Japanese Cheesecake

Soufflé Cheesecake is the one you’re looking for.  Soufflé Cheesecake originated in Japan and is widely known as Japanese Cheesecake or Japanese Cotton Cheesecake outside of Japan.  It incorporates the egg whites into the cake mixture and baked in a bain-marie (water bath).

Japanese Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 15 g unsalted butter (for greasing the pan & parchment paper) (15 g = 1 Tbsp)
• 6 large eggs (6 eggs = 300g without shell)
• 300 g cream cheese (300 g = 10.6 oz)
• 60 g unsalted butter (60 g = 4 Tbsp)
• 200 g heavy cream or heavy whipping cream (200 g = 200 ml)
• 60 g granulated sugar (60 g = 5 Tbsp)
• 80 g cake flour (80 g = 9 Tbsp) (See Note)
• 1/2 lemon (for zest)
• 30 g lemon juice (30 g = 2 Tbsp = about 1/2 lemon)
• 100 g granulated sugar (for beating egg whites) (100 g = 8.5 Tbsp)
• 2 Tbsp apricot jam (for glaze)
• 2 tsp hot water (for glaze)

Instructions

Prepare Cake Pan

1. Cut parchment paper for the bottom and side of cake pan. You will need a 9” (23 cm) round paper for the bottom, one 4” x 30” (10 x 76 cm) paper for the side of cake pan, and two 2” x 30” (5 x 76 cm) paper strips which will be used for “transporting”.
2. Grease the cake pan and parchment paper (for bottom and sides) with 15 g (1 Tbsp.) butter (you don't need to use all of it).
3. Place the 2 “straps” criss-cross on the bottom of the cake pan. Then place the bottom and side parchment paper. The grease side of the 9” (23 cm) paper should face up, and face in on the 4” x 30” (10 x 76 cm) paper.

Preheat the Oven & Gather Ingredients

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). You will be baking at 320F (160C) but when you open the oven to place the cheesecake you’ll lose some heat, so we’ll start off a bit higher.
2. Please note that it is very important that ingredients are all measured before starting. Separate the 6 eggs into egg yolks and egg whites. Refrigerate the egg whites.

Mix over Double Boiler

1. Set a medium saucepan filled with 2” (5 cm) water and bring to simmer. Add 300 g (10.6 oz.) cream cheese, 60 g (4 Tbsp. or ¼ cup) unsalted butter, 200 g (200 ml) heavy whipping cream, and 60 g (5 Tbsp.) granulated sugar in a large bowl. Put the bowl over the saucepan.
2. Using a silicone spatula, mash the cream cheese and butter. Once they are melted, use whisk to blend everything together. Remove from the heat.

Mix at the Counter

1. In the warm cream cheese mixture add 6 egg yolks, one yolk at a time while whisking. Make sure each egg yolk blended well with the mixing before adding the next one.
2. Using a fine mesh strainer, sift 80 g (9 Tbsp.) cake flour into the batter. Whisk and blend together.
3. Then pass the batter through the same fine mesh strainer to a clean large bowl, creating the silky texture for the batter.
4. Zest half of a lemon into the batter. Make sure you only zest the yellow part, not the bitter white part. Then squeeze half lemon into a small bowl. Measure 30 g (2 Tbsp.) lemon juice and add to the batter. Whisk well to blend and set aside.

Set Up Bain-Marie

1. Put the baking sheet inside the oven and pour hot water until half way or 1 inch deep. Close the oven.

Beat Egg Whites

1. Add cold egg whites into a large clean mixing bowl (of the stand mixer). Make sure there is no oil or water in the bowl. If you have space in your refrigerator, I highly recommend keeping the mixing bowl cold until you’re ready to use. Start whisking on medium speed (speed 4) until the egg whites become opaque, foamy and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Then slowly add 100 g (8.5 Tbsp.) granulated sugar, 1/3 portion at a time while the mixer runs.
2. Once all the sugar has been added, increase the mixer speed to high (speed 8-9) and beat the egg whites until “soft” to “medium” peaks. When lift the whisk, the egg whites shouldn’t fold ribbons (drizzle) anymore. When you turn your whisk upside down, the egg whites should cling to the whisk and hold their shape for a few second, but then start to flop over.

Fold in Egg Whites

1. Using a whisk, mix in 1/3 of egg whites into the cream cheese mixture until incorporated. Then gently fold in another 1/3 into the mixture.
2. Lastly, pour the mixture back into the mixer bowl (with 1/3 of egg whites still in it) and fold in very gently.
3. Pour the mixture into the baking pan in all at once, avoiding air pockets while pouring. Tap the cake pan a few times on the kitchen counter to release any air pockets in the batter.

Bake the Cheesecake

1. Place the cake pan into the baking sheet that’s already in the oven. Reduce the oven temperature from 350F (180C) to 320F (160C) and start baking for 70-75 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300F (150C) and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and skewer inserted comes out clean.

Let Cool

1. Turn off the oven and leave the oven door ajar for 15-20 minutes with the cake inside. If you take the cake out immediately, the sudden change of temperature could cause the cake to shrink or collapse. You want the cake to slowly shrink down to half the height, roughly 4 inch to 2 inch. Remove the pan from the oven. Gently pull out the cake using the 2 parchment paper straps (with another set of hand).
2. Remove the parchment paper. Combine 2 Tbsp. apricot jam and 1 tsp. water in a small bowl. Brush the apricot mixture over the top of the cheesecake. Let cool to room temperature. Chill the cake for 1-2 hours before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or 3-4 weeks in freezer.

Recipe Notes

Ingredients & Equipment:

I shared more detailed info in the post, so please visit the blog post of this recipe.

“Tbsp” Measurement:

I use a measuring spoon instead of cup measuring because a “cup” measurement is not as precise. Please use a measuring spoon (1 Tbsp. = 15 ml), and not a dinner tablespoon. I highly recommend measuring all baking recipes with a kitchen scale.

All-Purpose Flour vs. Cake Flour:

All-purpose flour and cake flour do not perform the same. Cake flour is more delicate, and if you use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour, the texture will be dense and tough. If you can't find cake flour, use this substitution:

Take one level cup of all-purpose flour, remove 2 Tbsp, and then add 2 Tbsp of corn starch back in. (1 cup AP flour - 2 Tbsp AP flour + 2 Tbsp corn starch = 1 cup cake flour). Be sure to sift the flour 3-4 times to distribute the corn starch well.

Tips for Beating Egg Whites:

-- Make sure your beaters and mixing bowl are clean and dry. A speck of oil or egg yolk on either one can minimize the volume of the beaten egg whites.

-- Avoid plastic bowls -- even clean ones may hold oily residue that can affect the beating quality of the egg whites.

-- Use a bowl that's wide enough to keep the beaters from being buried in the egg whites.

Equipment You’ll Need:

• 9" cake pan (4" tall) (9" = 23 cm)
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Fine mesh strainer
• Whisk
• Stand mixer or electric mixer
• Baking sheet with rim

https://www.justonecookbook.com/souffle-japanese-cheesecake/