Does Cheesecake Have Eggs In It? Exploring the Ingredients

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If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, then even the sight of a scrumptious-looking cheesecake can immediately send the saliva glands in your mouth into overdrive. Whether topped with strawberries or other flavorful fruits, the mix of thick creme filling and pastry-like crust simply leaves your flavor-pallet craving more. However, nowadays, you want to try to stay clear of any foods that contain eggs. So, does cheesecake have eggs in it?

Cheesecake may or may not have eggs in it, depending on the type and the recipe. If you need to add eggs to a cheesecake recipe, some ingredients can serve as egg substitutes. If you don’t prefer having eggs in your cheesecake, some recipes make for a good cheesecake without having this ingredient.

What Are Cheesecakes Made Of?

Does cheesecake have eggs? Yes, the filling has them.

Cheesecakes consist of the crust and the filling. The classic cheesecake recipes usually require eggs for the filling. These ingredients are typically used to help keep the cheesecake together. Some of the other ingredients included in a typical cheesecake recipe include the following for the crust:

• Sugar
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Butter
• Salt 

As for the filling, the usual cheesecake consists of the following:

• Eggs 
• Cream cheese
• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream
• Orange or lemon zest
• Sugar 

Some people consider this a vital part of the cheesecake, but they consider toppings optional. Toppings are usually light and fluffy to complement the smooth consistency of the filing and the somewhat salty and savory nature of the crust. Toppings are usually made of these ingredients:

• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream or whipped cream
• Confectioners’ sugar

Do you have to put eggs in cheesecake?

You don’t necessarily have to put eggs in cheesecake. Certain cheesecake recipes do not contain eggs. There are even some recipes intended for people with egg allergies. The main point in placing eggs in cheesecakes is to hold the rest of the ingredients together and to improve the overall texture of the dish. Aside from eggs, other alternatives can achieve the same effect for the recipe. 

Does cheesecake have raw eggs?

Strictly speaking, cheesecakes should not have raw eggs in them. If the recipe asks for raw eggs, chances are they’ll be eventually cooked through baking. 

You don’t have to steer clear of cheesecakes just because you need raw eggs to make them. Instead, what you need to be sure of is if the eggs are well-cooked during the baking phase. If you’re buying your cheesecake from a store, it’s important to know if the ingredients are pasteurized. If you’re not sure or if the staff cannot ensure this, it’s safer not to buy a slice in the meantime.

What does egg do to cheesecake?

The classic cheesecake and most of its derivatives do not use flour as one of the main ingredients. There’s hardly any source of starch in the recipe. Without using starch for recipes like this, it’s hard to keep the filling together. In this case, eggs keep the ingredients together. They are also responsible for the cheesecake’s smooth texture.

How to substitute eggs in cheesecake recipes

Depending on other present medical conditions and your preferences, you may use these egg substitutes for your cheesecake recipes. Take note that the ingredients may not have a 1:1 ratio when used for substitution. The quantities indicated below are the equivalent of one piece of medium-sized whole egg.

• Condensed milk: ¼ cup
• Silken tofu: ¼ cup
• Mashed banana: ½ piece of a medium-sized fruit
• Yogurt (any preferred type): ¼ cup
• Applesauce: ¼ cup
• Buttermilk: ¼ cup
• Finely-ground flax seeds soaked in water: 1:3 ratio of seeds to water

Can Vegans Eat Cheesecake?

This will entirely depend on the ingredients of the cheesecake in question. Even though many vegans don’t eat shrimp, the good news is that vegans can still eat cheesecakes without cheese and eggs in them.. If you’re a vegan and still want to indulge in this treat, consider making recipe substitutes for both cheese and eggs. If the recipe calls for butter, you should look for an alternative as well. 

Aside from the substitutes mentioned above, gelatin is one of the ingredient substitutes that you may consider — just make sure it’s plant-based.

If you have access to them, go for store-bought vegan ingredients to make the adjustments easier for you. If you’re a vegan and you have allergies to nuts, soy, and gluten, there are available vegan substitutes that will fit your needs as well. 

How Do You Thicken a Cheesecake?

For traditional cheesecakes that require baking, you may add one or two eggs for a thicker texture. Make sure to balance this out with the rest of the ingredients when mixing the filling. This will ensure that the cheesecake will still have that distinct smooth texture once you take a bite. 

While you can’t do anything to thicken it once it’s in the oven, you may still have the chance to save it before baking. Try placing the filling inside the fridge for an hour or two before baking. This will allow the filling to set and make it a bit thicker. For no-bake and traditional cheesecakes, consider incorporating some gelatin into the mix if the filling remains runny after placing it in the fridge. 

Does Cheesecake Have Eggs In It?

You can make no-cook cheesecakes without using eggs. On the other hand, you typically have to include eggs in cheesecake recipes that require baking. It’s important to know if your cheesecake has eggs, especially if you have allergies to them. The same is so if you’re a vegan. 

If you truly have to include eggs in a cheesecake recipe, you may check out possible alternatives. See if removing them from the recipe is also an option. After all, you deserve to have some sweet snacks after a long day. What better satisfying desert to have but a thick slice of the best cheesecake out there.