Pecan Crusted Cheesecake with Guava Berry Coulis

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This pecan-crusted cheesecake is a luscious dessert that combines classic cheesecake's rich, creamy texture with the crunch of a nutty crust. It is topped with vibrant guava and berry coulis, a beautiful blend of tropical and traditional flavors that impresses any gathering.

The table is set with cheesecake and a slice cut, served on a plate. There is a small jar with guava coulis near the plated slice.

This cheesecake is delicious all year round. However, it is great for special celebrations like Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. The guava and berry coulis are especially sweet and have a tropical twist to the classic cherry topping. Serve this cheesecake with Panetela, Polvorones, Arroz con Dulce, Blondies and Tembleque de Coco for a delicious dessert table on a Galentine's Day or Mother's Day celebration.

Are you planning a Puerto Rican-inspired celebration? Don't forget to add Pernil, Arroz con Gandules, Pastelon, Arroz con Pollo, Guineos en Escabeche, and Empanadillas to your menu. These are great recipes for gathering and sharing. Don't forget the Tropical Red Sangria with Rum, Coquito, Pistachio Coquito, or a delicious Cafe con leche.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredient Notes
Variations and Substitutions
Want to make this cheesecake lower in carbs or even ketogenic?
How to make Pecan-Crusted Cheesecake with Guava Berry Coulis
Top Tip
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Desserts and Sweets Recipes
📖 Recipe
To make this cheesecake ketogenic or low-carb?
Top Tip
Expert Tips:
Comments

Why you'll love this recipe

Basic Cheesecake: Learn a basic recipe, and you can create many other fancier recipes. This is a great standard recipe, tried and proven for generations. This recipe should not fail you.
Creamy: Rich, creamy cheesecake with a crunchy pecan crust
Tangy twist: Tangy-sweet guava and berry sauce for a tropical twist
Delicious: Perfect balance of textures and flavors
Easy to prepare: With simple ingredients, this recipe is excellent for special occasions or everyday indulgences.
Easy to customize: It can be made classic or keto-friendly

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for pecan-crusted cheesecake: Top left: eggs and sugar. Top right: cream cheese and vanilla. Bottom left: pecans. Bottom right: butter and sugar.

Pecans: Pecans in a crust for cheesecake can add a depth and complexity to the dessert, creating a harmonious balance of textures and flavors that will leave you wanting more.
Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is the standard cheese for making cheese cake giving this cake its signature flavor and texture.
Guava and Berries: I chose fresh guavas to give the sauce for this cheesecake a tropical twist. Guavas (guayabas) and cheese is a traditional after-dinner combination. To make this sauce with fresh guavas brings Puerto Rican Tradition and Classical Cheesecake together.

See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions

Crumble cookie: polvorones are as dear to us as guava and cheese. Crumble the cookies or spread the cookie dough on the bottom of the springform pan to make a crispy alternative to a nut-based crust. Or use a graham cracker if you prefer a classic option.
Neufchâtel: Neufchâtel is a variant of cream cheese that comes from France. If you buy the readily available version in your grocer's market, you will see that it tastes almost identical to cream cheese. But it is slightly less fatty.
Mascarpone: mascarpone has a more palatable flavor than cream cheese. I usually do not buy cream cheese unless I am making cheesecake. If you have ever wondered how to try these cheeses, making your cheesecake with any of the above will create a tasty introduction.
Chocolate: Mascarpone already comes in a chocolate variety that is great for dipping fresh strawberries. Take advantage of the fact that they already mix the cocoa perfectly to create a chocolate indulgence.
Seasonal ingredients: Add Pumpkin for fall and berries for summer to make a seasonal version of this cheesecake.

Want to make this cheesecake lower in carbs or even ketogenic?

Cheesecake: Cream cheese is a popular food in ketogenic diets because it is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. One ounce (28 grams) of cream cheese contains approximately 10 grams of fat and less than 1 gram of carbohydrates, making it an excellent option for people following a ketogenic diet.
Almond Flour: Combining almonds with pecans to make a crust for cheesecake can create a unique and delicious flavor profile. Almonds have a slightly sweeter and more delicate flavor compared to pecans, which have a richer and nuttier taste. When these two nuts are used together in a crust for cheesecake, they can create a balance of flavors that is both nutty and sweet.
Monk Fruit Sweetener: Monk fruit sweetener is a natural sweetener derived from the monk fruit, a small green fruit native to Southeast Asia. Monk fruit has zero calories, zero net carbs, and a glycemic index of zero, which means it does not raise blood sugar levels. For more information on monk fruit sweeteners, visit LAKANTO.
Omit the guavas: Guavas are not ketogenic, but berries are. Use strawberries and blueberries instead.

