Tips For A Perfect Low Carb Cheesecake

Cheesecakes have a reputation for being calorific and full of delicious fattening ingredients, and if you use full fat cream cheese, chocolate, butter, and any number of other lovely foods, you are probably going to end up with a cheesecake so fattening it will cause you to pile on weight the moment you even inhale the scent of it. So how can you indulge your love of cheesecake while on a weight loss program?

The answer is easy—make a perfect low carb cheesecake!

Low carbohydrate cheesecake might seem like an oxymoron, but it is possible as long as you are very careful about the ingredients you use, and since home made cheesecakes are always delicious, it is a great idea to have a go at concocting your own low carb cheesecake: you can even share it out with the rest of the family if you choose!

What is a low carb diet?

Following a low carbohydrate diet means that you must avoid foods high in carbohydrates. It can also mean you must avoid foods that raise your blood sugar levels, otherwise known as high-glycemic foods. Lots of popular weight loss programs fall under the umbrella of a “low carb” diet, including the Atkins and South Beach Diet and the general guidelines for such diets means you reduce your carbohydrate intake to less than 45%, although this will depend on which diet you are following.

The simplest approach to a low carb diet is to eliminate all white foods, including sugar, potatoes, white rice and products made from white flour. Cheesecake falls into this category because it contains sugar, so in order to include cheesecake on your list of acceptable foods, you must reduce the sugar quotient in the ingredients.

Thankfully, being on a diet does not need to mean the end of all tasty treats. Obviously it is sensible to avoid eating too much sweet stuff and fatty foods or your diet will be sabotaged before the end of the first week, but as long as you are careful about which foods you indulge in, you can enjoy a few nice treats here and there, including a slice of delicious cheesecake.

Most cheesecakes are full of sugar. However, it is possible to make a low sugar or even sugar free cheesecake if you have a sugar substitute to hand. Recipes for such cheesecakes abound if you look on the Internet, or you can buy a low carb cookery book if you are following a low carbohydrate diet as part of a weight loss program.

What is the main ingredient of a cheesecake?

Aside from the biscuit base, cheese is the main ingredient of a cheesecake (but not the hard cheese variety). Cheesecakes are made using cream cheese; any variety will do, including full fat cream cheese, mascarpone cream cheese, low fat cream cheese, and even soymilk cream cheese. The rest of the filling can be made up of fruit, chocolate, cream, or anything else you can think of.

How do I make a perfect low carb cheesecake?

A basic low carb cheesecake can be made using cream cheese and a sugar substitute. The biscuit base is omitted, so the cheesecake filling must be cooked in a springform pan in order for the shape to be maintained. To make the cheesecake, mix cream cheese, sugar substitute, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and sour cream slowly and carefully, before adding eggs one at a time.

Once the cheesecake batter has been mixed (and be careful not to over mix it), place it in a lined springform tin and wrap the tin up in a foil parcel before popping it in a large pan of water. Cooking the cheesecake in a water bath in the oven is a much gentler way to cook the batter. The cheesecake will take about an hour to cook in a low oven and then should be left to cool slowly.

How to add a base to a low carb cheesecake

If you prefer a base to your cheesecake, you don’t have to use the traditional ingredients of melted butter and digestive biscuits—there are alternatives that are less fattening and lower in carbohydrates. Crushed nuts can be a very acceptable alternative to a crushed biscuit cheesecake base—mix some crushed pecans with chopped walnuts, almonds and melted butter and use the mixture to line the base and sides of a springform pan. Make a low carb cheesecake filling as described above and bake in a water bath in a moderate to low oven.

What different flavorings can I use for a low carb cheesecake?

The basic low carb recipe can easily be varied using different flavorings. Ricotta cheese can be added for a distinctive cheesy flavor—just remember to soften the ricotta in a food processor before adding to the cheesecake batter. You can also try adding different spices, including a touch of ginger, nutmeg or cinnamon. The cheesecake batter can also be topped with a sugar free raspberry sauce if you enjoy a tart fruity flavor; alternatively, top with some slices strawberries or peaches for a sweet and natural taste.

Why has my low carb cheesecake cracked?

A cracked cheesecake is a very common problem, but as long as you are very careful to allow the cheesecake plenty of time to cool off slowly, it should not crack at all. The most common reason for a cheesecake to crack is opening the oven door before the cheesecake has had time to set properly. Cheesecakes will also crack if they are removed from the heat and allowed to cool down too quickly, so for best results, switch off the oven at the end of the cooking time and leave the cheesecake to cool slowly and at its own speed—even overnight if necessary.

Can I buy readymade low carb cheesecakes?

If you do not have the time or inclination to try cooking your own low carb cheesecake, it should be possible to buy low carb cheesecakes from the local grocery store—look in the diet section and see what cheesecakes are on offer.