Gin, Tonic & Lemon Thyme Cheesecakes

Makes 4 Mini Cheesecakes

Ingredients

Biscuit Base

• 250g gluten free hobnobs
• 80g butter, melted

Cheesecake

• 2 x 280g cream cheese
• 500g mascarpone 
• 80g caster sugar
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1 lime, zest and juice
• 1/2 orange, zest

Gin & Tonic Topping

• 6 gelatine leaves
• 2 wide strips of zest and juice from 2 lemons
• 2 wide strips of zest and juice from 1 orange
• juice of 1 lime
• 100g caster sugar
• 6 juniper berries, bruised
• 4tbsp gin 
• 300ml tonic water
• few sprigs of lemon thyme, plus extra to decorate
• fresh raspberries splashed with gin, to serve

Method

• Put the biscuits in a food processor and whizz to fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and whizz until mixed. 
• Tip the buttery crumbs into the individual rounds, and smooth the base. 
• Put in the fridge to firm up while you make the cheese topping. 
• Put the cream cheese, mascarpone, 80g sugar, grated zests and lemon and lemon juice in a bowl and beat until smooth. 
• Spoon on the top of the biscuit base and level.
• Cover with cling film and chill for approximately 2 hours, or until filling is firm.

For Gin & Tonic Layer

• Put the gelatine in a small bowl of cold water for 5-10mins to soften. 
• Put the lemon, orange and lime juice into a saucepan with the wide strips of zest, sugar and juniper berries. 
• Heat gently to dissolve the sugar and allow the flavours to diffuse. Strain and keep liquid warm. (Discard the zest and berries).
• Squeeze out the water from the gelatine then whisk slowly into the warm citrus syrup until thoroughly dissolved. 
• Add gin & tonic and whisk then pour over the chilled cheesecake. 
• Scatter over a few sprigs of lemon thyme, then leave to set in the fridge. 
• Cover carefully with clingfilm for at least 4 hours. 
• When ready to serve, mix the raspberries with a splash of gin and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. 
• Scatter some fresh lemon thyme sprigs over the top of the cheesecake and serve with the gin spiked raspberries. 

*This is my gluten free version of Delicious Magazines Gin & Tonic Cheesecake, it's very easy to make and tastes really yummy.