Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (2024)

BY :Bebs | Published: | Updated: | 87 Comments

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4.72 from 28 votes

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Try this Japanese Cheesecake or Cotton Cheesecake recipe for a super fluffy, light-as-air cheesecake you will ever make. Add some fresh berries to make it pretty and ready for any special occasions.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (1)

  • What is Japanese Cheesecake?
  • The secret for making the perfect Japanese Cheesecake
  • Printable Recipe
  • Japanese Cheesecake

What is Japanese Cheesecake?

It is fluffy, it is jiggly and it is yummy!

Japanese cheesecake or also known as cotton cake, Japanesesouffle cake or pillow cake is a kind of sponge cake where the egg whites are whipped into a meringue and then added to the cream cheese-egg yolk batter to create a fluffy texture. The cake is then baked in bain marieor a hot water bath that makes it moist and jiggly.

It has fewer calories per serving than a regular cheesecake as it contains less sugar and cheese.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (2)

It took me a while to writeabout this beautiful and heavenly Japanese Cheesecake. The reason for that is, I had to do it three times to get it picture-ready for my blog, but I am not complaining at all, neither is Armin from the looks of it. He was actually the one urging me to make a "better" one and then another. Although the first two Japanese cheesecakes I made were not picture perfect, they were still delicious.

It was only that my first one came up nice after baking but once it cooled down it turned wrinkled at the top. The second one was firmer and nice all throughout even after chilling but it had a big crack on one side separating the top brown part from the rest of the cake, which of course looked weird.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (3)But after reading a lot of different Japanese Cheesecake recipes and my multipleattempts, (I think) I know now why I failed the first two times.

With all the three cakes I made, I only used the same recipe that my most beautiful sis-in-law, ate Mia, gave me (do not worry that I hurt anybody else's feeling with my superlative comment as she is the only sis-in-law I have).

The secret for making the perfect Japanese Cheesecake

So I knew that it has to be the technique I was using that was causing all the problems. At both times I might have over-beaten my egg whites. This caused the cake to rise too much and with the first cake. The which I baked at 160°C for about 30 minutes then lower the temperature to 140°C because I thought it was already too hot, it made the cake rise then deflate, thus, the wrinkled surface.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (4)

As for the second cake, which I baked at 200°C for 15 minutes and lowering again to 150°C for another 50 minutes, it did not have wrinkles but cracked instead.

So I, therefore, conclude, that over-beating the meringue and baking the Japanese cheesecake at a temperature that is too low or too high and too long will result to a not so good looking but still delectable cakes.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (5)For the third cake (this one in the pictures), I beat the egg whites at only medium-high speed (never use high speed) until almostreaching soft peaks and stop there and baked the cheesecake at 200°C for 15 minutes then 150°C for another 15 minutes then turning off the oven and leave it there for another 30 minutes with the oven door closed and another 10 minutes with door open.

Below is a visual to show the stages of beating egg whites to make a meringue. Remember, we only want to get to the 3rd stage, the soft peaks.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (6)

The result... a perfect dome with no wrinkles nor cracks. With this technique, the cakedid rise but notasmuch as the first two times. Which is good...or bad...depending on how you like it I guess... I like to have the Japanese Cheesecake while it is still slightly warm. But it is equally good when chilled for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (7)

Printable Recipe

Japanese Cheesecake

4.72 from 28 votes

Try this Japanese Cheesecake or cotton cheesecake recipe for a super fluffy, light-as-air and heavenly cheesecake you will ever make.

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Course :Dessert

Servings =6

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Ingredients

  • 10 ounces cream cheese
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 5 large eggs - white and yolks separated
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
  • ¼ cup sugar

Instructions

  • Line the bottom and sides of an 8 inch round pan or springform with parchment paper. Wrap the pan with 2 sheets of aluminum foil (no need if using aluminum pan) sealing it completely.

  • Fill a larger pan halfway with water. Place it the lowest rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 150°C.

  • Combine the cream cheese and butter in a big microwave safe bowl. Warm it in the microwave until it melts. Add ¼ cup sugar and mix well until mixture is smooth.

  • Using a whisk, add the milk and lemon juice and mix. Add the yolks one a time while mixing. Sift the flour and cornstarch while gradually adding them to the mixture and mix until well combined and smooth. Sieve the mixture if needed to get rid of lumps.

  • Beat the egg whites at low speed for 2 minutes, add the cream of tartar if using and increase speed to medium-low and beat until foamy. Gradually add ¼ cup sugar while beating for another 30 seconds then turn speed to medium-high and beat until almost soft peaks forms.

  • Using the whisk, fold in the meringue into the cream cheese mixture in three parts until well combined.

  • Pour the batter into the lined pan. Tap the pan on the kitchen or tabletop to remove the bubbles. Place the pan into the water bath and bake at 200°C for 15 minutes, lower the temperature to 150°C and bake for another 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the pan in the water bath inside with the door closed for another 30 minutes then another 10 minutes with door open.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 9gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 229mgSodium: 287mgPotassium: 170mgFiber: 0gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 1130IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 1.2mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

Easy Japanese Cheesecake Recipe - so fluffy and jiggly! - Foxy Folksy (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Japanese cheesecake not fluffy? ›

Why is my cheesecake not fluffy? The airy texture comes from the folding of whipped egg whites through the batter. However, if the egg whites are not folded properly it can result in a dense cake. If you under-mix the egg whites into the batter you will have a cake with a dense bottom and light top.

