Try this easy recipe for Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake makes an amazing dessert that is a cross between fluffy sponge cake and creamy cheesecake. This delicious cake has a light and airy texture. Made with just a few simple ingredients, the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake cake is the perfect combination of chocolate and sweetness. This post with how-to video shares lots of tips and tricks including: how to leak-proof a springform pan, how to beat perfect egg whites, how to prevent your cake from deflating and more! Enjoy the recipe and Happy Baking!
Notes on the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake Recipe, Tips and Tricks
All refrigerated ingredients should be at room temperature for best results. If the ingredients are not quite ready, warm in the microwave using Low power for 15-20 seconds. Alternatively, warm over a bowl of hot water.
Eggs are easiest to separate when cold. Separate the eggs after removing from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Be careful not to get any egg yolks in the egg whites. Any yolk present will prevent the egg whites from fluffing up when beaten.
Egg whites are best beaten at room temperature to achieve the fluffiest texture. Use cream of tartar to stabilize the beaten egg whites. If not available, substitute with the same amount of lemon juice. Fold the whipped egg whites gently into the batter as to not deflate them. Avoid mixing vigorously.
The water bath is essential for keeping the cake moist. As this cake bakes longer than the typical cake, the water bath insulates the cake, keeps the temperature even, and prevents the cake from cracking.
Oven temperatures vary, so you may have to try this cake a few times to get the best results. If the cake starts to crack on top, reduce the heat by 15 degrees F. After 80 minutes of baking, the cake may still be a bit wet when tested with a toothpick. This is common. Letting the cake rest in the oven for the next hour will bake it completely.
The slow cooker liners can be reused so save them for another cake.
Refrigerate any leftover Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake and enjoy within the week. Freeze the cake for up to 2 months.
Watch the video for instructions.
If you enjoy this Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake recipe, you may also like:
Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake
Ingredients
5 large eggs, at room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp corn starch
2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp powdered sugar for decorating the cake
Bakeware
8 inch by 3 inch round springform pan
1 slow cooker liner
2 silicone cooking bands or twine
3 sheets heavy duty aluminum foil
1 tsp butter for coating the pan
parchment paper
14.5 inch by 11 inch pan for the water bath
Directions
Preparing the Cake Pan
Place the 8 inch springform pan inside a slow cooker liner / bag. Secure the bag using 2 silicone cooking bands or cooking twine. Wrap the springform pan with 3 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil. Press the foil firmly around the pan. Fold down the excess foil and crimp around the pan.
Brush a generous amount of butter inside the pan coating it evenly. Line the bottom and side of the pan with parchment paper cut to size.
Making the Batter
Preheat the oven to 300 F (149 C).
Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites.
Add the cream cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on Medium Low speed for 30 seconds. Reduce the speed to Low and gradually add the milk. Once the milk and cream cheese are combined, mix on Medium speed until smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
Add the butter, 1/4 cup sugar and lemon juice. Mix on Medium speed until incorporated, approximately 1 minute.
Sift the all-purpose flour, corn starch and cocoa powder into the mixing bowl. Mix on Medium speed until combined, approximately 2 minutes.
On Low speed, add the egg yolks and mix until combined, approximately 1 minute.
Transfer the batter into a sieve. Work the batter through the sieve using a spatula. Be sure to scrape the batter from the underside of the sieve as well.
In a clean and dry mixing bowl, add the egg whites. Beat the egg whites on Low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to Medium Low and beat until the eggs are foamy, another 30 seconds. Add the cream of tartar. Beat the egg whites on Medium High speed until they start to thicken and increase in volume. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until the egg whites reach a medium to firm peaks stage, approximately 3 minutes.
Add 1/3 beaten egg whites to the batter and gently fold until mostly incorporated. Add another 1/3 egg whites and continue folding gently. Add the remaining egg whites and fold until just incorporated, approximately 50 folds total. Do not over-mix the batter.
Transfer the batter into the prepared springform pan. Using a spatula, spread the batter evenly into the pan and smooth out the top. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any large air bubbles.
Place the springform pan into the larger 14.5 inch by 11 inch baking pan, the water bath.
Baking the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake
Place both pans into the center of the oven.
Add 7 cups boiling water into the larger pan filling it about 1 inch high.
Bake the cake for 100 minutes / 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Turn off the oven and continue baking the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake for another 60 minutes using the residual heat.
Chilling and Serving the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake
Remove the cake from the oven. Remove the foil and liner bag.
Release and remove the springform pan. Unwrap the parchment paper around the cake.
