How To: Belizean Dessert

How to Make Tropical Cheesecake

Credit: Chef Arjay Arana

Tropical Cheesecake is a creamy, refreshing dessert that combines the richness of classic cheesecake with bright mango and pineapple flavors. Made with a smooth cream cheese filling on a buttery graham cracker crust, this cheesecake is topped with a glossy tropical fruit topping and finished with a swirl of freshly whipped cream. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, this chilled dessert yields 8 slices and brings a taste of the tropics to any occasion.
Tropical Cheesecake is a simple yet delicious dessert that combines creamy cheesecake with fresh mango and pineapple flavors. A refreshing tropical treat that brings a taste of paradise to every bite.

Recipe for Tropical Cheesecake

Tropical Cheesecake (Mango & Pineapple)

Yield: 8 slices

    Crust

    1 pre-baked 9-inch graham cracker crust

    Filling

    16 oz cream cheese (2 blocks), softened 1 C white sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 2/3 C sour cream 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp salt

    Topping

    2 1/2 C mango juice 1/2 C sugar 1/2 C pineapple, diced 1/2 C mango, diced 3 Tbsp cornstarch + 3 Tbsp cold water (slurry)

    To finish

    1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Wrap the pan bottom in foil for the water bath.

    2. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, then sour cream, vanilla and salt. Add eggs one at a time on low speed, be sure not to overmix.

    3. Pour cheese mixture into crust. Set in a roasting pan, add hot water halfway up the sides. Bake 45–55 min, until edges are set and the center still wobbles slightly.

    4. Turn oven off, crack the door and leave 1 hour. Then chill at least 4 hours.

    5. For the topping: simmer juice, sugar, pineapple and mango. Stir in slurry and cook 5–7 min until thick and glossy. Cool and refrigerate.

    6. Whip the cream to stiff peaks.

    7. Plate a slice, pipe whipped cream, spoon topping over. Serve cold.

    Now comes the best part: enjoying your homemade Belizean tropical cheescake. Enjoy!