Mary Berry's baked cheesecakes have long been celebrated for their heavenly taste and flawless texture, with one particular recipe featuring a game-changing ingredient that transforms every dessert. The chef's classic New York cheesecake, detailed in her book Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking, includes plain flour as a discreet but essential addition to achieve the perfect set.
The Secret Ingredient for Perfect Cheesecake Texture
According to Berry's recipe notes, a little plain flour helps ensure the cheesecake sets perfectly, acting as a gentle thickening and stabilising agent. This ingredient maintains the dessert's structure while delivering an irresistibly smooth and velvety texture that slices neatly every time.
Mary Berry's New York Cheesecake Recipe
The complete recipe requires the following ingredients:
- 150g digestive biscuits
- 25g demerara sugar
- 75g unsalted butter
- 750g full-fat cream cheese
- 125g caster sugar
- One tablespoon of plain flour
- Two teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 150ml soured cream
- Two free-range eggs, beaten
- 150ml soured cream
- 150g strawberries
Step-by-Step Preparation Method
Begin by heating your oven to 160C/140C Fan and lining a 20cm springform tin with baking paper. For the base, crush the biscuits and sugar finely in a bag, then melt the butter and stir through the crumbs until combined. Press this mixture firmly into the tin's base and refrigerate while preparing the filling.
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and caster sugar using an electric whisk, mixing gently. Stir in the flour, vanilla extract, and sour cream until smooth, then gradually pour in the beaten eggs, whisking thoroughly after each addition. The plain flour works subtly but effectively to stabilise the mixture.
Pour the filling over the biscuit base, smooth the surface, and bake for 40 minutes. After baking, switch off the heat but leave the tin inside for two additional hours. Once done, run a palette knife around the edges while still in the tin, then cool completely at room temperature before chilling in the fridge overnight for optimal setting.
Serving and Final Touches
When ready to serve, carefully remove the cheesecake from its tin and transfer to a serving plate. Smooth the sour cream across the top and finish with decorative strawberry slices for a beautiful presentation. This recipe's inclusion of plain flour ensures a consistently perfect texture that once tried, becomes an indispensable part of any baked cheesecake preparation.
