Describing an item of food as ‘de-constructed’ is a rather strange thing to do. In my eyes, prefixing something with ‘de-‘ suggests that it was constructed in the first place. Yet, if that were the case, the entire world of food bloggery would be a far messier place. Still, since ‘deconstructed’ is an accepted term in these parts it shan’t be done away with. Instead, let my protestation regarding its use be officially and permanently recorded. Besides, despite all of this pernickety prosing on the suitability of a single word, it does produce a rather stunning dessert.
No-bake cheesecakes are rather different from their denser, baked counterpart. The texture, which is reminiscent of a mousse, lends itself tremendously well to spring/summer fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Feel free to replace the strawberries, since the base recipe is all-encompassing. However, it is important to remember that bromelain is instrumental in the breaking down of gelatine. As such, it is necessary to avoid using uncooked pineapple, figs, guava, ginger root, papaya and mango. Though, I’m unsure of its effect on vegetarian gelatine.
The simplicity of this dish certainly belies its handsome good looks. It really is a case of merely mixing it all together. However, this recipe, like another of my recent posts, emerged, like a phoenix, from the ashes of failure. Originally, I attempted to make these cheesecakes sans gelatine, a method which proved to be catastrophic to their consistency. Something which surprises me a little is the fact that I don’t get so frustrated at failure any longer; it is evident that a trial run isn’t the most detestable occurrence.
De-constructed Strawberry Cheesecakes
Makes 4-6
Ingredients:
• 450g cream cheese, not an expensive brand
• 150ml double cream
• 4 gelatine leaves, or equivalent
• 50g icing sugar
• 250g strawberries, extra for decoration
• 2 digestive biscuits, crumbled
Method:
1. Place the gelatine in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes. Beat the cream cheese in a bowl until soft. Sift in the sugar and stir thoroughly. Heat the double cream gently before adding the soaked gelatine, remember to squeeze it of any excess water. Simmer for 2 minutes, until the gelatine has dissolved. Stir the cream into the cheese, blend the strawberries and add those too. Transfer to vessels of one’s choice and chill for an hour.
2. After the hour is up crumble a little of the digestive biscuit onto the top of the cheesecake, top with half a strawberry.
Cost: This absolutely wonderful dessert comes in at a surprisingly low price. The cost of cream cheese is extremely low and this pulls the cost right down. Don’t use mascarpone, it is a waste. The cost of the entire confection should be roughly £2.60. Enjoy!
102 replies on “‘De-constructed’ Strawberry Cheesecakes”
I guess that leaves out Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Okay. Still looks good 🙂
You could use it, but I feel it would be a waste, Rosemary.
so cute!
Thanks. They are rather adorable.
I love this! Your pics are great as well!
Thanks! I’ve decided to rededicate myself to taking great pictures.
This looks great and inexpensive – we’re not dealing in lbs over here of course, unless we eat it 🙂
Thanks! Well, no – I don’t suppose that you are.
looks wonderful ~ i love teacup food!
Thanks! There’s nothing quite like doing the wrong thing with a tea cup… that sounds odd, doesn’t it?
Great idea and looks delicious!
Thanks, Kay!
Oh yes please! Love un baked cheesecakes as well as baked and I´m pleased to see they were in decent sized cups 😉
Oh yes, we can’t have skimpy portions!
Oh wow! I’m a huge fan of cheesecake and these look really easy. I look forward to trying them.
Thanks! I adore cheesecake so much!
Yummy! These sound delicious. It’s funny we bloggers sometimes have the same them going in our heads. I blogged about cheesecake yesterday too. This looks divine!
Thanks, Amy. Haha, yes it is rather funny. I;ve noticed it rather a lot.
delightful! love the individual servings too. c
Thanks, Cecilia! I had to do individual servings, I would have eaten them all otherwise.
Those are cool. We have a boatload of strawberries too. The technical term is flat, but not like an apartment. Couldn’t resist.
Thanks, Greg!
Beautiful! And they look so yummy!
Thanks, Casey!
awesome! and i love those tea cups! this would be a nice detail to the mad hatter’s tea party i’m planning for my daughter’s birthday. thanks for the idea.
Thanks, Janis! Oh yes, what a great idea!
looks beautiful! and I am sure it tastes amazing!
Thanks! Yes! They tasted very nice.
What a delightful spring dessert. I love the individual servings in the beautiful teacups! Are digestive biscuits equivalent to a butter cookie or shortbread?
Thanks, Karista! umm, not quite. I don’t really know if they have an equivalent…
Your strawberry cheesecakes look absolutely beautiful and I imagine they are equally delicious. I love the idea of serving them in vintage teacups, particularly if they were a charity shop/ thrift store bargain (depending on which side of the Atlantic you are). Thanks for sharing the great recipe
Thanks! They were really very delicious. I can’t remember where we got them from. We’ve had them for years.
Gorgeous! Gorgeous! So springy and delightful – and those cups! Love these!