Invert the top of the cake onto a plate covered with parchment paper. Remove the bottom pan and parchment circle. Replace with a new parchment circle. Flip the cake onto a cake plate.
Let the cake cool to room temperature, approximately 30 minutes.
Place the cake into the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours.
Decorate the top of the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake using a cake stencil and powdered sugar. Optionally, serve the cake with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
Refrigerate any remaining portions and enjoy within the week.
Yields: 8 servings
Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake
Try this easy recipe for Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake / Chocolate Japanese Cheesecake and enjoy an amazing dessert that is a cross between fluffy sponge cake and creamy cheesecake. This delicious cake has a light and airy texture. Made with just a few simple ingredients, the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake cake is the perfect combination of chocolate and sweetness.
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs , at room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese , at room temperature
- 1/2 cup whole milk , at room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar , divided
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp powdered sugar for decorating the cake
Bakeware
- 8 inch x 3 inch round springform pan
- 1 slow cooker liner
- 2 silicone cooking bands or twine
- 3 sheets heavy duty aluminum foil
- 1 tsp butter for coating the pan
- parchment paper
- 14.5 inch x 11 inch pan for the water bath
Instructions
Preparing the Cake Pan
-
Place the 8 inch springform pan inside a slow cooker liner / bag. Secure the bag using 2 silicone cooking bands or cooking twine. Wrap the springform pan with 3 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil. Press the foil firmly around the pan. Fold down the excess foil and crimp around the pan.
-
Brush a generous amount of butter inside the pan coating it evenly. Line the bottom and side of the pan with parchment paper cut to size.
Making the Batter
-
Preheat the oven to 300 F (149 C).
-
Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites.
-
Add the cream cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on Medium Low speed for 30 seconds. Reduce the speed to Low and gradually add the milk. Once the milk and cream cheese are combined, mix on Medium speed until smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
-
Add the butter, 1/4 cup sugar and lemon juice. Mix on Medium speed until incorporated, approximately 1 minute.
-
Sift the all-purpose flour, corn starch and cocoa powder into the mixing bowl. Mix on Medium speed until combined, approximately 2 minutes.
-
On Low speed, add the egg yolks and mix until combined, approximately 1 minute.
-
Transfer the batter into a sieve. Work the batter through the sieve using a spatula. Be sure to scrape the batter from the underside of the sieve as well.
-
In a clean and dry mixing bowl, add the egg whites. Beat the egg whites on Low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the speed to Medium Low and beat until the eggs are foamy, another 30 seconds. Add the cream of tartar. Beat the egg whites on Medium High speed until they start to thicken and increase in volume. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until the egg whites reach a medium to firm peaks stage, approximately 3 minutes.
-
Add 1/3 beaten egg whites to the batter and gently fold until mostly incorporated. Add another 1/3 egg whites and continue folding gently. Add the remaining egg whites and fold until just incorporated, approximately 50 folds total. Do not over-mix the batter.
-
Transfer the batter into the prepared springform pan. Using a spatula, spread the batter evenly into the pan and smooth out the top. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any large air bubbles.
-
Place the springform pan into the larger 14.5 inch by 11 inch baking pan, the water bath.
Baking the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake
-
Place both pans into the center of the oven.
-
Add 7 cups boiling water into the larger pan filling it about 1 inch high.
-
Bake the cake for 100 minutes / 1 hour and 20 minutes.
-
Turn off the oven and continue baking the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake for another 60 minutes using the residual heat.
Chilling and Serving the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake
-
Remove the cake from the oven. Remove the foil and liner bag.
-
Release and remove the springform pan. Unwrap the parchment paper around the cake.
-
Invert the top of the cake onto a plate covered with parchment paper. Remove the bottom pan and parchment circle. Replace with a new parchment circle. Flip the cake onto a cake plate.
-
Let the cake cool to room temperature, approximately 30 minutes.
-
Place the cake into the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours.
-
Decorate the top of the Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake using a cake stencil and powdered sugar. Optionally, serve the cake with fresh fruit and whipped cream.
-
Refrigerate any remaining portions and enjoy within the week.
Recipe Video
Notes, Tips & Tricks
- All refrigerated ingredients should be at room temperature for best results. If the ingredients are not quite ready, warm in the microwave using Low power for 15-20 seconds. Alternatively, warm over a bowl of hot water.
- Eggs are easiest to separate when cold. Separate the eggs after removing from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Be careful not to get any egg yolks in the egg whites. Any yolk present will prevent the egg whites from fluffing up when beaten.
