Cotton Cheesecake

Nail this recipe for light, fluffy cotton cheesecake, as popularized by the Japanese, using a magical combo of cake flour, superfine sugar, and separated eggs.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 298 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup cake flour
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
• 7 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup superfine sugar, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan with lightly buttered parchment paper. Lightly butter the sides of the pan.

Step 2

Place cream cheese, heavy cream, and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Mix well, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until mixture is very creamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Let cream cheese mixture cool over an ice water bath, about 10 minutes. Mix in egg yolks, flour, 1/2 the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt.

Step 4

Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl using an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, continuing to beat into stiff peaks.

Step 5

Whisk 1/3 of the egg whites into the cream cheese mixture until well blended. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites, 1/3 at a time. Do not overmix. Tightly wrap the bottom of the cake pan with aluminum foil. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.

Step 6

Place the cake pan into a baking pan filled with boiling water to reach halfway up the cake pan.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 1 hour. Turn oven off and let cake cool inside, with the door closed to prevent cracking, about 1 hour.