I lived in NYC for a few years and tried a wide range of cheesecakes both in restaurants and homemade by talented bakers. Good or bad what they all had in common was that plain was best, and flavored were always disappointing and unenjoyable.
Off the top of my head I can remember trying: chocolate, raspberry, cherry, peanut butter, coffee, salted caramel, coconut, red velvet, and yuzu. Disliked all of them because they all tasted like:
[how good the base cheesecake is] - [how good a cake of this flavor in not cheesecake form would be]
So basically the stronger the flavor the worse it'd be, even though I like all those flavors very much (hence having a list that long before figuring out I just don't like flavored cheesecake)
Sounds like the flavors were too strong, possibly using flavorants rather than (or in addition to) the real thing. Peanut butter cheesecake with an Oreo crust, for example, has an amazing but subtle flavor.
Flavored is bad, but toppings can be good. Adulterating the actual body of the cheesecake is wrong. I do like some goopy cherries on top though, the tartness offsets the sweet, creaminess of the cheesecake.
I read this as "taint cherry pie," and I hate to admit I was intrigued and kind of excited to read someone's justification for such a controversial opinion
I accept citrus if it's in the ingredients but in a small enough amount that it just enhances the cheesecake flavor and doesn't impart a noticeable citrus taste
I feel the same way about a good donut. Also bacon is best as just bacon and never improved by wrapping it around things and under or over cooking it. And the perfect cookie is a simple, perfectly baked, chocolate chip cookie. With so many foods, simple and perfectly prepared will always beat overly complex.
Chocolate chip is a garbage-tier cookie. I get supremely disappointed when what I thought was a delicious oatmeal raisin cookie turns out to be a lame chocolate chip. Won't eat them.
One the one hand I agree that oatmeal raisin cookies are great, but you're just wrong about chocolate chip. Sometimes my grandma would "adulterate" oatmeal raisin cookies by adding M&M's.
That might be one to mention to your doctor actually. It shouldn’t be anything too concerning but it may be indicative of a deficiency in some nutrients or mineral.
My doctors got very concerned when I mentioned that I disliked the taste of salt. Not just salty foods or bacon but just the weird mineral and acrid taste of salt. Better now but still not a fan.
That your body does want a different sodium pairing is interesting.
Do you drink a lot of electrolyte drinks like Gatorade?
I almost added chocolate and coffee, but there is just so much variety in both and I love them all. Besides, chocolate+peanut butter+pretzels is kind of my exception to the less is more argument.
Very light raspberry drizzle does elevate a good cheesecake. I want just the slightest sweet/tart garnish. Maybe just a whisper of a spearmint chiffonade, but that's almost decadent. Plain cheesecake is great alone though.
Hm I would argue that caramel and coffee for example are flavors that are better than cheesecake. But flavoring cheesecake with them makes the result much worse than the sum of its flavor parts.
I think vice versa too. I would not enjoy cheesecake flavored caramel nor cheesecake flavored coffee
So does that include toppings? I can understand cheesecake with strawberries in it not being your thing, but does that include plain cheesecake with a strawberry glaze on top? Does any sort of fruit, powdered sugar/cinnamon, or cookie ruin it?
I'm from The South so my favorite cheesecake was one that had a key lime pie on top of it, does that count?
I had had all kinds of cheesecake for a long time in my life, all kinds of different flavors.
Then at one point I had /good/ cheesecake.
And immediately realized everything up to that point was garbage. Did some research and the old stuff I had had before was not even really cheesecake, basically just a fast food level cheesecake analog.
I disagree, but what this community is about. I got to admit, making a good fruit cheesecake is more difficult than making a good plain cheesecake, so I agree that often the plain one is better than the fruity one. Not always.
Is this only a cheesecake thing or do you also dislike all cheese+fruit combinations? Have you tried Mascarpone gelato?
Question, do you think strawberries are good on cheap cheesecake? Or does any topping make it worse?
Because some cheesecake is so good that distracting from the flavor at all is a sin. But other cheesecake is fine to have the flavor covered by yummy fruit.
But since you don't like honey your tounge probably works different than mine.
I agree with you because I get overwhelmed at too many options and extravagant opulence. I'm sure all kinds of extravagant cheesecake varieties are exciting but it's overwhelming to me And I'm fine with the plain kind, actually I don't want it at all because if you want to be skinny one day and fat the next day, cheesecake is a great way to achieve that. But I don't want to achieve that.
I’m not going to try to stop you ordering the worst thing on the menu. Just don’t expect me to agree with your choices.
