cheese

1. With double boiler, whisk together milk, cream cheese, and butter until smooth and lump free.
2. Turn off heat but keep bowl over hot water, whisk in yolks for about 1 min.
3. Sift flour and quickly whisk till combined. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, add together vinegar and white, beat till foamy and gradually add sugar. Beat until soft peaks form.
5. Fold white to yolk in third.
6. Pour into lined pan. Smooth top.
7. Bake in hot waterbath at 250F for 60 minutes (Broiler for last 3 mins).
8. Cool slightly, unmold and refrigerate.

 

Pictures below are taken when the cake was still warm and delicate. It crumbled when I inverted it onto the plate. Note to self, let cake cool completely!

Taste: 4.5 stars out of 5

Prominent roasted tea flavor

Texture: 3.5 stars out of 5

When fresh, custard- like. When cold, creamy and a little too rich and dense