Eggless Baked Thandai Cheesecake – It is Holi and here is an amazing recipe using thandai powder perfect for the day. The thandai powder in the cheesecake makes it amazingly flavourful.
Ever since I started experimenting with baked cheesecakes for the class (The Baked Cheesecake class is one of my best among all the classes so far) I have started loving baked cheesecakes. Somehow baking the cheesecakes adds so much taste and flavour and are so much better than their no bake versions.
Usually baking cheesecakes involve lots of eggs, but this method uses condensed milk instead and still turns out amazing. The numerous varieties I have tried so far, I am so in love with the process. This recipe has some ingredients which can either be sourced or can be made at home. Let us check them out.
Ingredients
Cream Cheese – Cream cheese is the most important ingredient you need to make a cheesecake. You can either source them at stores or you can easily make them at home. I have two types of home made cream cheese recipes in this blog, but I also have an easier yet perfect cream cheese in my class. I will give you both the blog links here. Whichever suits you, try that. Cream cheese with paneer and curd (click on the name for recipe), Cream cheese with milk and rennet (click on the name for recipe)
Condensed Milk – Sweetened condensed milk is easily available in stores. Mithai mate and Milkmaid are my favourites. But you can also make it at home. I have a very easy and perfect recipe for homemade condensed milk (click on the name for recipe) which is so much similar to store bought.
How to make Thandai Powder – Thandai powder can easily be sourced online, but it is also very easy to prepare at home. I have a post explaining the process. So if interested, check it out. Click on Thandai Powder to get the recipe. You can also click on the image below for the recipe.
Making the Base
Usually the easiest way to make a base for cheesecakes is using digestive biscuits. The biscuits are powdered and added with butter to form a crumbly mix and it is arranged at the base of the tin. This adds a crisp element to the entire cheesecake. But make sure that you do not add too much butter. It will make a soggy base which will lack the crispness. Use Britannia Marie Gold for best results.
Baking Method
Baking any cheesecake needs some precautions. Cheesecakes are usually baked in a water bath at lower temperature. Overbaking a cheesecake will result in a crumbly cheesecake. So you need to stop baking when the cheesecake is still soft in the centre. Once the oven is switched off, the cheesecake is allowed to cool in the oven with oven door partially opened. Once it is completely cool, it is then wrapped in cling film and refrigerated overnight to set.
Setting Method
Any cheesecake needs minimum eight hours in fridge for setting. Cream cheese even after baking is still runny and if you try to slice the cheesecake after it cools down, you will end up with a runny cheesecake which doesn’t hold shape.
It is better to leave the cheesecake in fridge minimum for eight hours to maximum 24 hours in fridge. To avoid it drying out in fridge, it is very important to wrap it well in cling film and refrigerate. Slice it with a warm knife when it is just out of fridge. Bring it back to room temperature before serving.
Check the video demonstration of this cheesecake in my Instagram. I have made it short and sweet so that you don’t get bored. It will also help you understand the procedure in a simple way.
I also made a no bake version along with this. Click on the image below to read the recipe for Eggless No Bake Thandai Cheesecake.
I also have a detailed Eggless baked cheesecake class. Click on the image below to know the details. If interested, send me a WhatsApp message to register.
Eggless Baked Thandai Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 120 gm Britannia Marie Gold
- 60 gm Butter melted
- 1 tbs Thandai powder
For the Filling:
- 300 gm Cream Cheese
- 250 gm Condensed Milk
- 2 tbs Thandai Powder
- 100 gm Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150C.
- Grind the biscuits to fine powder.
- Add butter and thandai powder and mix until they are uniformly distributed.
- Transfer to a 7” loose bottomed pan and using a spoon press it well to the base of the tin.
- Take three aluminium foil squares, place the tin in the centre and bring the foil around the tin.
- Press it well so that it holds shape. Set it aside.
- Mix together hot milk and thandai powder and allow it to cool down.
- In a bowl, take cream cheese, milk and mix it well.
- Add the condensed milk and whisk until the batter is smooth and lump free.
- Pour it on the biscuit base.
- Place the tin in a deep tray with 1 cm water in it.
- Bake the cheesecake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes.
- Open the oven door and let the cheesecake cool completely.
- Decorate the top with slivered pistachios, rose petals and almonds.
- Remove the tin from the foil, place it on a plate, cover the tin with cling film and refrigerate overnight.
- Next day, remove the cheesecake from tin, remove the base plate. Transfer to a serving plate. Slice it up and serve.
Hello.. just wondering how did it set without cornflour?
Baked cheesecake doesn’t need corn flour. The condensed milk helps with the setting.
We have to bake it with both rods on?
Yes
If we bake with both rods on.. the top will become brown? Should we cover with foil? How do we know if the cheesecake is done?
You need to reduce temperature if the cake browns on top. No need to cover it.
If I want to make mini cheesecakes in muffin tray can I use the same recipe? What will be the time and temperature for baking the mini cheesecakes. Thank you
Yes, you can do that. Use muffin liners. They turn out so pretty and easily manageable. Twenty to twenty five minutes enough for baking. Temperature would be the same. But use a larger tray with water in it for baking with steam.