Red velvet’s color promises delicious strawberry or cherry flavor, but all it delivers is the worst version of chocolate flavor. You have your ded velvet and I’ll order something with cherries or strawberries.
98 Comments
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 2y
ITT: people who haven't had good cheesecake
janus2@lemmy.zip · 18 pts · 2y
I lived in NYC for a few years and tried a wide range of cheesecakes both in restaurants and homemade by talented bakers. Good or bad what they all had in common was that plain was best, and flavored were always disappointing and unenjoyable.
frickineh@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 2y
You're always disappointing and unenjoyable!
Sorry. Don't know what came over me. Maybe it was thinking about how good key lime cheesecake is.
Aviandelight@mander.xyz · 6 pts · 2y
Great now I'm going to be dreaming about key lime cheesecake until I can get one again.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
It's surprisingly easier to make than you might think: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/key-lime-cheesecake/
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Key lime cheesecake is so fucking good.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
It sounds super good but unless it's an anomaly I'd probably hate it ðŸ˜
I always try bites of flavored cheesecake hoping I'll find an exception but I am always severely disappointed
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
I invite you to try my cheesecake. Which is really just any cheesecake recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
What sort of flavors are we talking? What was it about them that you didn't enjoy?
All of the cheesecakes I make are "flavored" in some way, but I go out of my way to use real ingredients, not just "X flavoring."
janus2@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 2y
Off the top of my head I can remember trying: chocolate, raspberry, cherry, peanut butter, coffee, salted caramel, coconut, red velvet, and yuzu. Disliked all of them because they all tasted like:
[how good the base cheesecake is] - [how good a cake of this flavor in not cheesecake form would be]
So basically the stronger the flavor the worse it'd be, even though I like all those flavors very much (hence having a list that long before figuring out I just don't like flavored cheesecake)
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
Sounds like the flavors were too strong, possibly using flavorants rather than (or in addition to) the real thing. Peanut butter cheesecake with an Oreo crust, for example, has an amazing but subtle flavor.
AnalogyAddict@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
That's your problem. You didn't try lemon, which is the best of the flavors.
MarmaladeMermaid@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
Flavored is bad, but toppings can be good. Adulterating the actual body of the cheesecake is wrong. I do like some goopy cherries on top though, the tartness offsets the sweet, creaminess of the cheesecake.
winterayars@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 2y
Disappointing and unenjoyable? Man that can't possibly be. Nothing like a good chocolate rum cheesecake or something.
Plain old cheesecake is the best, though. Can't argue there.
Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 2y
I mean I feel a similar way about pizza - you need just a plain slice with no toppings to truly judge its merit.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 2y
If by plain you mean with red sauce and mozzarella, agree
If by plain you mean none pizza (without left beef), no! ;)
Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
No no. The former not the latter!
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
Naw man, pepperoni.
criitz@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 2y
A "plain" slice of pizza has pepperoni on it, IMO. It's the basic topping of pizza. Comparing plain just cheese pizza is worthless.
Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
I completely disagree but you do you boo.
criitz@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 2y
I'm glad we could disagree
pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online · 0 pts · 2y
It's possible to have had good plain cheesecake and still like other flavors.
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
I never claimed it wasn't.
RealFknNito@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 2y
I hate this opinion but you put it in the right community so I will upvote it like a decent human.
andrewta@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
And I shall upvote you for being a good human being
Kolanaki@yiffit.net · 17 pts · 2y
Counter-argument: Cherry topping.
Also: What kind of "plain" cheesecake? Cuz there's still variety even there. I would assume New York because it's the most common (in the US anyway).
PhoreTwunny@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Tart cherry pie filling on top of a new york cheesecake is unbelievable
NucleusAdumbens@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I read this as "taint cherry pie," and I hate to admit I was intrigued and kind of excited to read someone's justification for such a controversial opinion
TheGreenGolem@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 16 pts · 2y
I can go further with my unpopular opinion on cheesecake. There is no good cheesecake.
DahGangalang@infosec.pub · 17 pts · 2y
I know this is unpopular opinions, but I think that's a step too far.
TheGreenGolem@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 2y
I also like to live... dangerously.
