Sernik Izaura
Polish Izaura Cheesecake is a delightful combination of fluffy cheesecake and moist chocolate cake that impresses not only with its taste but also with its appearance. The story of it’s origin is quite amusing – it is said that the name comes from the character of Brazilian TV soap opera “Slave Isaura”, very popular in Poland in the 80ties. Just like Izaura, this cheesecake has won the hearts of many dessert lovers, becoming a classic in Polish kitchens.
The recipe for Izaura Cheesecake is simple and doesn’t require complicated ingredients, yet the final result always impresses guests. It’s perfect for family gatherings, holidays, or simply as a sweet treat with coffee. See for yourself how easy it is to prepare this delicious cake!
For more delicious Polish cakes try this link: Polish desserts.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Layer:
- 2 cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (230 g) sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 200 g unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) water
- 4 eggs
Cheesecake Layer:
- 2 lb (1 kg) twaróg (Polish farmer’s cheese), well-drained and crumbled
- 1/2 cup (120 g) sugar
- 100 g unsalted butter, softened
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
Chocolate Topping:
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whipping cream
- 1 chocolate bar (100 g)
Preheat your oven to 340°F (170°C). Grease and line a 9 x 13-inch (23 cm x 35 cm) pan with parchment paper.
Add five tablespoons of water to butter, sugar, cocoa and vanilla sugar and cook for 5 minutes in a saucepan. Once cooled, add egg yolks and mix until smooth. Add flour, baking powder and 4 egg whites beaten to a smooth foam. Pour 2/3 of the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Save 1/3 of batter for later.
Separate the yolks from the whites and beat them until stiff. Mix the yolks, sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy. While still mixing, gradually add the butter and mix until the ingredients are combined. Add the cheese in batches and finally the cornstarch. Finally, add the stiff egg whites in batches and gently combine with the cheese. Put the cheese mass in the cake pan. Place blobs of the reserved chocolate batter on top with a spoon.
Place the cake on the middle shelf of an oven preheated to 170 degrees. Bake for 60 minutes. Then open the oven door slightly and leave the cake in for another 20 minutes.
Place half a cup of heavy cream in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate broken into smaller pieces to the hot cream. Stir until the chocolate has completely dissolved in the cream and turned into a velvety glaze. Pour the glaze with a spoon onto the cooled cheesecake.
When I was preparing Polish Cheesecake Izaura, I skipped glazing, as my family could not wait any more to try the cake, but next time I will definitely make it to the very end:)
Tips for Success:
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting.
- Be gentle when mixing the cheesecake layer to avoid incorporating too much air.
- You may use a water bath to help prevent cracking: place it in a larger baking dish filled with water.
- Let the cheesecake cool gradually to prevent the top from cracking.
Enjoy! Smacznego!
If you liked my posts and tried my recipes, you can consider buying me a coffee. Or rather I should say: you can buy me a flour for Pierogi, cabbage for Gołąbki and beets for Barszcz:) This would help me to cook more and publish more delicious recipes for You. www.buymeacoffee.com/cookinpolish.
Comment on the post if you have questions, other ideas on the recipe or just enjoyed reading. I would be happy to see your thoughts on my posts! Have you tried Polish Izaura Cheesecake before?
