Goat Cheese Cheesecake

This is a sponsored post by Challenge butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

I love goat cheese with everything. Until this point, I’ve only used it in salads and as an appetizer with crackers, but I’ve been dreaming about pairing it with something sweet. 

I imagined a light, creamy dessert with fruit, and thus this no-bake goat cheese cheesecake was born.

I understand that the goat cheese can be a huge turnoff for people, and it’s not likely that I will convince you otherwise in this post. But at least let me tell you why goat cheese works in cheesecake.

First, the composition of goat cheese differs slightly from cheese from cows. Goat cheese has a lower concentration of milk protein which gives it a smoother, creamier texture, and it has a higher composition of fatty acids which makes it slightly tangy. 

The subtle tang and acidity from the goat cheese takes this cheesecake from sugary sweet to mildly sweet with some savory notes. It’s the perfect base for fruit topping, if you go that route.

Second, why not goat cheese? We’ve already had regular cheesecake. We know it’s delicious. People experiment with toppings and mix-ins all the time. So why not experiment with the type of cheese?

As you’ll see, this is a no-bake recipe. I went this route because I wanted the creaminess and lightness of the goat cheese to shine through. 

I made it in a tart pan because I thought it would look pretty, but you can use an 8-inch spring-form pan instead. Also, I spread the mixture into the pan using a piping bag. Once again, my only reason for going that route is I thought it would look pretty.

I will include the recipe for raspberry sauce, but I want to emphasize that you can top it however you please! Even a drizzle of honey would be tasty.

Goat cheese cheesecake

Ingredients

For the crust

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) Challenge butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

For the filling

• 8 ounces Challenge cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces plain Greek yogurt
• 4 ounces goat cheese in a log (not crumbles)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the raspberry sauce

• 12 ounces raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon water

Directions

For the crust

1. Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and brown sugar in bowl until you have a sand-like consistency.
2. Prepare your tart pan with nonstick spray and distribute the graham cracker crumbs into the pan, pressing it down firmly and evenly on the bottom and up the sides.
3. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

For the filling

1. In a large bowl beat cream cheese until smooth. 
2. Add Greek yogurt and goat cheese and beat until smooth again.
3. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla, and mix until everything is incorporated.
4. Remove crust from refrigerator, and spread mixture into pan, either using a spatula or a piping bag.
5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the raspberry sauce

1. Combine raspberries, sugar, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir mixture until it comes to a boil, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and press sauce through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds. 
4. Refrigerate until ready to serve with cheesecake.