Zebra Cheesecake

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

My name is Petra and I am… ahem… a cheesecake maniac.

Yes, I dream about cheesecakes.

Yes, I collect cheesecake recipes.

Yes, I’ve prepared many.

Yes, I am sure I have yet many of them to prepare.

No, I don’t think there is a power in this world that would stop me from doing so.

Yes, I’ll be showing you all of them.

And YES, I’ll be more than happy if you had a look at how I made this awesome one…
zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

Here we have our lovely ingredients, ladies and gentlemen.

Of course, there’s a lot of cream cheese in there. But definitely not too much.

That fact suggests that this cheesecake is a milder one.

Which I definitely can confirm (after eating many, many a slices).

Though it is not as rich as New York Cheesecake, I’d define it as being ‘heavenly’ mild.

A heavenly mild cheesecake.

That’s what it is.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

1. To make it, preheat the oven to 284 F (140 C).
2. Second, using a vegetable oil, spray a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan.
3. Wrap two layers of foil around the pan. This cake is going to be baked in a water bath and the foil will prevent  the water from seeping in.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

4. Place the cream cheese, butter and milk into a metal (or heatproof) bowl.

5. Now place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and – stirring constantly – let the ingredients melt.

If you’ve ever wondered why bowls are sometimes placed over simmering water then I have the answer for you. It’s because the ingredients in the bowl need very mild and gentle heat to melt, nothing too strong. In cases such as these, the steam from the simmering water works best. Otherwise some ingredients might not only melt but also cook and curdle. And who wants that?

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

6. After the melted cream cheese mixture has cooled to room temperature, add the egg yolks, the cake flour, the cornstarch (corn flour) and the lemon juice.
7. Whisk the mixture until smooth.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

8. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until foamy.
9. Then add the sugar and whip for another couple of minutes until soft peaks form.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

10. In two batches, pour the cream cheese mixture into the egg whites.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

11. Fold the two batters together gently after each addition…

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

12. …until they are well combined.

Try to be as gentle as possible in this process, since we’ve worked hard to make the whites light and airy and we definitely don’t want to lose that.

I am speaking in the name of all whipped egg whites in the world here!

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

13. Divide the batter evenly into two bowls and add the cocoa powder into one of them.
14. Mix in the cocoa gently.
And let the fun begin…
zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

15. So this is how the zebra strips are achieved – nothing difficult at all.

Take your sprayed springform pan and place 3 tablespoons of cream colored batter in a circle in the center of the pan. Then take 3 tablespoons of the chocolate batter and place in the center. Keep adding circles and the batter will spread of its own accord.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

16. Find a large baking dish that will fit the springform pan.

Fill the empty baking dish 1/4 of the way full with hot water and place the springform pan inside.
17. Bake in the lower third of the oven at 284 F (140 C) for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
18. Turn off the oven and leave the cake inside (with the door still closed) for another 10 minutes.
19. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool completely.

zebra cheesecake recipe with step-by-step images

This cake tastes best after it’s been refrigerated for a couple of hours. It becomes slightly more dense and moist.

Enjoy, dear friends.

(This recipe was adapted from Treats.)

17 thoughts on “Zebra Cheesecake

  1. 1
    Sue says:

    Love the look and the tutorial!

  2. 2
    Lubayna says:

    All I can say is Wow! ….
    That looks like the best cheesecake ever!!!! Time to hit the kitchen 🙂
    BTW I’m in Love with ur Blog…I’m afraid I …am now addicted to it =)

  3. 3
    ingrid says:

    Very cool! I’ve never seen that technique done with cheesecake.
    ~ingrid

  4. 4
    Eva says:

    Yum! Your zebra cheesecake looks lovely! I recently made one too. Check it out if you have time: http://dailydosesofsugar.blogspot.com/2010/09/zebra-cheesecake.html

    Btw, how come the mid section of your cheesecake came out to be all cocoa color? Or is it just the angle of the photo?

    • 4.1
      zoomyummy says:

      Thanks Eva! Your cheesecake looks just divine! Hm, the mid section – I guess it has something to do with the fact that I doubled the amount of cocoa powder in the recipe – I went for a darker color and more chocolaty taste, but it also makes the batter slightly heavier. 🙂 Petra

  5. 5
    Anina says:

    i love your cooking and how you show the steps. i will definitely try this cheesecake. i love cheesecake. thank you for sharing, Petra.

  6. 6
    Brilynn says:

    That looks awesome, love the stripes!

  7. 7
    M. says:

    really gorgeous looking cake!
    love the step-by-step photos, so helpful!

  8. 8

    Your zebra cheesecake looks lovely!
    Very beautiful!!
    I love cheesecake too!!

  9. 9
    ツ says:

    I just made zebra cake! I like how you have a cheesecake version!:)

  10. 10
    rosa maria says:

    hola! tu blog es absolutamente increible y maravilloso.te escribo desde las islas canarias en españa. he hecho tu receta de muffin y es insuperable , mañana probare esta.ah! yo tambien hago cositas a crochet tus trabajos son muy interesantes . saludos cariñosos

  11. 11
    Ngoc says:

    Amazing! Your cake is so beautiful! Thank you very much for your recipe and the very helpful and clear instruction. I just made it, but cannot make the zebra strips as good as you.

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