Live from Kraków: Polish Cheesecake
Cheesecake has an ancient tradition. Did you know that it was fed to the athletes at the first Olympic Games in 776 BC to boost their energy for the competition? The modern cheesecake that we are most familiar with is often known as New York Cheesecake, but interestingly this style was brought to the United States in by Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe. These immigrants, who arrived in New York in the late 19th century, really popularised today's cheesecake culture. But as we know it originally came from my part of the world, Poland, I believe this is a truly traditional Cracovian cheesecake and one I'd love to teach you to bake. I love to bake cheesecake at home. It is delicious with coffee in the morning, or equally as good as a desert, when I enjoy serving it with a salty caramel sauce. The great thing is that it keeps very well in the fridge for up to a week, becoming denser and richer over time.
Our online cooking class will cover all the basics of making a successful cheesecake, but most importantly the special tips that I have learnt from making hundreds of cakes at home over the last few years. If you are interested, I will also be happy to tell you a bit about how to make your own cottage cheese at home if you prefer. I also look forward to telling you a bit about Polish culture and sharing my kitchen and home with you, and look forward to you joining me online!
Ingredients we'll be using
The Base
- 40g casted sugar
- 200g of flour
- 2 egg yolks
- 100g of cold butter cut in to small cubes
- 40g brown sugar
Cheesecake filling
- 1000g farmers cheese (or Philadelphia cheese)
- 400g of white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 500g mascarpone cheese
- A spoonful of potato flour
- 7 eggs and 3 yolks
- Grated zest of 2 orange and 2 lemon
Salty caramel sauce
- 40g butter
- 40g double cream 36%
- skin from vanilla stick
- 5 drops of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 stick of vanilla or four drops of extract
Utensils and equipment we'll be using
- kitchen blender or mixer
- large mixing bowl
- bowl scraper
- cake pan (approx 25 cm across) (the best type is a springform pan with removeable side)
- small pot
Frequently asked questions
About Marta
Hi, I'm a co-founder of Eataway which connects people with home cooks and hosts all around the world. For the last 5 years, I have been teaching people how to cook delicious food at my home, and I also run food workshops such as the Pierogi Power Workshop, Fermentation Workshop and more. Recently I was the host of a big food event for The Krakow Pierogi Festival and Harvest Festival. (I also appear regularly on TV and radio as a guest, discussing subjects related to home cooking, the sharing economy and food tech.) I’ve always enjoyed sharing my knowledge of my beautiful hometown, and more about the art of Polish cuisine, both through the website and with all the wonderful travellers I meet in person.
My grandmother and my mother were great cooks. That means delicious, home-made food freshly-prepared.
Restaurants are great, but sometimes it seems it would be better to enjoy a home-cooked meal with someone who can also tell me a bit more about their experiences, their lives and their cities. So, I’ve decided to do exactly that. I cook for up to 14 people at my home in Krakow and you’re invited. Please join me!
Reviews
Will
I did this class with my sister over Zoom. We were in UK with Marta in Krakow. I was amazed at how this turned out, it tasted just like the sernik we had in Krakow! Great thing to do whilst in lockdown!
Joanna
Absolutely brilliant day! Marta went above and beyond to accommodate us and make us feel welcome. Lots of extra fun and treats. The experience exceeded our expectations. Thank you!
Tobiasz
Pączki 10/10! Smakują potrójnie dobrze: bo smaczne, bo dochód idzie na szczytny cel, bo sam pomagałem przy ich smażeniu :-)
Sam
We had the most amazing time. Marta was an excellent host, with a lovely home, and our group of 'cooks' was lovely. Lots of good conversation about food & Krakow & much more.
Lovely good & wicked vodka!
Sanna
The workshop was great! I was travelling on my own, but Marta made me feel very welcome and it was so nice and cozy to cook and chat in her kitchen. The pierogi were super delicious - way better than at a restaurant. Thank you!
Marek
Great experience as always :)
Alicja
This cooking class with Marta was the highlight of our time in Krakow. She was the consummate hostess, and we had so much fun making pierogi. She even let us try some of her homemade cherry vodka. I would sign up for anything she leads/organizes in a heartbeat.
Alice
We had a brilliant workshop with Marta. She was incredibly insightful, not just about pierogies but about the sights of Krakow as well as hearing a lot of interesting stories. We got to make 3 different types of pierogy and had some coffee and cake with them too so you definitely get your monies worth. Would recommend to anyone coming to Krakow!
Nancy
A great time if you are looking to learn about the authentic food and preparation. It was a small group which was nice. I would do another class with Marta.
Nathan
An absolute highlight of our time in Krakow. Marta was an excellent host and really entertaining. We learned so much from her!