- Egg whites are best beaten at room temperature to achieve the fluffiest texture. Use cream of tartar to stabilize the beaten egg whites. If not available, substitute with the same amount of lemon juice.
- Fold the whipped egg whites gently into the batter as to not deflate them. Avoid mixing vigorously.
- The water bath is essential for keeping the cake moist. As this cake bakes longer than the typical cake, the water bath insulates the cake, keeps the temperature even, and prevents the cake from cracking.
- Oven temperatures vary, so you may have to try this cake a few times to get the best results. If the cake starts to crack on top, reduce the heat by 15 degrees F.
- After 80 minutes of baking, the cake may still be a bit wet when tested with a toothpick. This is common. Letting the cake rest in the oven for the next hour will bake it completely.
- The slow cooker liners can be reused so save them for another cake.
- Refrigerate any leftover Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake and enjoy within the week. Freeze the cake for up to 2 months.
Why is my batter always turning out runny compared to the video???
Hi Trang,
I saw someone else ask of it can be done in a 6 inch pan…respectively, can I do this same recipe hand just split into two six in pans to share with my parents? Also would the cooking time need to be adjusted?
Hi Trang, I’ve tried your normal cotton cheesecake and my family loved it even though it got a bit soggy from water leakage.I have some leftover cheese and cocoa powder and thought this recipe is perfect! However, I do not have the slow cooker liner, is it still possible to try this cake with the normal cotton cheesecake method? By just wrapping with foil? I realized i probably wrapped the pan wrongly on my attempt too that’s why it got soggy. Would love to try this next! Looking forward to hear from you!
HI, how would you scale down this recipe to make a 6” cake (about 3“-3.5“ tall at least) and how long would it need to bake? My oven heats unevenly so I normally need to rotate my cakes. Can I do this with this cake or will it cause any troubles?
Hi Doreen,
On the recipe card, change the Servings to 5 (slide the scale to the left) to adjust the recipe to about 2/3. If you’re oven bakes unevenly, gently rotate the cake after the first 30 minutes. The baking time should be around 55-60 minutes. Good Luck and let me know how your cake turns out!
Hi Trang,
I tried your recipie to the T and baked at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes then turned ot off and left it in the oven for 60 minutes but the center seemed a bit wet still. Should I have baked for 1 hour and 40 minutes? Thank you!
Btw, I really want to try this cake, so I can bake it for my birthday. Lol… Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Hi Juneve,
You should definitely bake this for your birthday then! Happy Birthday and enjoy the recipe!
Hi, can I use melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder for this recipe? And if I wanna use matcha one day instead of chocolate, ho much matcha should I use?
Thanks!
Hi, at what temperature is the cake baked? Will adding more sugar to sweeten cake affect the final texture of the cake?
Hi Juneve,
Bake the cake at 300 F / 149 C. Adding more sugar will not affect the texture. Good Luck!
Hi Trang,
My first cake was a bit soggy because of water leakage though it tasted good! My second try was today: no leaks,but the sides all around is wrinkled, not smooth like yours! What did I do wrong?
Hi Lan,
I am glad you enjoyed this recipe. Great job! Was it parchment paper stuck to your cake that caused the wrinkles? If so, this is very common. The trick is to use more butter so the parchment sticks to the pan and not your cake. For next time: Butter the pan well. Line the parchment paper against the sides and press out any bubbles. Give it a try and let me know if you get a less wrinkly cake. Good Luck!
Hi Trang,
Another awesome cake recipe! I’ve been perplexed trying to figure out why water always gets into my springform pan no matter how many pieces of foil I use. I just happen to have the slow cooker liner and tried it out…wow, what a nifty trick! I don’t have the cooking bands and used cooking twine. I made sure to tie it securely plus I wrapped the pan with 3 pieces of foil for good measure. Wouldn’t you know it, the inside foil and bag were completely moisture-free. Yippee!!
I just love the texture of this cake, so soft and airy. The amount of chocolate is just right too. This was my practice cake and it came out perfectly. I’ll be making one for my Mom for Mother’s Day. Love the cake stencil and powdered sugar, simple and so pretty! Thanks so much for sharing another fool-proof recipe. 🙂
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for the kind words. I am so happy to hear you like this cake recipe and found the slow cooker liner trick helpful. I’ve had my share of soggy cakes from leaking springform pans too. Great job with your practice cake. This Chocolate Cotton Cheesecake would make a beautiful Mother’s Day cake and I hope your Mom loves it! 🙂