DahGangalang@infosec.pub · 2 pts · 2y
By Orholam, some drafters just lose the powers of reason.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 2y
I enthusiastically disagree. Well done
flooppoolf@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
janus2@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 2y
that's a frickin crime and i demand justice for you
surewhynotlem@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 2y
Counterpoint: hint of lemon
LarryTheMatador@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 2y
janus2@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 2y
I accept citrus if it's in the ingredients but in a small enough amount that it just enhances the cheesecake flavor and doesn't impart a noticeable citrus taste
surewhynotlem@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
This is the way
watson387@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 2y
While I agree it is the best cheesecake I can't agree it's the only good one. lol
ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 2y
I feel the same way about a good donut. Also bacon is best as just bacon and never improved by wrapping it around things and under or over cooking it. And the perfect cookie is a simple, perfectly baked, chocolate chip cookie. With so many foods, simple and perfectly prepared will always beat overly complex.
agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 2y
Chocolate chip is a garbage-tier cookie. I get supremely disappointed when what I thought was a delicious oatmeal raisin cookie turns out to be a lame chocolate chip. Won't eat them.
hibsen@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
Now that is definitely an unpopular opinion.
ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2y
One the one hand I agree that oatmeal raisin cookies are great, but you're just wrong about chocolate chip. Sometimes my grandma would "adulterate" oatmeal raisin cookies by adding M&M's.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 2y
I feel you on donuts since my favorite donut is a plain fastnacht
I used to like bacon but then my tastebuds decided to rewire in my early 20s and now it's too salty :[
Ooh, here's another horrible opinion from me. The best chocolate chip cookie has no chips. Just give me that delicious baking soda taste yessss.
If anyone knows what planet I'm from please lmk.
PlantDadManGuy@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
I respect your opinion, but you're missing out on so much good delicious hot crispy sizzling bacon. Just by unsalted next time lol
ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2y
I mean plain sugar cookies are pretty good too. But I need the chocolate.
Kilnier@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2y
That might be one to mention to your doctor actually. It shouldn’t be anything too concerning but it may be indicative of a deficiency in some nutrients or mineral.
My doctors got very concerned when I mentioned that I disliked the taste of salt. Not just salty foods or bacon but just the weird mineral and acrid taste of salt. Better now but still not a fan.
That your body does want a different sodium pairing is interesting.
Do you drink a lot of electrolyte drinks like Gatorade?
LarryTheMatador@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2y
ElderWendigo@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2y
I almost added chocolate and coffee, but there is just so much variety in both and I love them all. Besides, chocolate+peanut butter+pretzels is kind of my exception to the less is more argument.
agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 2y
Very light raspberry drizzle does elevate a good cheesecake. I want just the slightest sweet/tart garnish. Maybe just a whisper of a spearmint chiffonade, but that's almost decadent. Plain cheesecake is great alone though.
deegeese@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 2y
That is the dilemma:
Why would you flavor cheesecake with something that doesn’t taste as good as cheesecake?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 2y
Hm I would argue that caramel and coffee for example are flavors that are better than cheesecake. But flavoring cheesecake with them makes the result much worse than the sum of its flavor parts.
I think vice versa too. I would not enjoy cheesecake flavored caramel nor cheesecake flavored coffee
MisterNeon@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y
So does that include toppings? I can understand cheesecake with strawberries in it not being your thing, but does that include plain cheesecake with a strawberry glaze on top? Does any sort of fruit, powdered sugar/cinnamon, or cookie ruin it?
I'm from The South so my favorite cheesecake was one that had a key lime pie on top of it, does that count?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 2y
Yeah, to me that all counts as not plain
AgentGrimstone@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y
I can't agree with it being the only good one but it's definitely my preferred way.
mmagod@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
that turtle cheesecake i had a few days ago was smackin tho
vexikron@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 2y
I agree with you.
I had had all kinds of cheesecake for a long time in my life, all kinds of different flavors.
Then at one point I had /good/ cheesecake.
And immediately realized everything up to that point was garbage. Did some research and the old stuff I had had before was not even really cheesecake, basically just a fast food level cheesecake analog.
Real cheesecake is quite good.
Unlearned9545@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
I don't know man I make a damn good triple chocolate cheesecake, peanut butter cheesecake, and apple pie cheesecake.
actionjbone@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 2y
That's cool, more fruit cheesecake for me.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
all yours
Agent641@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Baked cheesecake is worse than cold-set cheesecake made by my mum
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 2y
I'll die on this hill with you.
Mothra@mander.xyz · 4 pts · 2y
I disagree, but what this community is about. I got to admit, making a good fruit cheesecake is more difficult than making a good plain cheesecake, so I agree that often the plain one is better than the fruity one. Not always.
Is this only a cheesecake thing or do you also dislike all cheese+fruit combinations? Have you tried Mascarpone gelato?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
I like cream cheese and jam on toast, I suppose, but not enough that I ever remember it's a valid combo and make it.
