Burn Baby Burn: Best Basque Cheesecake in Singapore

TXA Pintxo Bar

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The original Basque cheesecake originated in a pintxo bar, so it makes sense that Singapore’s only one of its kind serves the famous delicacy too. Pinxto (or pincho) literally translates to “spike”, referring to the style in which these bite sized dishes are served on a stick. TXA brings a piece of the Basque Country to Singapore, creating a space for friends to come together and share in an ever-changing menu of Spanish snacks. One thing does stay the same, however, and that’s their burnt cheesecake, served the traditional La Vina way.

$9.50

Tipsy Penguin

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The array of internationally-inspired dishes sends plenty of locals huddling around the table at Tipsy Penguin. The team here isn’t dedicated to just one cuisine and are passionate about serving the most delicious parts of every culture, from the Western world to Asia and Europe. Spain’s signature cheesecake easily makes the list, and the dessert – coined ‘the accidental cheesecake’ is served warm and gooey with a scoop of honeycomb ice cream.

$10

The Kins' Cafe

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Specialty coffee, all-day brunch and modern fusion dishes are the main event at The Kins’, a trendy cafe located inside Bijou Condo. But what’s a meal or morning coffee without something sweet to finish it off? Go classic with the signature Kins’ Burnt Cheesecake or Houjicha Burnt Cheesecake, a Japanese green tea spinoff. Whichever one you choose, you’ll be in for a soft, silky smooth treat.

Kins’ Burnt Cheesecake: $8

Houjicha Burnt Cheesecake: $8.50

The Orchard Cafe

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The pastry team at The Orchard Cafe put their own local spin on the traditional Basque Cheesecake. Inspired by their love of durian (a.k.a. the king of fruits), their version is a celebration of Singapore’s multiculturalism. Featuring the typical dark outer crust, The Orchard Cafe’s cheesecake interior is irresistibly creamy and custard-like, but delicately laced with the flavour of D24 durian. Gula Melaka (a.k.a palm sugar) and coconut milk is added for an extra smooth and indulgent consistency that strikes a perfect balance of sweet and tart.

$49.30 (900g)

Bakery Brera

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Almost every pastry, bread and cake craving can be attended to at Bakery Brera. Croissants and cruffins, baguettes and brioche, scones and sourdough… And one of the most beautiful (and shouted about) Basque Burnt Cheesecake recipes on this list. In the past, Bakery Brera has experimented with matcha and houjicha flavours for their cheesecake and even took things up a notch with burnt cheese croissants. However, the classic is always readily available to pick up or order online. Grab just a slice for yourself or get the whole cake to share with friends and family.

$8 or $66 for whole 8" cake

Paparch

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Owned by a home baker, Paparch really took off on social media since the beginning of circuit breaker – where the Basque cheesecake trend saw a massive resurgence. Specialising in burnt cheesecake and only burnt cheesecake, the small local business bakes up a halal version that has a perfectly executed melt-in-the-mouth cream cheese filling. As well as the traditional recipe, Paparch has also experimented with a matcha version which the town went mad for. Selling whole cheesecakes to order, the biz has become so popular that customers have to book a month in advance to secure a cake. Is it worth the wait? Hell yes.

$49 (plus $10 delivery fee)

Olivia Restaurant & Lounge

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If you’ve ever wanted to go to Barcelona, here’s your chance. Olivia Restaurant & Lounge captures the life and soul of Spain’s coastal town, both in the ambience of their beautiful designer interior and on the plate. However, when it comes to dessert it’s all about that Basque influence. With an almond sable at the base, Olivia’s chefs use heavy cream cheese and blue cheese to achieve a wonderful sweet and savoury cheesecake interior. Unlike the rather quick classic, this one takes a whole day to create.

$14 or $80 for a whole cake