Cheesecake is a beloved dessert around the world. While many assume that it has its origins in New York, it actually dates back to ancient Greece. The first “cheese cake” may have been created on the Greek island of Samos. Physical anthropologists excavated cheese molds there which were dated circa 2,000 B.C. In Greece, cheesecake was considered to be a good source of energy, and there is evidence that it was served to athletes during the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. Greek brides and grooms were also known to use cheesecake as a wedding cake.

It was not until the 18th century when Europeans began to use beaten eggs instead of yeast to make their breads and cakes rise. Removing the overpowering yeast flavor made cheesecake taste more like a dessert treat. When Europeans immigrated to America, some brought their cheesecake recipes along. Cream cheese was an American addition to the cake, and it has since become a staple ingredient in the United States. In 1872, a New York dairy farmer was attempting to replicate the French cheese Neufchatel. Instead, he accidentally discovered a process which resulted in the creation of cream cheese. Three years later, cream cheese was packaged in foil and distributed to local stores under the Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand.

New York is not the only place in America that puts its own spin on cheesecakes. In Chicago, sour cream is added to the recipe to keep it creamy. Meanwhile, Philadelphia cheese-cake is known for being lighter and creamier than New York style cheesecake and it can be served with fruit or chocolate toppings. In St. Louis, they enjoy a gooey butter cake, which has an additional layer of cake topping on the cheesecake filling. Each region of the world also has its own take on the best way to make the dessert. Italians use ricotta cheese, while the Greeks use feta. Germans prefer cottage cheese, while the Japanese use a combination of cornstarch and egg whites.*

Below is my spin on the traditional marble cheesecake. I’ve substituted stevia baking blend for the sugar and created a melt-in-your-mouth dessert experience with a lot less calories. Make this delicious cake for your upcoming holiday parties!

For the crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs, crushed
1/2 cup cocoa
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup stevia

For the cheesecake:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup stevia, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare chocolate crumb crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs with stevia, cocoa, and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of 10 inch springform pan. Bake 8 minutes. Cool completely.

Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Prepare the cheesecake: Beat the cream cheese, 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons stevia, sour cream and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add flour, beat until just blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beat well. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine cocoa and 2 tablespoons stevia. Then add oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 1/2 cups of cream cheese mixture from above. Stir well. Next, alternately spoon plain and chocolate batters over baked chocolate crust, ending with the chocolate batter on top; gently swirl a knife through the batters for a marbled effect.

Bake the cheesecake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. Without opening the oven door, re-duce oven temperature to 250 degrees and continue baking 30 more minutes. Turn oven off. Without opening the oven door, leave cheesecake in the oven for 30 more minutes.

Remove from oven. Immediately loosen cheesecake from side of pan with a knife. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Remove the side of pan. Slice and serve. Cover and refrigerate leftover cheesecake. Yields: 10 to 12 servings.

As a side note, make sure to buy the stevia baking blend. It can be found under the brand name Truvia in the grocery store. Enjoy!

About Gale

Gale O’Brien is a cancer survivor, motivational speaker and the award-winning author of Transformation: Creating an Exceptional Life in the Face of Cancer. Transform your life each month with timely tips on food, health, fitness, relationships, travel, and art. Subscribe to the Transformation monthly newsletter or order the book by visiting: www.galeobrien.com.
 
*Cheesecake.com – An Epic Cheesecake Experience, “The Rich History of Our Dessert,” (accessed November 23, 2014).