I have not tried mascarpone gelato but would try it. I'll keep an eye out for it
kemsat@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Maybe. But raspberry cheesecake ice cream is top tier.
Lifecoach5000@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
I’m with you. Keep the strawberries and syrup away from my precious.
burgersc12@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 2y
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
If you drench plain cheesecake in anything, it's not a problem for me, because it's now literally anyone else's problem I ain't touchin it lol
ericbomb@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Question, do you think strawberries are good on cheap cheesecake? Or does any topping make it worse?
Because some cheesecake is so good that distracting from the flavor at all is a sin. But other cheesecake is fine to have the flavor covered by yummy fruit.
But since you don't like honey your tounge probably works different than mine.
Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2y
If you’re not too set in your ways, try it with some honey. Real honey, not honey flavored syrup.
janus2@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 2y
Congrats you've unlocked a bonus unpopular opinion of mine: honey is too gross to be enjoyable. It's bee vomit ðŸ˜
And yet I enjoy other gross things like fermented milk, grasshopper tacos, and roasted crickets. My brain's weird.
Furbag@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
But it's what ursine mammalians crave!
Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2y
Lol. I’ll trade you my grasshopper tacos for your cheesecake anytime. Cheers!
janus2@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 2y
you can also have all my rations of honey. I will accept maple syrup or molasses in return haha
zaph@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2y
Damn I was on your side too
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
i can't really enjoy most baklava so it is the losing side anyway
Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc · 2 pts · 2y
How bout using Maple syrup? Is tree blood up to your taste?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 2y
yes but not on cheesecake
LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
I agree with you because I get overwhelmed at too many options and extravagant opulence. I'm sure all kinds of extravagant cheesecake varieties are exciting but it's overwhelming to me And I'm fine with the plain kind, actually I don't want it at all because if you want to be skinny one day and fat the next day, cheesecake is a great way to achieve that. But I don't want to achieve that.
PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 2y
MentallyExhausted@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 2y
Mu uncle makes a raspberry drizzle that takes plain cheesecake to the next level.
TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
I would agree with you, but I had bananas foster cheesecake, and that was amazing.
But besides that, yes, plain cheesecake all the way. Preferably creole style.
ttmrichter@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
I'll address your opinion once you define your terms. Specifically:
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
good cheesecake is cheesecake I like, in this context.
so the only way to tell if it's good is to bring me some. :]
ttmrichter@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 2y
OK, so as I suspected, your "unpopular opinion" is, when all the blather is stripped away, "I don't like anything but plain cheesecake".
Not so impressive when worded that way, is it?
Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc · 4 pts · 2y
Yes, that's how opinion works.
ttmrichter@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 2y
Then why obfuscate it with all the verbiage? Just say "I don't like any cheesecake but plain cheesecake."
catbaba@lemmus.org · 3 pts · 2y
Yeah, come on. Just fill out cheesecake form 44-1A and remit it to Lemmy's cheesecake department
mvirts@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
The rest are pure evil
MagneticFusion@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y
As long as the cheese is roquefort...
robolemmy@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 2y
I’ll go you one better. There is no such thing as good cheesecake. It all sucks.
snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
You obviously never tried red velvet cheese cake.
robolemmy@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Red velvet cake is the worst cake, so red velvet cheesecake must be the worst cheesecake.
snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
The fun police have arrived.
robolemmy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I’m not going to try to stop you ordering the worst thing on the menu. Just don’t expect me to agree with your choices.
Red velvet’s color promises delicious strawberry or cherry flavor, but all it delivers is the worst version of chocolate flavor. You have your ded velvet and I’ll order something with cherries or strawberries.
Kolanaki@yiffit.net · 2 pts · 2y
Perhaps a cheesecake with cherry topping? 😌
robolemmy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
Now you’re just being mean!
Don’t think I haven’t scraped fruit off of a piece of cheesecake in my day. I’m not too proud to work for my dessert
kogasa@programming.dev · 1 pts · 2y
This is "unpopular opinion" not "wrong"
Zozano@lemy.lol · 0 pts · 2y
Being vegan sucks right now.
Cheesecake is so good.
owatnext@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
There is vegan cheesecake, it isn't even super hard to make at home with a began cream cheese.
Zozano@lemy.lol · 3 pts · 2y
How do you rate it?
janus2@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 2y
the vegan cheesecake i've had is actually in my top 5. my guess is it's cashew-based because it's spot on in texture and flavor