It’s easy to assume cheesecake originated in France, where the arts of cheese-making and pastry-baking have been perfected. Or in New York, the state with a famous cheesecake style named after it. But the predecessor to our modern cheesecake, according to the historians and anthropologists who have traced its origin, can be found in ancient Greece. Here, by the Mediterranean Sea, the creamy, cheesy confection was a popular wedding dessert and might even have been served to athletes during the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.
While the dessert was most likely around centuries earlier, the first known written record of the Greek cheesecake recipe is attributed to Greek writer Athenaeus around 230 A.D. The rudimentary cheesecake was made with fresh cheese, pounded until smooth, mixed with flour and honey and then baked. Romans are said to have introduced the Grecian cheesecake across Europe, and immigrants brought the beloved dessert to America — the dish taking on new variations and baking methods with each culture it traversed.
The Forme of Cury, the first known English cookbook written during the 14th century, added eggs to the cheesecake recipe and flavored the dessert with rosewater and dried elderflowers. The ultra-dense New York-style cheesecake, credited to restaurateur Arnold Reuben in the 1920s, goes heavy on the cream cheese. The trendy, burnt-topped Basque-style cheesecake (or tarta de queso), created in 1990 by chef Santiago Rivera of San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque Country, is made with a handful of simple ingredients and baked at a high temperature for a caramelized exterior and gooey center.
Käsekuchen (German cheesecake) relies on soft quark cheese, Japanese cheesecake is made fluffy and soufflé-like with the incorporation of whisked egg whites, and Sernik (Polish cheesecake) is made with twaróg cheese and potato flour. Wherever you travel in the world, you’re sure to find a unique, regional take on cheesecake.
For the first stop on your cheesecake world tour, look no further than Sonoma County, where farm cows graze on vast pastures and skilled bakers use local ingredients to craft luscious desserts. From New York to Basque-style and every flavor you can dream up, here is where you can find glorious cheesecakes all around the county to enjoy on National Cheesecake Day, July 30. Or any day of the year.
Best Cheesecakes in Sonoma County
College Confectionista
SoCo Style Cheesecake: Anamaría Morales’ famed “Sonoma County-style” cheesecake with traditional cream cheese filling in a butter graham cracker crust and topped with homemade whip cream. Can be made gluten-free with a nut-based crust. Find various other cheesecakes that rotate seasonally. Check website for pick-up times and locations.
*Note: The College Confectionista is currently closed for the season. Check her Instagram page, @collegeconfectionista, for updates.
707-495-5324, collegeconfectionista.com
J.M. Rosen’s Cheesecakes
New York Cheesecake: You can’t go wrong with any of Jan’s Rosen’s famous cheesecakes — the Blueberry, Neapolitan, Chocolate Fantasy and Snickers Bar cheesecakes all get rave reviews. But the star of the show is the original rich and creamy New York-style cheesecake in a buttery shortbread crust — the one that made Frank Sinatra a lifelong customer. Order online (free shipping on local deliveries) or find Rosen’s cheesecakes at a number of restaurants and markets across California.
74 E. Washington St., Petaluma, 707-773-4655, jmrosenscheesecake.com
Stellina Pronto
New York Style Pumpkin Cheesecake: The classic New York-style cheesecake gets a sweet pumpkiny upgrade, with a sour cream topping and buttery graham cracker crust.
23 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-789-9556, stellinapronto.com
Speakeasy
Daily Cheesecake: Housemade cheesecakes change with the chef’s whim, but they’re always fluffy and resting atop a buttery graham cracker crust. The lemon cheesecake is a local fave.
139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com
Wit & Wisdom
Basque Country Cheesecake: Soft and airy Basque-style cheesecake with burnt top and accompanied with preserved citrus and fresh farmers market fruit.
1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-3405, witandwisdomsonoma.com
Cafe La Haye
Yuzu Citrus Cheesecake: Smooth, zesty cheesecake flavored with Japanese yuzu.
140 E. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-935-5994, cafelahaye.com
The Mill at Glen Ellen
Burnt Basque Cheesecake: Creamy, tangy Basque-style cheesecake with fresh berries.
+14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-721-1818, themillatglenellen.com
Costeaux French Bakery & Cafe
Classic Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake in a gingerbread cookie crust, coated in mascarpone whip cream. The seasonal lemon cheesecake is also great, along with the pumpkin cheesecake come autumn.
417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Downtown Bakery & Creamery
Cheesecake: Large and baby cheesecakes with a classic rich and dense filling in a buttery graham cracker crust.
308 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-431-2719, downtownbakeryhealdsburg.com
Criminal Baking Company
Lemon Chevre Cheesecake: Creamy, tangy, rich and lemony classic cheesecake. Optional add-ons include fresh berries, a caramel drizzle or raspberry compote.
808 Donahue St., Santa Rosa, 707-888-3546, criminalbakingcompany.com
Red Bird Bakery
New York Cheesecake: Rich and dense New York-style cheesecake, topped with berries.
556 East Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-521-9838; 463 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-544-3663, redbirdbakery.com
Patisserie Angelica
Seasonal Cheesecake: The patisserie’s creamy, decadent cheesecakes come in a housemade graham cracker crust and flavors change with the season. Flavors include caramel, raspberry, Meyer lemon and spiced pumpkin.
6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, 707-827-7998, patisserieangelica.com
Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen
Rotating Cheesecakes: Varying creamy cheesecakes are available each weekend. The variety of seasonal flavors include fig, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, baklava, lemon curd, pecan caramel and chocolate hazelnut.
9725 Main St., Monte Rio, 707-865-5169, lightwavecafe.square.site
Nightingale Breads
Mini Cheesecakes: Creamy New York-style mini cheesecakes made in-house by local cheesecake wizard Steve Hartz. Flavors change weekly, but fan-favorites include the tangy lemon curd, lime curd and passion fruit. Also find other unique flavors like orange cream, cranberry curd, blood orange, cappuccino, eggnog, apple pie, toasted coconut and pineapple.
6665 Front St., Forestville, 707-887-8887, nightingalebreads.com
Terrapin Creek Cafe
Passion Fruit Cheesecake: Light, fluffy cheesecake made with passion fruit and topped with whipped cream and vanilla bean sauce.
1580 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-2700, terrapincreekcafe.com
Underwood Bar & Bistro
Mascarpone Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake made with soft mascarpone and topped with raspberries.
9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
Oliver’s Market
Chocolate Cheesecake: Dense cheesecake made with dark Belgian chocolate in a crisp chocolate cookie crumb crust. A gluten-free option is available. Locations in Windsor, Santa Rosa and Cotati. oliversmarket.com
Ready to celebrate National Cheesecake Day the sweetest way possible?
Start your cheesecake tasting tour right here in Sonoma County! From silky Basque-style slices to rich New York classics and bright seasonal flavors, there's a local dessert waiting to win your heart. Pick a spot (or several), grab a fork, and treat yourself—you’ve earned it.
