[Updated 15 March 2021]
For people who live in Tokyo, Mr. Cheescake is probably a familiar name. This cheesecake specialist started selling cheesecakes online which quickly became a super sought-after item. Founded by Chef Koji Tamura (who previously worked in Michelin-starred restaurants), the cakes are known to be wonderfully luscious and creamy. And now, you can actually get your hands on the actual famous Mr. Cheesecake recipe to recreate this amazing dessert for yourself at home.
In Tokyo, the cheesecakes are super exclusive and can only be ordered only twice a week, with limited quantities available - they're often sold out within minutes! In fact, it's so hard to get your hands on the cakes that they even acquired the nickname "phantom cheesecake"?The cakes aren't super affordable either, starting from JPY3,456 per cake!
But in light of the situation this year and with everyone staying home, Chef Koji released the full recipe for the cheesecake, which was previously only available in his cookbook, on the Mr. Cheesecake website (which has even been adapted to suit home bakers in terms of quantity ?). The recipe is definitely indulgent - it calls for cream cheese, greek yoghurt, sour cream, cream, eggs, lemon juice as well as some white chocolate, vanilla and corn starch. But you'll end up with a super creamy texture that can be enjoyed both chilled and at room temperature (which will be softer and more akin to pudding).
The original recipe calls for tonka bean (an exotic ingredient originating from Central America), but it's quite difficult to find, so we recommend just upping the amount of vanilla used. If you don't have a vanilla pod, you can use vanilla paste, or substitute with good ol' vanilla essence instead (though we can guess using the real thing contributes to the delicious flavour!)
Several home bakers have made the cheesecake for themselves, and some have opted to tweak the recipe slightly so it's better suited to home ovens and uses whole eggs rather than just egg yolks. Check out this version by Buttermilk Pantry (watch the video below so you can see how it's done step-by-step, or look at the written recipe here, which comes with many helpful notes!)
Mr. Cheesecake's cheese was invented by a chef with Michelin star restaurant experience, so it's a bit more complicated than some easier cake recipes, but it's the perfect baking challenge to take on while you're at home! Plus, you'll be rewarded handsomely with an incredible cheesecake ?