It is the latest trend that is becoming popular on TikTok, conquering thousands of users, and not just in Italy. Simple, quick and delicious, this viral breakfast has conquered social media with the name Japanese Cheesecake, even though it has very little in common with the original Japanese dessert. In the videos that are going viral, the preparation seems really simple, all you need is a tub of Greek yogurt, some dry biscuits and you’re done.
What is Japanese Cheesecake (TikTok version)
The real Japanese Cheesecake is a Japanese dessert with a soft and light consistency, almost similar to a cloud, prepared with cream cheese, eggs, sugar and flour. The version that is becoming popular on social media, however, is something completely different, it is a quick and homemade reinterpretation that exploits the creaminess of Greek yogurt and the crumbliness of biscuits to create a layered dessert that vaguely recalls the consistency of the original dessert.
The success is mainly due to simplicity: just take a tray of Greek yogurt (even the single-portion 150-170g one), insert some dry biscuits and let it all rest in the fridge for a few hours, or better yet for a whole night. The biscuits soften by absorbing the moisture from the yogurt, creating a creamy texture and a flavor reminiscent of a cheesecake.
How to prepare: ingredients and procedure
Preparation is truly within everyone’s reach. There are only two basic ingredients:
The procedure is very simple: the whole biscuits are inserted directly into the tray of Greek yogurt (or into an alternative container), mixed delicately and placed in the refrigerator. After at least 4-6 hours, but ideally overnight, the biscuits will have absorbed the yoghurt, creating that soft and creamy consistency that you like so much. Some add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup or cocoa powder to enrich the flavor. You can also dip the biscuits in coffee to make the dessert similar to a light tiramisu.
@art___of___food The biggest cheesecake in Japan This is why it is very viral: 1- very good 2- you don’t dirty anything except the spoon to eat it 3- it only requires two ingredients: Greek yogurt (better if it is 2 or 5% fat) and Lotus biscuits or whatever you prefer 4- minutes of preparation: minutes or seconds?
5- alternative way to eat Greek yogurt Did I convince you? Try it and let me know
#foodblogger #greekyogurt #viral #japanesefood #cheesecake
♬ EVERLASTING LOVE – GROWS
@cookbakemake1 Let’s make the viral Japanese Cheesecake with only 2 ingredients. All you need is Greek Yoghurt and Biscoff Biscuits. Add biscuits into the yoghurt and leave in the fridge for overnight at least. And enjoy! #japanesecheesecake #biscoffcheesecake #cheesecake #nobakedessert #easydesserts
♬ original sound – Cook, Bake, Make
@cookist Want a delicious snack that requires zero effort?
We saw this viral “Japanese cheesecake” on the web that just consists of putting your favorite biscuits in Greek yogurt and letting it rest in the fridge.
We chose to dip them in sweetened coffee and then decorate with cocoa for an even more delicious version, but here you really just need to be creative.
Truly delicious result! Clearly you must really like the taste of Greek yogurt. Alternatively you can also think of sweetening it with a little honey on the surface.
Passed or rejected? In our opinion it should also be tried with classic yogurt in some particular flavour.
#japanesecheesecake #cookist
♬ original sound – Cookist
Because it’s viral
The success of this preparation is linked to several factors. First of all the ease, no cooking, special tools or culinary skills are needed. It is perfect for those who have little time in the morning but don’t want to give up a delicious breakfast. Secondly, the appearance: in the videos, the homemade Japanese Cheesecake looks good, with that creamy consistency that makes you want to try it.
Finally, the idea of being able to customize the recipe with different types of biscuits, fresh fruit, granola, coffee or dark chocolate makes this preparation versatile and suitable for all tastes.
Watch out for sugars and calories
Despite the inviting appearance and simplicity of preparation, it is important to make some nutritional considerations before adopting this breakfast as a daily habit. The first problem concerns calorie intake and sugars. Dry biscuits, even the seemingly “simple” ones, contain significant quantities of added sugars, refined flours and fats.
A serving of 4-5 cookies can easily provide 100-150 calories coming mostly from simple carbohydrates and saturated fat. If you add to this a tub of full-fat Greek yogurt (which can contain around 100-150 calories depending on the format), you get a breakfast that exceeds 250-300 calories, with a sugar intake that can reach 20-25 grams, well above the recommended levels for a single portion.
The main risk is to consume too much without realizing it. Precisely because the preparation is so simple and inviting, it is easy to increase the quantity of biscuits, add honey or other sweeteners, or consume larger portions. This can lead to an excessive intake of empty calories, which lack essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Then there is the problem of addiction to sweet tastes: getting used to starting the day with very sugary foods can influence subsequent food choices, leading to a greater search for sweet foods throughout the day and to glycemic peaks followed by sudden drops in energy.
If you really don’t want to give up this breakfast, there are some tricks to make it a little more balanced, for example choosing wholemeal biscuits or biscuits prepared with alternative flours, which guarantee a greater intake of fiber and above all limiting the quantity of biscuits to 2-3 pieces, supplementing them with chopped fresh fruit, oil seeds such as almonds or walnuts, or granola without added sugars. Opt for unsweetened plain Greek yogurt, and if you want a sweeter flavor, add ripe fruit like mashed banana or berries instead of honey or syrups.
An interesting alternative could also be to use oat flakes instead of biscuits: left to soak in Greek yogurt overnight, they create a similar consistency but with a decidedly better nutritional profile, rich in soluble fibers which promote satiety and glycemic control.