Thanks, Shira! I love the cups too 😀 – they are my mousse/cheesecake cups.
Ive seen the gelatin leaves on British cooking shows, but havent seen them on the shelf here in Canada. How much powdered gelatin would be the equivalent?
Hmm, I think they are better quality – we have both here. Well, 4 gelatin leaves is enough for roughly 1 pint of liquid – you work it out :D.
Another lovely post.
Thanks, Conor!
So pretty! Strawberry cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts. What a lovely idea to deconstruct it and serve it in a tea cup. Those are some beautiful looking berries, Frugal. You always get such nice ones on your side of the pond!
Thanks, Daisy! We do get good ones. These are far from the best though – they’ll be much nicer in a month or so.
What I like about your blog is measurements!!! Yes, it’s in a metric system and I can understand it much better than “cups, spoon, etc.” Following your recipes is a delight: everything comes out good and tasty (so far at least). Thank you! 🙂
Well, I am British – it’s how we do it around here. bugger those silly, inaccurate measurements.
This is such a great idea. And your photos are beautiful. Look forward to trying this.
Thanks so much, Vanesther.
Love your instruction regarding the destruction of the constructed dessert.. It’s remarkable in its deconstruction 🙂 such a pretty creation today.. A cup of spring I think.. And I would have happily had a spoonful or two or your first “failure” I bet it tasted fabulous as well!
Haha! Thanks, Smidge. The failure did taste fabulous – it just didn’t set!
Gorgeous pics! Yum!
Thanks! I really liked the photos too :D. I’ve decided to try harder on them again.
Simply marvelous!
Thanks! They were absolutely delicious.
Wow this looks great!
Thanks, Allyson.
No bake…thats enough for me to try! Nice presentation too.
I hope you like them – they are delicious.
No way – for about the past week I’ve been imagining/planning a deconstructed strawberry cheesecake as well! I love how light a no-bake cheesecake is and yours looks really tasty and simple.
Haha – how odd. These things always happen. Thanks, Korena.
This looks amazing. And so cute in tea cups or mugs. 🙂
Thanks, Ami! I love cooking in tea cups 😀
I never bake my cheesecake. I prefer the non-baked texture by far! The deconstruction was a success from what I can see (but unluckily not taste..)
It was a success – the taste was perfect…
Love the individual servings, and sounds very easy to make too! Thanks!
Thanks! They were perfectly sized!
You have ‘deconstructed’ these very well! 🙂
Haha! Thanks, Sibella.
Last night on Top Chef Canada, one of the contestants had to do a de-constructed cheesecake. It didn’t look anything close to as good as it looks here.
Nice finding your blog here!
Wow, thanks! That’s a wonderful compliment 😀
A well deserved compliment!
hah! Thanks!
sounds good and a nice presentations.
Thanks! I’m trying very hard with my photographs at the moment.
Good recipe with good presentation.
Thanks! They were gorgeous.
Lovely! With great pictures as always 😉
Thanks! I’ve been trying extra hard of late.
Successfully, I must say!
Why, thankyou!
Haha – I agree with your sentiments on ‘de’constructed foods. These cheese cakes reallya re beautifully ‘constructed’, though! I love the little single-servings, as well. 🙂
Thanks, Willow. The single servings were a must for my health.
Yum! Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. I love no-bake desserts for the summertime. Definitely making these soon.
It’s amazing isn’t it – it’s certainly my favourite. I hope you like them, Clare.
very pretty. i love the teacups, of course.
Thanks, Lauren. I adore them.
I just love strawberry cheese cake, great pictures and looks so delicious…yummy:)
Me too! It was so yum. Thanks, Katya.
Yum! You’re right on that “deconstructed” remark – too funny! I love “cheater” recipes, and I could make this now if I had gelatin in my pantry. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hah, thanks! I think it’s a breath of fresh air presenting it in a different way.
mmm this looks lovely and definately something I’ll bookmark to try at some point!
Thanks! You must.
When my sweet tooth comes back, def. going to make this one:) 🙂 🙂
You lost a sweet tooth?!
It’s a saying:) ( Don’t know if I can say that in English though ? ) When I crave something sweet again:)
Ahha!You can, I was just being coy. I understood it really :P.
What a wonderful idea, these look beautiful!
Thanks, Lottie. They were SO delicious.
Looks good.. have you ever tried black pepper with your strawberries??
Nope, but I intend to try some interesting combinations in a month or so.
Brilliantly done! I think I will try it with blueberries. And I do so love those digestive biscuits you Brits make! Delicious!
Thanks! that’s a great idea. you should make some digestives yourself.
[…] far as the recipe for this delight is concerned, it is merely a slightly altered version of my de-constructed strawberry cheesecakes. There seemed little point in creating something fundamentally different; the subtle flavour and […]
This is easier! Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
This is VERY easy 🙂
[…] recipe I found online. I think it was my second week into the bloggerhood when I came across the frugalfeeding blog, and right there on the home page was this beautiful recipe of a strawberry cheesecake, […]