We've combined two classic recipes to make this deliciously zesty no-bake cheesecake. Perfect for a summer dinner party pudding, or enjoy with an afternoon cup of tea. Drizzle over some extra lemon curd to serve, if you like.
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Yields:
10 - 12 serving(s)
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Cal/Serv:
556
Ingredients
FOR THE SPONGE
100g
unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease
Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon
100g
self-raising flour
2
medium eggs
125g
caster sugar
FOR THE CHEESECAKE
500g
cream cheese
125g
icing sugar
40g
unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon
300ml
double cream
100g
lemon curd
Pared zest of 1 lemon, to decorate
Pearl sugar, to decorate (optional)
Directions
Step 1
Make the cake. Preheat oven to 170°C (150°C fan) mark 3. Lightly grease the base and sides of a 20.5cm (8in) round springform tin. Line the base of the tin with parchment.
Step 2
Put the zest and 2tbsp juice in a mixing bowl with the butter, flour, eggs and 100g caster sugar. Whisk together with an electric hand whisk briefly until the mixture is smooth and combined (don’t overwhisk). Tip the mixture into the tin and spread to level. Bake for 25-30min until the cake is golden, risen and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Step 3
Put the remaining lemon juice and remaining caster sugar in a small pan. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil and remove from the heat. Carefully poke holes into the top of the sponge with a cocktail stick or skewer and pour the hot syrup over the cake. Allow to cool completely in the tin.
Step 4
Unclip and remove cake from tin. Clean tin. Turn base of tin over so it’s flat-side up. Take a 30.5cm sheet of baking parchment and lay it over the base of the tin. Carefully clip the paper-covered base back into the tin so paper is tightly stretched over base and any overhang is trapped between base and sides of tin, then line sides of tin with another piece of baking parchment. Peel and discard parchment from the bottom of the cake, then place into the prepared tin, flat side down.
Step 5
Make the cheesecake. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, icing sugar, melted butter, lemon zest and half the juice together with an electric handwhisk until smooth.
Step 6
In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it just holds its shape, then gently fold it into the cream cheese bowl until combined. Tip the cheesecake mixture into the tin and spread to make an even layer. Chill in the fridge for at least 6hr or overnight.
Step 7
When ready to serve, beat the remaining lemon juice with the lemon curd. Unclip cheesecake from tin and slide on to a serving plate or cake stand. Peel off the parchment around the sides. Drizzle some of the lemon curd sauce over the cheesecake to decorate and sprinkle over the lemon zest and pearl sugar, if using. Serve in slices with a drizzle of extra sauce.
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).
