Cheesecake with tangerines

Cheese Cream and Mandarin Cake

If you're looking for a quick and delicious dessert, the cheese cream and mandarin cake is the perfect choice. This cake brings a touch of freshness and elegance to your table, making it ideal for any occasion. Whether it's a gathering with friends or a festive meal, this recipe is sure to impress. Let's embark on this culinary adventure together!

Preparation time: 40 minutes
Baking time: 25-30 minutes
Total time: approximately 1 hour
Servings: 8-10

Ingredients for the base:
- 3 eggs
- 5 tablespoons of sugar
- 4 tablespoons of oil (preferably sunflower oil or light olive oil)
- 3 packets of vanilla sugar
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- Grated zest of one orange

Ingredients for the cream:
- 300 g cottage cheese (opt for fresh cheese without water)
- 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar
- 25 g butter (at room temperature)
- 5-6 mandarins (or oranges, if you prefer)
- 1 teaspoon of gelatin
- 300 ml liquid cream
- Orange essence (optional)

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Preparing the base
1. Start by preheating the oven to 180°C. Make sure the baking tray is lined with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the cocoa and baking powder. This mixture will give the base a fine texture and delicious taste.
3. In another bowl, beat the egg whites with the sugar and vanilla sugar until you achieve a firm foam. It is essential to form stiff peaks for a fluffy base.
4. Add the egg yolks, oil, and orange zest to the egg white mixture. Gently fold to avoid losing the incorporated air.
5. Gradually incorporate the flour mixture into the composition, gently mixing with a spatula, from top to bottom, to preserve the air from the egg whites.
6. Pour the composition into the prepared tray and level the surface.
7. Bake the base in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test (when the toothpick comes out clean).
8. After baking, remove the base from the tray and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 2: Preparing the cream
1. Soak the gelatin in 2-3 tablespoons of mandarin juice. After a few minutes, dissolve the gelatin in a bain-marie, being careful not to boil it.
2. Peel the mandarins and remove the seeds, then cut them into small pieces.
3. In a bowl, whip the cream until it becomes firm, adding the orange essence for extra flavor.
4. Mix the cottage cheese with the powdered sugar and butter until you obtain a smooth and fine cream.
5. Add the dissolved gelatin, chopped mandarins, and 2/3 of the whipped cream to the cheese cream, gently mixing to avoid losing volume.

Step 3: Assembling the cake
1. Line the tray used for baking the base with plastic wrap, so you can easily turn the cake out at the end.
2. Place the cheese cream in the tray and level it well.
3. Place the base on top, pressing gently to integrate it into the cream.
4. Put the cake in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or until the cream sets well.

Step 4: Serving
1. Once the cream has set, turn the cake out onto a platter. Carefully remove the plastic wrap.
2. You can decorate with remaining whipped cream and slices of mandarin for an elegant touch.
3. Cut the cake into portions and enjoy every bite!

Useful tips
- Ingredient variations: You can replace the mandarins with other seasonal fruits, such as peaches or strawberries, to customize the cake according to your preferences.
- Decoration tricks: Use a piping bag to decorate the whipped cream on the cake. If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a clean plastic bag with a cut corner.
- Calories and nutritional benefits: This cake contains approximately 220 calories per serving but is rich in protein due to the cottage cheese. Mandarins add a healthy dose of vitamin C.

Frequently asked questions
- Can I use a different type of cheese? Yes, you can use ricotta or mascarpone cheese for a creamier texture.
- How can I make the cake sweeter? Add more powdered sugar to the cheese cream, but taste the composition to avoid making it too sweet.

Serving recommendations
This dessert pairs splendidly with a fruit tea or a cappuccino, bringing a pleasant contrast between the sweet flavors and the slightly bitter notes of the coffee. Additionally, vanilla ice cream or flavored whipped cream can be excellent accompaniments to highlight the taste of the mandarins.

Discover the pleasure of creating this simple yet elegant dessert that will bring smiles to the faces of everyone who tastes it. Enjoy!

 Ingredients: Sponge Cake 3 eggs 5 tablespoons sugar 4 tablespoons oil 3 packets vanilla sugar 3 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder grated zest of one orange CREAM 300g cottage cheese 4 tablespoons powdered sugar 25g butter 5-6 mandarins 1 teaspoon gelatin 300ml liquid cream orange essence

 Tags:  cheesecake