When people think of New York City, the first thing that comes to mind is towering skyscrapers, yellow cabs, and Broadway shows. But it is famous for another thing. New York is known as the city of cheesecake. It got this title because it was in this city that the culinary revolution took place, which led to the invention of New York Style Cheesecake in the 1930’s. This dessert went on to become globally known in the years to come.
The History of New York Cheesecake
New York City earned its title of cheesecake by a mere accident that took place in a local dairy. In 1872, a New York dairyman named William Lawrence tried to make a crumbly French cheese named Neufchâtel. By mistake, he added more cream than was required to the mixture.
This accidental addition of cream created modern cream cheese. This thick cheese became the star ingredient for all local bakers in New York.
It was in the 1930’s that Arnold Reuben, owner of Reuben's Restaurant and Delicatessen, claimed to bake the first true New York-style cheesecake.
Source: Kimberly Vardeman
What Makes The New York Cheesecake Different?
A classic New York cheesecake uses a very high ratio of heavy cream cheese to eggs. Traditional recipes from other countries use ricotta or cottage cheese. The New York version relies entirely on dense cream cheese. This gives the cake a very heavy and rich texture.
Bakers also bake it at a high temperature for a short time. Then, they lower the heat. This method prevents the top from cracking.
Did You Know?
You will be surprised to know that the earliest versions of cheesecake did not use a classic graham cracker crust? In the early twentieth century bakers preferred a thin sponge cake base. The reason for adding a sponge cake was that it provided a sturdy bottom without adding extra sweetness. As the dense filling became sweeter over time, bakers adjusted the crust. They switched to graham crackers to add a salty and crunchy contrast.
This created the famous dense texture that fans adore today. You can still find a few historic bakeries such as the world famous Junior’s, located in Brooklyn using the original sponge cake method.
Interesting Facts about the New York Cheesecake
The following are some of the interesting facts about the New York Style Cheesecake
1. William Lawrence invented modern cream cheese in 1872 in Chester, New York that revolutionised the baking industry of New York.
2. Arnold Reuben is credited with creating the first modern cheesecake recipe in 1930’s.
3. Junior's restaurant opened in Brooklyn in 1950 by Harry Rosen is credited with popularizing the dessert globally.
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