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Siphnopitta (Honey and Cheese Cake)

Siphnopitta (Honey and Cheese Cake) is a traditional Greek recipe for a classic cheesecake made from an egg, sheep's cheese and honey blend flavoured with cinnamon that's baked in a pastry crust and which is typically served for Easter. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Greek version of: Honey and Cheese Cake (Siphnopitta).

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

45 minutes

Total Time:

65 minutes

Additional Time:

(+cooling)

Serves:

8–10

Rating: 4.5 star rating

Tags : Spice RecipesCheese RecipesBaking RecipesCake RecipesGreece Recipes



This is a classic Greek Easter speciality, associated with the island of Sipnos. Traditionally it is made with myzithra a soft, fresh, unsalted sheep's milk cheese. If you cannot get this, then you can substitute a soft goat's milk cheese or even ricotta cheese. You can use my home-made ricotta cheese recipe to prepare your own.

Ingredients



235g plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
200g unsalted butter, chilled and diced
cold water, to bind (about 4 tbsp)
450g myzithra (or ricotta) cheese, softened
4 eggs
150ml runny honey (about), or to taste
2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:

Sift together the flour and slat into a large bowl. Add the diced butter and rub into the flour mix with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Now work in about 4 tbsp cold water (add this slowly, you need just enough to bring the mixture together as dough). From this into a ball then wrap in clingfilm (plastic wrap) and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

After this time, unwrap the dough then use your palm to pat it into the base of a 25cm diameter pie dish (also pat up the side of the dish). Prick all over the base with a fork then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 170°C and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pastry from the oven and increase the temperature to 180°C.

In the meantime, beat together the eggs and cheese in a bowl until smooth and well blended. Now work in the honey (taste occasionally to make certain the mixture is sufficiently sweet for you). Finally work 1 tsp of the ground cinnamon into this mixture.

When the pastry shell is cold, pour in the cheese and honey mixture. Return to the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is firm and the top is golden brown. Dust with the remaining cinnamon and allow the cake to cool completely before serving.

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