WHAT IS A MEYER LEMON CHEESECAKE?

The secret behind this delicious dessert is not the cream cheese, sour cream, or graham crackers used.  It is a specific type of citrus that elevates this cake to new heights.  Slightly sweet, the Meyer Lemon has a fresh, citrus scent that is more aromatic than common lemons. In fact, the smell is almost like perfume.

SUGGESTIONS WHEN MAKING A MEYER LEMON CHEESECAKE

• Meyer Lemons: King of Citrus

When cooking with Meyer Lemons remember they have a very thin rind.  So once you zest them they’ll be very soft to handle when juicing. A vegetable peeler is useful for  peeling the rinds.  Then just chop the zest finely and juice the Meyer Lemons in an electric juicer to get the most out of them. You can freeze the juice in ice cube trays and then store the frozen cubes in a zip top bag to use when Meyer Lemons are not in season.

• Stop Your Cake from Falling Apart

The Meyer Lemon Cheesecake recipe below is an adaptation of a tried and true cheesecake recipe that usually topped with cherries or strawberries. This is your classic, dense New York-style cheesecake.  It reminds us of the slices at the world famous Junior’s restaurant in Brooklyn, NY.

This version features Meyer Lemon juice, zest and syrup for extra zing. We like to add about 1/4 teaspoon guar gum to the mix because of the liquid added from the lemon juice.  Guar gum is a natural, plant-based thickener that helps bind the cheesecake together with the additional liquid added with the Meyer Lemon Juice. It’s an optional step.  But it does make the texture much smoother.  This isn’t strictly necessary, but be aware that without this step, your cheesecake might “weep” a bit of liquid once it’s chilled.

• Cool in a Hot Oven?

You can bake this cake on a sheet pan right in the middle of the oven without a hot water bath and it comes out just fine. One tip: top the cake with the lemon syrup and allow it to sit in the turned-off oven until completely cool, then refrigerate. This will help set the cheese cake further.  If you are entertaining, this is a great do-ahead dessert because it should be chilled overnight before serving.

WHAT PAIRS WELL WITH A MEYER LEMON CHEESECAKE?

We like to top this cake with whipped cream that’s only slightly sweetened because to complement the tart cheesecake perfectly.  For wines try a dry Riesling or Muscat.