What makes Japanese cheesecake different? ›

One thing that makes Japanese cheesecake different and special is its unique texture. Unlike traditional cheesecakes, which are dense and heavy, Japanese cheesecakes are light and airy. With a combination of whipped egg whites and cream cheese, this dessert takes on the perfect balance of smoothness and fluffiness.

How do you keep Japanese cheesecake from deflating? ›

Let the cheesecake cool in the oven for at least another hour or two. This helps it set up so it's not as jiggly when you try to remove it. The gentle cooling will help the cake from deflating. If you were to remove the cake from the oven immediately, the cold air would cause the cake to shrink down significantly.

Does Japanese fluffy cheesecake need to be refrigerated? ›

How long will they last? Our Japanese Cheesecakes can stay in room temperature for up to 12 hours. We recommend putting them in the fridge as soon as possible, and they can last refrigerated for up to 3 days.

What ingredient makes a cake Fluffy? ›

Leavening Agents

Since we're talking about cake and not yeast bread, we'll focus on chemical leavening. The reaction of baking soda or baking powder with the liquids in the batter releases carbon dioxide, which forms air bubbles to help your cakes be light and airy. Baking soda and baking powder aren't interchangeable.

Why is the bottom of my Japanese cheesecake dense? ›

Avoid over or under-mixing. . If you over-mix, the cake will not rise. If you under-mix, your cake will be uneven. The egg white will float to the top and you'll have a meringue-like cake at the top, and a dense cheesecake at the bottom.

What is the stabilizer in Japanese cheesecake? ›

Beat the egg whites until they are foamy. Add cream of tartar and beat on high for a couple minutes. (Cream of tartar is the best stabilizer for keeping your egg whites light and fluffy when turning it into meringue. It also builds up their tolerance to heat.

Is Japanese cheesecake healthier than regular cheesecake? ›

Each individual slice contains only 189 calories, giving you a very good reason to enjoy this fluffy, creamy, rich yet not too dense sugar-free cheesecake that tastes equally as good as a regular cheesecake but suitable for those on a low carb diet.

What brand of Japanese cheesecake is famous? ›

Uncle Tetsu's Japanese Cheesecake was established in 1990 and has been recognised as the best-selling cheesecake brand across globe.

Why is my cheesecake still jiggly? ›

You might worry a runny middle means raw cheesecake, but it's totally safe and normal. The center will firm up as it cools on a cooling rack, resulting in the smooth surface you want. Test Kitchen Tip: Cheesecakes made with sour cream should jiggle a little more and will have a larger soft spot in the center.

Why is my Japanese cheesecake batter bubbly? ›

To remove large bubbles, tap the cake pan on the table a couple of times or use a skewer to go in circles in the batter to pop some bubbles. Oven temperature is too low - If the oven temperature is too low, the air bubbles from the meringue will slowly escape and rise to the top of the cheesecake.

Why did my cheesecake puff up so much? ›

THE CAUSE: Overmixing the batter. When making your filling, overmixing can lead to incorporating too much air into the batter. Once baked, the air bubbles will burst, and the cheesecake will fall and crack.

Why is my Japanese cheesecake not rising? ›

Pour the well-incorporated, but not over-mixed batter into the baking pan(s). Bake bain-marie style for 25 minutes 330F (Depending on your oven, you may have to adjust the temperature.) If your cake is not rising, your oven temperature is too low. Raise by 10 degrees.

What does fluffy Japanese cheesecake taste like? ›

This classic Japanese dessert is a delightful fusion of lightness and creaminess, achieved through the meticulous combination of egg yolk custard with whipped meringue to create that signature bounce. Adding cream cheese, butter, and milk to the custard provides a rich and indulgent dimension to each bite.

Can you leave a cheesecake in the springform pan overnight? ›

Once your cake pan is no longer hot to the touch, cover it and move it to the refrigerator to chill overnight in its springform pan. Chilling it overnight ensures that it sets properly.

Why is my cheesecake so dense? ›

TEMPERATURE OF THE CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS

It's also very important for the eggs to be at room temperature – cold egg whites won't whisk up properly, especially if you're using a hand whisk, so you won't be able to incorporate air into the cheesecake. This could result in a cheesecake with a dense, grainy texture.

Why did my cheesecake turn out spongy? ›

Don't Overbake

Because cheesecake is a custard, it won't be completely firm when done. The easiest way to make sure you don't overbake it is to give it a little jiggle.

Why is my souffle not rising? ›

You then whip up your egg whites separately into stiff peaks and fold these into your base mixture,' explains Cher. 'The reason a soufflé doesn't rise sometimes is because during this folding process, you have beaten out too many air bubbles. 'So we tell people to under-fold rather than over-fold.

References

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