Is cheesecake a cake or a pie?

Question

Is cheesecake technically a pie or a cake?

I'm curious as to why. Are there solid definitions of what makes a dessert a cake or a pie?

Answer 1

Alton Brown and an Elvis impersonator called it a custard pie.

Answer 2

In my opinion, cakes rise, pies have crusts that are filled (and do not rise).

By those loose definitions, I would consider it a pie.

edit: Wikipedia says it's neither.

Many types of cheesecake are essentially custards, which can lead a novice baker to overcook them, expecting them to behave like true cakes.

Answer 3

Cake

• Straight sides
• No fruit (except as an optional topping)
• Holds its shape when sliced

Pie

• Separate crust
• Not frosted
• Doesn't rise (except temporarily while baking)
• No crumbs

Conclusion

Who cares, let's just have some cheesecake. :-)

Answer 4

It is neither; it is a unique dessert category, the cheesecake.

It has structural similarities with pies (a custard based body, a mechanically separate crust).

However, in the US for whatever reason, it is referred to as a cheesecake (you will note that rarely will someone say, for example "I will bring a cake" and show up with a cheesecake).

The unique label doesn't mean that it is a cake in the same way that a pound cake or an angel food cake are, but we have lots of inconsistent labels.

Answer 5

While it has texture and body of cake, I would argue that cheesecake has more pie-like qualities.

1. It has a discrete crust.
2. It is more a filling than a batter.
3. It does not need to be frosted.

My vote is "pie."

Answer 6

Cheesecake is a filling and flavor, like chocolate. You can make it into a pie with crust, you can add it as a filling between layers of cake, or even have an entire cheesecake round as a layer of the cake. Cheesecake does not require a crust for proper preparation.

In the US Cheesecake is most often served as a pie with a crust on the bottom, so many will claim it is a pie, but there is nothing about cheesecake itself that makes it a pie, any more than pudding or mouse is a pie merely because they can be served as pies.

Answer 7

My mother made several cheesecakes and cheese pies as I was growing up; there is a distinct difference.

A simple cheesecake and a simple cheese pie have, more or less, the same basic filling: everyone knows the flavor/taste. But even these two have a subtle difference (and an obvious one). Obvious: The cheesecake stands taller and is square on the sides (as mentioned elsewhere here).

Subtle: A simple cheese pie has more of a custardy texture, whereas a cheesecake is very rich and thick.

Beyond that, a cheesecake can be made into many more varieties that a cheese pie typically does not: ice cream cheesecakes, mocha swirl cheesecakes... Cheese pies do not have the body to allow for some of the structures that a cheesecake can offer. This is because cheesecakes are best made with a springform pan, which allows for many different varieties.

Please peruse this book if you get the chance. It was my mother's bible as I grew up, and I use it today.

Answer 8

Cake in its origin is a form of bread, or break like food, so it must be a pie despite its name!

Answer 9

The definition of cake is a sweet dessert made from flour, eggs, sugar and other ingredients that is round or square and that is baked. CHEESECAKE IS A CAKE!

Answer 10

I think cheese CAKE means that it has to be cake... look at the name for goodness sake.