A Yummy Breakfast Cheesecake

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL RECIPE

This recipe for ‘A Yummy Breakfast Cheesecake’ is a melt in the mouth treat and a guilt free one. From the base to the filling, healthiness is a core part of the recipe. The health quotient of the cheesecake is such that it can be easily had for breakfast. What’s better than starting your day with a soft and silky cheesecake without any regrets?

It’s a baked cheesecake that’s fairly easy to make. People commonly dread baking a cheesecake considering all the common fails in the traditional cheesecake recipe. Believe me, give this recipe a try for an easy, silky soft and the most healthy version of the cheesecake that you have always loved. 

Cheesecake is a sweet dessert consisting of two or more layers. A basic cheesecake often consists of a base and a main layer. Base crust is usually made with crushed cookies, graham crackers or sometimes sponge cake. The main layer consists of a mixture of cream cheese, eggs and sugar. In this recipe here, the base layer is made healthy with a combination of oats flour and chia seeds. The main layer is made with indian cottage cheese (paneer), eggs and brown sugar. This cheesecake is filled with rich flavors of cinnamon not only making it flavorful but incorporating all the health benefits of cinnamon too. 

Oats is a low-calorie food which slows digestion and makes you feel full longer. Thus, reducing your cravings and helping you shed a few pounds. The dietary fiber and the antioxidants present in oats are beneficial for heart disease and the dietary fibers help lower the bad cholesterol. Oats are a rich source of fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which helps in regulating bowel movements and hence prevents constipation. Since oats help stabilize blood sugar and reduce risk of type-2 diabetes, diabetics should consume oats regularly. Oats are also a rich source of magnesium, which is key to enzyme function and energy production, and helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by relaxing blood vessels, aiding the heart muscle, and regulating blood pressure.

Chia Seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, and they provide fiber, iron, and calcium. Omega-3 fatty acids help raise HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke. Eating one ounce of chia seeds each day would provide 18 percent of daily calcium needs, 27 percent of phosphorus, 30 percent of manganese, and smaller amounts of potassium and copper.

Paneer (Chhena/ Cottage Cheese) is an Indian cheese that is high in nutritive value. It is rich in calcium and protein and aids in many body processes. Cottage Cheese can fulfill about 8% of the daily recommended calcium intake. Cow’s milk contains the highest amount of casein protein among various kinds of milk. 100 gms of paneer has a whopping 83 gms of protein. It also prevents tooth decay. Paneer provides instant energy to the body, a bite of cheese can act as your energy bar too. Hence, paneer should be part of your daily diet especially if you are a vegetarian as it fulfills protein need of the body.

Cinnamon is a highly aromatic and delicious spice commonly used to add a distinct flavor and aroma in baked goods. Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants that protect the body from cell damaging agents. It helps the body to fight infections and repairs tissue damage. It is good for diabetics and it slows the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract. It also helps fight bacterial and fungal infections.

Brown sugar is totally free of chemicals, unlike white sugar. It is because brown sugar contains molasses which is composed of essential minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous. This provides your body with important minerals. The potassium found in molasses, helps in relaxing the uterine muscles and eases contractions that occur during menstruation. Brown sugar is regarded to be very good for women to recover fast after delivery. People suffering from asthma and other respiratory problems are recommended to replace white sugar with brown sugar. The consumption of brown sugar will prevent asthma and fight against other allergic reactions.

This recipe combines the health benefits of all its core ingredients and builds up a super soft and silky cheesecake that has intense flavors of cinnamon. Oats, chia seeds and coconut oil lend an amazing crispy nutty flavor to the crust. The brown sugar in the recipe is just perfect to give it a balanced sweetness. However, if you prefer sweeter cheesecakes, you may increase it as per your taste. Though I personally love the warm cheesecake with its silky soft texture, the chilled version is equally tasty with a more denser feel. I have equal lovers of both versions of the cheesecake. Top this cheesecake with fresh fruits of your choice pairing it with a healthy smoothie and you have a perfect energizing meal at your hand.

I would like to extend a special thanks here to Pratibha from Rasoisaga, a popular YouTube channel on stories from Indian kitchens. Thank you Pratibha for covering my cheesecake recipe for Christmas month special recipes on your channel. 

Do give this recipe a try and share your experiences and suggestions. I would love to hear your views on the recipe from each one of you. Happy Baking!! Stay Healthy!!

RECIPE FOR A YUMMY BREAKFAST CHEESECAKE:

CHEESECAKE BASE:

STEP 1: In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except milk (oats flour, chia seeds, brown sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon powder).

STEP 2: Add in milk and combine the mix into a crumbly dough.

STEP 3: Press the combined mix into the baking dish to form a crust.

STEP 4: Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

CHEESECAKE FILLING:

STEP 1: In a blender jar, add in all the ingredients (cottage cheese, brown sugar, curd, vanilla essence and egg) and grind to a smooth paste.

STEP 2: Add the paste on the baked crust in the baking dish.

CHEESECAKE SWIRL:

STEP 1: Mix honey and cinnamon and add to a piping bag.

STEP 2: Make your desired swirl pattern on top of cheesecake. I have created a hearty swirl by creating dots on the cheesecake and using a toothpick to create the swirl.

STEP 3: Bake the cheesecake for 30-35 minutes. The cheesecake should still be wobbly from the center when you shake it. Over-baking will result in cracks and a harder texture.

STEP 4: Let the cheesecake cool down and take it out gently out of pan to avoid breaking. Enjoy your cheesecake warm or chilled with some fresh fruits or a healthy smoothie to complete your meal.

RECIPE NOTES:

1. If using steel cut oats, dry roast and grind them into a powder for the cheesecake base.
2. Add in 1-2 tablespoon of curd to adjust the consistency of filling.
3. This cheesecake is mildly sweet. In case, you prefer sweeter cheesecakes, add about 1/4 cup brown sugar more in the filling recipe.
4. You may store the cheesecake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. (Though it never is left for so long!!!)