Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

I love a really good Baked Cheesecake and this combination of tart gooseberries, homemade gooseberry jam and the hint of ginger is a delicious combination perfect for a Summer dessert!

We have a nice little crop of berries coming through but my sister Aveen is the queen of gooseberry jam. Combining both fresh berries and the jam in this dessert is a real winner and it looks gorgeous dressed with a few fresh leaves and fruit.

Enjoy! Kela x

Two slices of Gooseberry and Ginger baked cheesecake on sideplates.
Two slices of Gooseberry and Ginger baked cheesecake on sideplates.
Base Ingredients:
  • 150g ginger snap biscuits
  • 150g digestive biscuits
  • 100g melted butter
Filling
  • 500g full-fat cream cheese (I used Philadpelphia)
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 3 medium free range eggs
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 5 tbsp ginger cordial (I used Belvoir brand for this, really tasty)
  • 350g gooseberries, topped and tailed
  • 200g creme fraiche
Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 150C regular / 130C fan. Lightly grease a 23cm springform tin and line base with parchment.
  2. To make the base, blitz the biscuits in a food processor until they are crumbed then pour the melted butter over and whizz again to combine. Tip the butter crumbs into the prepared tin and smooth over the base with the back of a metal spoon or as I do, a small metal 1/4 Cup measure. Pop into the freezer while you prepare the filling.
  3. Beat the cream cheese and 150g of the caster sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time then add the cornfour and 3 tablespoons of the cordial. Beat to combine then pour into the prepared base. Bake in the oven for 50-55 minutes until just set but a little wobbly in the centre. Turn off the heat and leave the cheesecake to sit in the oven for up to an hour to cool.
  4. Meanwhile put the gooseberries in a small saucepan with 25g caster sugar and the remaining cordial. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 5 mins – you want them to still hold their shape. Pop into a sieve over a bowl and drain the juice. Return the juice to the saucepan and simmer again until reduced. Tip the gooseberries into a bowl and add the reduced syrup then leave to cool.
  5. When the cheesecake has cooled a bit (it doesn’t need to be cold) take out of oven gently spread the gooseberries and syrup over the top. Reset the oven to 150C / 130C fan. Mix the creme fraiche with the remaining caster sugar and gently spread this in a layer over the gooseberries. Return the cheesecake to the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes.
  6. Again turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside to cool – this prevents splits occuring in the surface.
  7. When cooled, cover the top with clingfilm and leave to fully cool in the fridge for anywhere from 4 hours to preferrably overnight.
  8. Serve sliced with a further drizzle of jam, some fresh fruit and maybe cream.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up