Marianne Martinez
Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens for baking cheesecakes. They are faster, more energy-efficient, and produce equally good results. Air-fried cheesecakes are also easier to make since they don't require cooking the cheesecake in a water bath. The recipe for an air-fried cheesecake is quite simple and involves making a crust with crushed biscuits or crackers, butter, and sugar, and a filling with cream cheese, eggs, and vanilla. The cooking time is shorter than traditional methods, taking around 20-30 minutes, and the cheesecake is then chilled for 6-8 hours or overnight. The versatility of this dessert is another advantage, as it can be topped with cherry pie filling, chocolate, caramel, or fresh fruit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pan | 7-8 inch springform pan |
| Pan preparation | Grease with butter, line with parchment paper |
| Crust | Graham crackers, Oreo cookies, Biscoff biscuits, or Maria Cookies |
| Crust preparation | Combine crust ingredient with melted butter and sugar, press into pan |
| Filling | Cream cheese, eggs, condensed milk, vanilla, white chocolate, and lemon zest |
| Filling preparation | Beat ingredients until smooth and creamy |
| Air fryer temperature | 285-325°F (140-160°C) |
| Air fryer time | 20-30 minutes, plus 10-15 minutes at a lower temperature |
| Cooling time | 30 minutes in air fryer, then 6-8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator |
| Toppings | Cherry pie filling, whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, lemon curd, fresh fruit, or blackberries |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the crust
Firstly, you will need to crush the biscuits or crackers. This can be done by placing them in a food processor and blending until they form fine crumbs, or by placing them in a plastic bag and crushing them with a rolling pin. You will need about 1.5 cups of crumbs to cover the bottom of a 7- or 8-inch springform pan. If you are using a larger pan, you may need to increase the amount of crumbs and butter.
Next, you will need to mix the crumbs with melted butter. The amount of butter used will vary depending on the type of biscuit or cracker used, but it should be enough to make the mixture stick together when pressed. You can also add a small amount of sugar to the mixture at this stage if desired. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon until they are well combined and have a texture similar to wet sand.
Once the mixture is ready, prepare your springform pan by greasing the sides and bottom with butter, and lining the bottom with parchment paper. Then, press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan using a spoon, ensuring that it is level and compact.
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Making the filling
To make the filling, start by beating the cream cheese in a medium-sized bowl until it is creamy and smooth. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, as cold ingredients will form lumps in the cheesecake mixture. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this step.
Next, add the eggs, condensed milk, sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth. Again, make sure these ingredients are at room temperature before adding them to the cream cheese. This will ensure a smooth and lump-free filling.
For an extra rich flavor, you can also add some melted white chocolate to the mixture. Simply melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until it is smooth. Then, add it to the cream cheese mixture and beat again until well combined.
Once the filling is smooth and creamy, it is ready to be poured over the crust. Make sure the crust is already in the springform pan and that the pan fits in your air fryer before pouring in the filling. The filling should almost reach the rim of the pan.
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Cooking the cheesecake
Firstly, grease a 7- to 8-inch springform pan with butter. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and brush with more melted butter.
Next, make the base. Combine crushed graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir together until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.
Now, make the filling. Using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Add the eggs, condensed milk, and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until completely smooth. For a chocolate cheesecake, add cocoa powder here. For extra richness, add some melted white chocolate.
Pour the filling over the base. Tap the pan on the counter to remove any large air bubbles.
Carefully place the pan in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 300°F and cook for 20 minutes. If the top is browning too much, cover the pan with foil. If the cheesecake is still jiggly in the centre, continue cooking in 2-minute increments until it is no longer wet and wobbly.
Once cooked, turn off the air fryer and let the cheesecake cool in the basket for 30 minutes. Then, remove the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight.
Finally, remove the cheesecake from the pan and serve. Top with cherry pie filling, whipped cream, or fresh fruit.
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Cooling and chilling the cheesecake
Once the cheesecake is done, turn off the air fryer and let it cool down in the air fryer basket for at least 30 minutes. This will prevent the cheesecake from cracking. Then, carefully remove the pan from the basket and let it cool completely on a wire rack. You can also let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. After that, cover the cheesecake with a kitchen or paper towel, then loosely cover it with foil and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but preferably 6 to 8 hours, or even overnight. This will allow the cheesecake to set properly.
If you're making individual cheesecakes in silicone cups, the process is a little different. You only need to let them cool in the air fryer basket for a few minutes before transferring them to a plate and refrigerating for at least an hour.
Once your cheesecake has chilled, you can remove the sides of the springform pan and place the cheesecake on a serving platter. You can top it with cherry pie filling, whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, lemon curd, or fresh fruit. You can also freeze the cheesecake for up to 3 months.
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Toppings and serving suggestions
Air fryer cheesecakes can be served with a variety of toppings or enjoyed plain. The options are endless!
Cherry pie filling is a popular topping choice, providing a sweet-tart or tangy contrast to the creamy cheesecake. You can also make your own cherry topping by simmering cherries in a saucepan with cornstarch and cold water until soft and syrupy. This topping should be chilled before serving.
Whipped cream is another classic topping option, and you can even make a flavoured whipped cream to add an extra element to your dessert. Other creamy toppings include sour cream and caramel or caramel sauce, which can be drizzled over the cheesecake. For a richer dessert, try chocolate sauce or chocolate ganache.
For a fruity twist, you can top your cheesecake with fresh berries or fruit, or create a fruit swirl pattern using strawberry or raspberry jam. Crushed Oreos can also be sprinkled over the cheesecake for a textural contrast. If you're serving the cheesecake to adults, you could also try topping it with black cherries in kirsch.
For a more personalized touch, you can add herbs or citrus peel to the crust, or swap out the crumbs used to make it. For example, instead of a traditional graham cracker crust, you could use wafer cookies or vanilla wafers.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to bake your cheesecake at 285°F (140°C) for 30 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 250°F (120°C) and bake for a further 10-15 minutes. The cheesecake should have a slight jiggle in the middle when done.
The total cooking time for an air fryer cheesecake is around 40-45 minutes, however, this will vary depending on your air fryer model. It is recommended to check your cheesecake as it is cooking and add more time if needed.
You should allow your cheesecake to cool in the air fryer basket for a few minutes, then transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.
There are many different toppings that you can use for your air fryer cheesecake. Popular options include cherry pie filling, whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, lemon curd, fresh fruit, and white chocolate.
