Japanese Cheesecake

Please note that this recipe requires a cooling time of 1–2 hours and a chilling time of at least 4–6 hours (or overnight) to achieve the perfect texture and balanced flavor. I encourage you to read the blog post for more detailed information about this recipe.

Use a 9-inch (23-cm) x 4 inch (10 cm) cake pan. Cut one circle of parchment paper 9 inches (23 cm) in diameter (or use a 9-inch round parchment cake liner) and one rectangular strip 4 x 30 inches (10 x 76 cm). Cut two straps 2 x 30 inches (5 x 76 cm) each to use to lift the baked cake from the pan.
Use 1 Tbsp unsalted butter to grease the cake pan and one side of the parchment paper circle and strip. You don‘t need to use all the butter.
Crisscross the two straps on the bottom of the pan to form an “X" and let the excess hang over the edges. Line the paper circle on the bottom and the strip on the sides, keeping the greased side touching the pan.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). For a convection oven, reduce the temperature by 25ºF (15ºC).
Note: You will be baking at 320ºF (160ºC), but we’ll preheat a bit higher because your oven will lose heat when you open it to place the cheesecake inside.
Set a medium saucepan with 2 inches (5 cm) of water over high heat for the double boiler. Bring it to a simmer, then cover and reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.

Gather all the ingredients.
I highly encourage you to weigh your ingredients using a kitchen scale. Click the Metric button above to convert the measurements to weights. If you don't have a scale, here's how to measure flour: Fluff the flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into the measuring cup, and level it off. Otherwise, you may scoop more than you need.
Keep your clean and dry stand mixer bowl cold in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Separate 6 large eggs (50 g w/o shell) and place the bowl of egg whites in the refrigerator.

Add 10.6 oz cream cheese, 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, 200 ml heavy (whipping) cream, and 4½ Tbsp sugar to a large bowl and rest it on the saucepan above the simmering water.
Nami's Tip: The double boiler will warm and soften the cream cheese and butter, so you don't need to bring them to room temperature ahead of time.
Mash the cream cheese and butter with a silicone spatula until soft, then whisk the mixture until smooth and combined. Remove from the heat.
Add the egg yolks one at a time, whisking each yolk into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated before adding the next.
Sift ⅔ cup cake flour into the batter with a fine-mesh strainer. Whisk until no dry streaks remain.
Pass the batter through the strainer into a clean large bowl.
Add the zest of ½ large lemon (outer yellow layer only, avoiding the white pith) and 2 Tbsp lemon juice and whisk to combine.

Place a large baking sheet inside the preheating oven and add hot water until it is ½ inch deep (halfway up the sides). Close the oven door.

Add the cold egg whites to the cold, dry, and clean stand mixer bowl. Whisk the egg whites on medium speed (Speed 4) until they become opaque, foamy, and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Slowly add ½ cup sugar, one-third at a time, while mixing.
Nami's Tip: Use a clean and dry mixing bowl and beaters. A speck of oil, water, or egg yolk can minimize the volume of the beaten whites. Avoid plastic bowls, as they may hold oily residue. Use a bowl that's wide enough to keep the beaters from being buried in the egg whites.
Increase the speed to high (Speed 8–9) and beat the egg whites to firm peaks. Stop the mixer to check: When you lift the whisk upright, the egg whites should cling and hold their shape with the tip folding back on itself.
Add one-third of the egg whites to the cream cheese mixture and whisk until incorporated. Fold in another one-third of the egg whites.
Pour the cream cheese mixture into the mixer bowl with the last of the egg whites. Fold until just combined.
To minimize air pockets, pour the batter into one spot in the cake pan in a steady stream. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to release any trapped air.

Quickly open the oven and place the cake pan onto the baking sheet with the bain-marie. Reduce the oven temperature to 320ºF (160ºC)—25ºF (15ºC) lower for a convection oven—and bake for 70–75 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 300ºF (150ºC) and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Open the oven door slightly to test for doneness. If an inserted skewer comes out without wet batter, it‘s done. Leave the cake inside the oven.

Turn off the heat and leave the oven door slightly ajar for 15–20 minutes with the cake inside so it cools gradually, then remove the cake pan from the oven.
Nami's Tip: If you immediately remove the cake pan, the sudden change in temperature could cause the soufflé to collapse. While cooling in the oven, the cake will slowly shrink down to half its height, from roughly 4 inches to 2 inches high.
Lift the cheesecake from the cake pan using the two parchment paper straps—an extra set of hands helps here. Place the cake on a plate.
Remove the parchment paper from the sides (leave the bottom paper). Mix 2 Tbsp apricot jam and 2 tsp hot water in a small bowl and brush the apricot glaze on top of the cake. Cool to room temperature.

Cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 4–6 hours or overnight. Chilled cheesecake has a creamy yet light texture, with a perfectly balanced flavor.
For a softer texture, remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator 10–15 minutes before slicing.

Use a sharp knife dipped in warm water, wiping the blade clean between slices. The cake is delicate and cuts cleanly this way.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days or in the freezer for up to 3–4 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Cold cheesecake is dense, so remove it from the fridge 10–15 minutes before serving to soften the texture.