After the year we have all had, enduring restrictions on spending time in person with those closest to us, here is a deliciously boozy gluten-free popcorn cheesecake, which will make the ideal summer dessert when we are finally allowed dinner parties?
Preparation time 1 hour 30 minutes
Serves 8
Ingredients
For the base
- 250g gluten-free ginger biscuits
- 100g butter, melted
- pinch of salt
For the Drambuie butterscotch
- 50g butter
- 125g light soft brown sugar
- 100g golden syrup
- 2 1/2 tbsp Drambuie
- 150ml double cream
- generous pinch sea salt
For the filling
- 600g soft cheese
- 100g icing sugar, sifted
- 150ml double cream
For the topping
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 40g popcorn kernels
Gluten free popcorn cheesecake – Method
Grease a 20cm springform cake tin with butter and line the base and sides with greaseproof paper.
To make the base, place the biscuits into a sealed food bag and give them a bash with a rolling pin until they are coarse crumbs. Pour into a mixing bowl and mix with the melted butter and the salt. Tip the mixture into the prepared cake tin and push down firmly with your hand to form an even layer. Chill in the fridge while you prepare the filling.
To make the Drambuie butterscotch sauce, put the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a medium heavy-based pan. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved then simmer for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat then add the Drambuie and slowly stir in the double cream, until smooth. Stir in a pinch of salt. Allow too cool.
To make the filing, beat together the soft cheese and icing sugar until smooth and thick, then beat in the double cream until beginning to thicken, being sure not to over-whip the mixture. Pour half of the Drambuie butterscotch into the soft cheese mixture and fold through. Set the rest of the butterscotch aside.
Spoon the cheese mixture over the biscuit base, smoothing it in an even layer with a palette knife. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least two hours, or overnight.
The popcorn is best served fresh so if you are making the cheesecake a day ahead, make the popcorn just before assembling. Heat the oil and popcorn kernels in a heavy-based pan with the lid clamped on. Once the kernels begin to pop give the pan a shake to stop them catching and remove from the heat once the popping has slowed right down. Open the lid slightly to allow the steam to escape, removing it completely once the popping has stopped.
Meanwhile, gently warm the butterscotch until it is pourable again. Pour about 4 tablespoons over the popcorn and mix so that it’s coated in the sauce.
Pile the popcorn on top of the cheesecake and pour some more sauce over the top, drizzling it down the sides of the cheesecake. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes. Serve the cheesecake with any remaining butterscotch in a jug.
Recipe courtesy of our friends at Drambuie.
For more dessert recipes like popcorn cheesecake visit our Food & Drink channel.
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
