Cheesecake is a dessert made with a soft fresh cheese (typically cottage
cheese, cream cheese, quark or ricotta), eggs, and sugar. It may have a
crust or base made from crushed cookies (or digestive biscuits), graham
crackers, pastry, or sometimes sponge cake. Cheesecake may be baked or
unbaked, and is usually refrigerated.
Vanilla, spices, lemon, chocolate, pumpkin, or other flavors may be
added to the main cheese layer. Additional flavors and visual appeal may
be added by topping the finished dessert with fruit, whipped cream,
nuts, cookies, fruit sauce, chocolate syrup, or other ingredients.