Polish Cold Cheesecake {Sernik na Zimno}

Anna

3 years ago

76 / 100

Polish Cold Cheesecake {Sernik na Zimno}

Sernik na zimno is a no-bake summer dessert made from a type of cheese not available in the US, called homogenized cheese {serek homogenizowany}. Its sweet and tangy, with a consistency of yoghurt. Kids love it. Since I cannot buy that type of cheese here, I’ve recreated the taste of this delicious dessert by using widely available American cream cheese, and I have to say the taste is spot on.

Its creamy and soft, slightly tangy. Strawberries and jello add a nice layer of sweetness, balancing the taste of this not overly sweet dessert. If you happen to have an abundance of farmer’s cheese, it can also be used as the main ingredient in making this traditional Polish cold cheesecake {sernik na zimno}. Recipe for mine here: homemade farmer’s cheese.

Polish Cold Cheesecake {Sernik na Zimno}

Prep Time: 15 min (not including cooling)

Ingredients

4 (8oz / 225 g) packages of cream cheese
2 envelopes (0.25oz each) of unflavored gelatin + 1 cup of hot water
1 box (3oz) of lemon jello + 1 cup of hot water
1/4 cup of powdered sugar
Nilla wafers (round vanilla cookies)
Fresh strawberries, raspberries or other summer fruit
2 boxes (3 oz each) of strawberry jello
Additionally:
9 inch or bigger round spring form pan

Instructions

Leave cream cheese out to come to room temperature. In the mean time, dissolve 2 envelopes of gelatin in 1 cup hot water, and lemon jello in 1 cup of hot water (that's half the water the recipe on the box calls for). Set aside to cool.
When cheese is ready, beat until fluffy, for about 2 min. Add both gelatin and jello little bit at a time. Beat until all lumps dissolve. Add sugar and beat some more until combined.
Cover the bottom of your spring form with vanilla wafers. Pour cream cheese mixture into the pan. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours, I like to do it overnight.
Prepare strawberry jello with half the water = 1 cup of water for each box, 2 cups from two boxes. Let cool a bit. Wash and dry fresh strawberries and cut into smaller pieces. Arrange on top of set cheese mixture. Pour cool jello over strawberries and refrigerate until jello sets (about 2 hours). Serve cold.

My mom made sernik na zimno for my birthday a lot when I was a child, and I love to do that for my daughter too. It’s a great summer cake, served cold will help cool off on a hot summer day.

Smacznego!

Anna

ps. check out recipe for traditional cheesecake here and here.

Polish cold cheesecake {sernik na zimno}

76 / 100