How to make Pecan-Crusted Cheesecake with Guava Berry Coulis

Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this delicious cheesecake with guava coulis.

Bring ingredients to room temperature. Grease a springform baking pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Steps for making pecan-crusted cheesecake. Step 1: bowl with mixed ground pecans, butter, and sugar. Step 2: Par-baked pecan crust. Step 3: Whipping cream cheese. Step 4: Mixing in sugar and vanilla.

Ground the pecans into a meal consistency.
Press the mixture to the bottom of a springform pan. Bake for about 5 to 10 minutes or until golden.
In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese. Beat with a mixer until the cream cheese is smooth and creamy.
Add sugar and vanilla extract. Combine until well incorporated.

Steps making cheesecake: Step 5: Mixing eggs into batter. teps 6: Finished batter, Step 7: Batter poured into springform pan. Step 8 Ingredients for guava berry coulis: Top-guavas. Center left: simple syrup and rum. Center right: Kiwis. Bottom: Strawberries.

Add one egg at a time until well incorporated. The mixture will begin to soften and liquefy.
Make sure the batter is smooth and that there are no large lumps in the batter.
Pour mixture into springform pan with crust inside. I do a few taps on the side of the mold to allow air bubbles to come out. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
While cake bakes, gather fruits, rum, and simple syrup.

Steps for making guava berry coulis. Step 9: Chopped fruits in a bowl while adding rum. Step 10: Bowl with fruit and adding simple syrup. Step 11: Straining coulis after pureeing. Step 12: Baked Cheesecake and a small container with coulis.

Add chopped fruits to a small bowl and add rum.
Then add simple syrup (use about a quarter cup of sugar if simple syrup is unavailable.)
Puree the fruit mixture using a blender or immersion blender, then pass through a mesh colander to remove the seeds. Adjust sweetness. Add a dash of lemon juice if the coulis is too bitter.
You are looking for a nice golden color on the top of the cheesecake, and the center has a tiny wiggle when tapped on the side. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cooling rack. Once at room temperature, place the cheesecake in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for at least an hour before serving, but as stated before, it tastes best when it has chilled overnight.

Top Tip

Room Temperature is Key: Having the ingredients at room temperature helps manipulate them. Plan and do not do shortcuts like microwaving the butter before mixing it with the crust ingredients. Ingredients have different molecular structures at various temperatures, which is the key to this recipe.

Expert Tips

Wait before enjoying: The recipe tastes best the second day or hours after being cooled and chilled, so plan ahead. Cheesecake is one of those recipes in which flavors bloom as they rest. Make this recipe the day before you wish to consume it or at least 8 to 10 hours before.
Room Temperature: Let all ingredients rest at room temperature before starting the process of making the cheesecake. Food can stay at room temperature for no more than four hours before it has to be thrown away. Allow an hour to bring ingredients to room temperature to start baking.
The baking pan: A springform pan is an excellent investment if you enjoy cheesecakes. The deep-set pan expands the cake without overflowing; the sides come off once cooled. If you do partake in office eat-ins and/or transport food often? Check out this springform pan, which comes with an easy-for-transport lid!
No mixer?: If the cream cheese is at room temperature, you may use a whip to beat to cream the cream cheese, sugar, and eggs.
Unmolding: Run a knife around the edges before releasing the springform pan to prevent sticking.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! It actually tastes better after chilling overnight.

How long does it last?

Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze it?

Yes! Wrap slices individually and freeze for up to 3 months.

Is it safe to have eggs at room temperature?

Food can be left out for up to two hours and safely returned to refrigeration, but after that, it should be used within four hours. Letting eggs, butter, and cream cheese reach room temperature might seem risky, but it's not a concern since they will be cooked further. Leaving them out for an hour to soften is safe. For more information check out the FDA website with more detail information on food safety.

Can you eat cheesecake on a keto diet?

There are many already made cheesecakes that cater to the ketogenic diet. I, for one, love to make my own desserts. This is my rendition of a ketogenic cheesecake. This cheesecake has an absurd amount of calories, but it meets the requirements for a ketogenic diet. Serving: 1slice | Calories: 763kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 78g. The 13g of carbohydrates is reduced to 7g due to the 6g of fiber it contains. Monk fruit provides 0 calories to the mix.

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