By Lindy Van Schalkwyk, last updated on November 2, 2024
What is tempura cheesecake? Today, we will look at this incredibly creamy and crispy dessert and explain exactly how to easily make it at home.
This dessert is a fantastic and mess-free alternative to traditionally deep-fried cheesecake bites which uses eggs and graham cracker crumbs. And, we’ve excluded eggs from our tempura batter to make it all the easier to make!
What Is Tempura Cheesecake?
Tempura cheesecake is a type of deep-fried cheesecake. The “tempura” part refers to a specific type of batter that produces a light crispy texture when it is deep-fried. This batter is made from simple ingredients including flour, eggs, and ice-cold water.
You can use any type of flour, but a low-gluten one is best. This is because you don’t want too much gluten to develop. This will create a dense batter that isn’t light or super crispy. Then, you have the eggs, which not only helps bind the ingredients together but helps make a super crispy batter. And finally, you have ice water. The ice water also helps prevent the formation of gluten, further aiding in achieving the crisp you desire.
What is Tempura Cheesecake? The Different Types of Batter
Now, you get different types of tempura batters, mainly savory or sweet. Savory tempura batters usually include a pinch of salt and sometimes are flavored with a variety of spices.
However, when using tempura batter for cheesecake, you will mainly use a sweet recipe. Or at least, we highly recommend that you do! Using an unflavored recipe (so just four, egg, and water) will give you an almost bland bite-sized fried cheesecake piece.
But, if you use a slightly sweetened, even flavored batter, it will help elevate the dessert and give it a more complex flavor profile. A sweet tempura batter simply has a dash or two casters (fine) sugar added and maybe some extract or essence.
Deep-fried Cheesecake Calories
A question that shortly follows “what is tempura cheesecake?” is “how many calories are in deep-fried cheesecake?”. The short answer, a lot.
But, it is impossible for us to give you an exact answer. This is because the calories will vary depending on the recipe you use and the type of tempura batter that you use.
However, what we can say is that cheesecake itself is pretty high in calories thanks to the cream cheese you use and the sugar it contains. Furthermore, deep-frying naturally increases the calorie count, which is why it is such an “unhealthy” cooking technique.
On average, 6 ounces of deep-fried cheesecake will contain roughly 655 calories and 47 grams of fat.
Bottom line, it may not be the healthiest dessert, but anything consumed in moderation isn’t the end of the world!
What You Will Need To Make Tempura Cheesecake
Ingredients for the Baked Cheesecake
- 13 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cups fine sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup cake flour
Ingredients for the Sweet Tempura Batter
- 3.5 ounces cake flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon fine sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup water, ice cold
- Oil, for frying
Equipment
- 9-inch springform cake pan
- Non-stick cooking spray and baking paper
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Whisk
- Deep fryer or large pot
- Spider or slotted spoon
- Paper or kitchen towel
Step by Step Instructions For Making This Tempura-fried Cheesecake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Equipment for the Cheesecake
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, grease a 9-inch springform cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. You can also line the bottom of the cake pan with non-stick baking paper for extra protection.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Batter
Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl and cream them until they become light and fluffy. Next, add in one egg at a time, mixing well after adding each egg.
Finally, add the heavy cream and flour. Make sure to beat the mixture until it is smooth and until the ingredients are just combined.
Step 3: Bake and set the Cheesecake
Now, pour the cheesecake batter into the lined cake pan. Then, bake it in your preheated oven for 45-60 minutes or until it has set in the middle. When only 1 to 2-inches of the cake jiggles, the cheesecake is fully baked.
Then, allow the cheesecake to cool in a switched-off oven for an hour. Remove it and cool it at room temperature for another hour. And finally, wrap the entire cake pan and allow the cake to be set in the fridge overnight.
Step 4: Portion the Cheesecake Bites
Once the cheesecake has fully set in the fridge, remove it from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Then, using a sharp chef’s knife, portion the cheesecake into the desired portion size. We like to make 2-inch blocks.
Then, place the blocks onto a lined baking sheet and place it back into the fridge for an hour or so. You can also freeze the blocks completely to fry later.
Step 5: Make the Tempura Batter
Make the tempura batter only once you are ready to coat and deep-fry the cheesecake bites.
Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl, Then, add the vanilla essence and 3/4 of the ice water. Whisk the mixture until it is completely smooth and lump-free.
Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed. The batter shouldn’t be too runny. If it is it will not stick to the cheesecake bites.
Step 6: Coat and Deep-fry the Cheesecake Bites
Preheat the oil to 350°F (180°C). Then, dip each cheesecake portion into the tempura batter and immediately place it into the preheated frying oil. Allow the pieces to fry for about a minute or two or until the batter has become golden brown and crispy.
Repeat this process working in small batches. When removing the cheesecake bites from the oil, drain them on a kitchen towel.
Tips and Tricks for Making Tempura-fried Cheesecake
- It is incredibly important that you use ice-cold water to make the tempura batter. The icy water helps slow down the formation of gluten strands. If there is too much gluten, it will create a very dense batter that won’t be light and airy, like tempura batters should be.
- You can also buy a cheesecake cake mix to speed up the process, or simply buy a pre-made cheesecake. Just make sure that it is baked to ensure it doesn’t completely melt in the fryer.
- You can serve these tempura-fried cheesecake bites with a wide variety of dipping sauces. We have loads of recipes on our site, so make sure to go have a look!
Servings and Preparation Times
| Preparation time for cheesecake | Frying time | Servings |
| 10 – 24 hours | 10 minutes | 24-36 portions |
What Is Tempura Cheesecake – Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a clear answer to what is tempura cheesecake and we’ve convinced you to give them a try! If you have tried this recipe, let us know what you think in the comments below! And, if you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to ask.
Tempura Cheesecake
Equipment
- 9-inch springform cake pan
- Non-stick cooking spray and baking paper
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Whisk
- Deep fryer or large pot
- Spider or slotted spoon
- Paper or kitchen towel
Ingredients
Ingredients for the baked cheesecake
- 13 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cups fine sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup cake flour
Ingredients for the sweet tempura batter
- 3.5 ounces cake flour
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon fine sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup water ice cold
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Then, grease a 9-inch springform cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. You can also line the bottom of the cake pan with non-stick baking paper for extra protection.
- Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl and cream them until they become light and fluffy. Next, add in one egg at a time, mixing well after adding each egg.
- Finally, add the heavy cream and flour. Make sure to beat the mixture until it is smooth and until the ingredients are just combined.
- Now, pour the cheesecake batter into the lined cake pan. Then, bake it in your preheated oven for 45-60 minutes or until it has set in the middle. When only 1 to 2-inches of the cake jiggles, the cheesecake is fully baked.
- Then, allow the cheesecake to cool in a switched-off oven for an hour. Remove it and cool it at room temperature for another hour. And finally, wrap the entire cake pan and allow the cake to be set in the fridge overnight.
- Once the cheesecake has fully set in the fridge, remove it from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Then, using a sharp chef's knife, portion the cheesecake into the desired portion size. We like to make 2-inch blocks.
- Then, place the blocks onto a lined baking sheet and place it back into the fridge for an hour or so. You can also freeze the blocks completely to fry later.
- Make the tempura batter only once you are ready to coat and deep-fry the cheesecake bites.
- Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl, Then, add the vanilla essence and 3/4 of the ice water. Whisk the mixture until it is completely smooth and lump-free.
- Adjust the consistency by adding more water if needed. The batter shouldn't be too runny. If it is it will not stick to the cheesecake bites.
- Preheat the oil to 350°F (180°C). Then, dip each cheesecake portion into the tempura batter and immediately place it into the preheated frying oil. Allow the pieces to fry for about a minute or two or until the batter has become golden brown and crispy.
- Repeat this process working in small batches. When removing the cheesecake bites from the oil, drain them on a kitchen towel.
Notes
Tips and Tricks for Making Tempura-fried Cheesecake
It is incredibly important that you use ice-cold water to make the tempura batter. The icy water helps slow down the formation of gluten strands. If there is too much gluten, it will create a very dense batter that won't be light and airy, like tempura batters should be.You can also buy a cheesecake cake mix to speed up the process, or simply buy a pre-made cheesecake. Just make sure that it is baked to ensure it doesn't completely melt in the fryer.
You can serve these tempura-fried cheesecake bites with a wide variety of dipping sauces. We have loads of recipes on our site, so make sure to go have a look!
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.