No-Bake Cheesecake on Shortcrust with Butter Crumble

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Crumble Topping

1. 1
   Mix the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor, add the cold butter and pulse until it looks like coarse sand.

   Food processor
2. 2
   Transfer cup one of the crumbs to a bowl and refrigerate.

   BowlRefrigerator
3. 3
   Add the egg and vanilla extract to the remaining crumbs and process until a dough forms.

   Food processor

To assemble

1. 4
   Flatten the dough and press it into the bottom of 20x30 cm rectangular pan lined with parchment paper. Chill 20 minutes.

   Baking panParchment paperRefrigerator
2. 5
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
3. 6
   Bake 18–20 minutes, until it is golden at the edges. Cool completely.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
4. 7
   Spread the reserved crumbs on a separate baking sheet.

   Baking sheet
5. 8
   Bake 12–15 minutes, until the crumbs are golden and crisp. Stir them once halfway through baking. Cool completely.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking sheet
6. 9
   Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it bloom 5 minutes. Melt it in the microwave for 15 seconds, without boiling.

   ⚙ Blooming gelatinBowlMicrowave

   💡Melt the soaked gelatin in hot liquid, and don't let it boil.
7. 10
   Whip the cold cream on medium speed, until it starts to thicken.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixer

   💡Cold cream whips quickly and holds firm: warm cream won't hold air. Stop when the peaks are firm, before it turns grainy.

   💡Whip cream very cold, in a chilled bowl with chilled beaters, and stop when it holds firm: overwhipping turns it grainy and buttery.
8. 11
   Keep whipping on high speed to firm peaks.

   Hand mixerorStand mixer
9. 12
   In another bowl, mix the cheese, cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth, add the gelatin, melted, and mix well, and Fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture gently, in two additions.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatulaBowl

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there are no streaks: vigorous mixing knocks the air out of the foam. Add whipped mixtures in stages: a quarter first, to lighten the mixture.
10. 13
    Pour the filling over the base and smooth the top.
11. 14
    Cover and chill at least 6 hours.

    Refrigerator
12. 15
    Sprinkle the baked crumbs on top just before serving, so they stay crisp.
13. 16
    Cut with a hot, dry knife, wiping it between cuts.

    Knife