Creating A Spider Web Design On Your Cheesecake

A spider web cheesecake is a great dessert to make for Halloween. It is a simple recipe that can be made by bakers of all skill levels. The cheesecake itself is a no-bake dessert, with a creamy texture and a hint of lemon and vanilla. The spider web design on top is made using melted chocolate and a toothpick. The white and black colours of the cheesecake are perfect for Halloween, but you can also add food colouring to create a spider web cheesecake that matches the vibe of your gathering.

How to make the cheesecake base

To make the cheesecake base, you'll need to make a biscuit base. For a 10-inch springform pan, you'll need 18 ounces of chocolate wafers (about 90), or 4 and a half cups of finely ground chocolate wafers. You can also use Oreos, graham crackers, or any type of dry cookie. You'll also need a quarter cup plus 2 tablespoons of sugar, 6 ounces of melted unsalted butter, and a teaspoon of coarse salt.

Mix the dry ingredients in a medium bowl, then add the melted butter and mix until the dry ingredients are saturated. Pat the mixture into your pan, pressing it firmly into the bottom and up the sides. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to fill the pan.

Some recipes suggest using the bottom of a measuring cup to press the crust down into a nice, even layer. You can also use a food processor to pulse the biscuits into crumbs, then transfer them to a bowl and add the butter.

How to make the ganache

Making the ganache is a simple process. Place your chocolate in a food processor. You can use bittersweet chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips, or dark chocolate chips. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, then pour it over the chocolate. When the chocolate begins to melt, process the mixture until it is smooth and lump-free. You can reheat the mixture in the microwave if the chocolate does not fully melt.

For a no-bake spiderweb cheesecake, reserve some of the ganache for decorating, and spread the rest evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the crust. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to fill the cheesecake.

For a baked spiderweb cheesecake, break the chocolate into a glass bowl and melt it over a pan of simmering water, then remove from the heat and allow to cool. Pour the chocolate into a piping bag and pipe it onto the cheesecake in evenly spaced concentric circles.

To create the spiderweb effect, use a toothpick or the point of a sharp knife to draw a line from the centre circle to the outer edge. Wipe the toothpick or skewer clean after drawing each line.

How to make the filling

To make the filling for your spider web cheesecake, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract
• Heavy/whipping cream

Start by beating the cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until it's fluffy. This should take around 3 minutes. Then, reduce the speed to low, and slowly add the sugar and salt. After this, raise the speed back to medium-high and beat until the mixture is very fluffy, which should take another 3 minutes. Finally, beat in the lemon juice and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk the heavy/whipping cream until medium-stiff peaks form. Then, whisk 1/4 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, and fold in the remaining whipped cream.

Pour the filling into the crust, and spread it out evenly. Gently tap the bottom of the pan on the counter to release any air bubbles.

How to pipe the spider web

Now for the fun part: piping the spider web!

First, you'll need to melt your chocolate. Place your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds on 50% power. Stir the chocolate and continue to heat it in 15-second intervals, mixing between each interval, until it's melted and smooth. If you don't have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Let the chocolate cool for about 10 minutes so it's easier to handle.

Next, transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag. If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top bag with one corner cut to form a small opening, or a squeeze-top bottle.

Now it's time to start piping! Begin by piping one small dot in the middle of the cheesecake. Then, pipe circles around the centre dot, spacing them about 1/2 inch (1-2 cm) apart. Try to move carefully and steadily, as this will help the lines come out smoother and more uniform.

Once you've piped your circles, it's time to create the spider web pattern. Using a toothpick or a butter knife, gently pull the toothpick through all the circles in a straight line from the centre to the outer edge of the cheesecake. Wipe the toothpick clean between each line to ensure neat lines. You'll need to make eight lines in total to complete the spider web pattern.

And that's it! You've now created a spooky and festive spider web decoration on your cheesecake.

How to decorate the cheesecake

Step 1: Prepare the whipped topping

Whip 2/3 cup (151g) of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. You can use an offset spatula to spread this topping over the cooled cheesecake.

Step 2: Make the chocolate ganache

Place 1/3 cup (57g) of semisweet chocolate chunks or chips in a heatproof bowl. Heat 1/4 cup (57g) of heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes to soften. Then, gently stir until the chocolate has fully melted and the mixture is smooth and cohesive.

Step 3: Pipe the chocolate ganache

Transfer the melted chocolate to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top bag with one corner cut to form a 1/8" opening, or a squeeze-top bottle. Pipe one dot in the middle of the cream topping, and then pipe circles around the centre dot, spaced about 1/2" apart.

Step 4: Create the spider web pattern

Using a toothpick, gently pull the chocolate from the centre circle outwards to the edge of the cheesecake. Repeat this process about eight times to create the spider web pattern. Wipe the toothpick clean between each line.

Step 5: Add the finishing touches

You can add candy spiders or a gumdrop spider with licorice legs to your cheesecake for extra decoration. You could also add a spider ring or a creepy spider found in the party favours aisle at the dollar store.

Frequently asked questions