What makes a good cheesecake? I need a majority opinion

[stealthsquiggle]

I am making a (surprise) birthday cake for someone and have been told that what she would really like is a cheesecake. Decorating ideas are, as it happens, transferable to a cheesecake, and I haven't made the cake yet, so that is fine.

Now I have strong opinions as to what constitutes a good cheesecake, but I have no idea if she (or indeed anyone else) shares them. So in the absence of more information from the cheesecake suggesters(I have asked for more) I need a majority opinion to go with...

[AllieBongo]

apparently organic digestives don't go soggy if you use them for the base. Don't ask me why!

[ProfessorGrammaticus]

I prefer the baked ones, definitely. Vanilla always good

[stealthsquiggle]

OK, so I am not entirely alone, but are ProfG and I a minority of 2?

[oggsfrog]

Baked vanilla with a very thick topping..... raisins can be nice..... as can raspberries... and blueberries...

...there isn't a definitive cheescake.
All cheesecake is good

[stealthsquiggle]

oggs you see there I disagree with you.

lemon cheesecake = bad
raisins in cheesecake = bad
(and I love raisins in other things!)

awkward, me.

[sophierosie]

I really don't like the baked ones - prefer the chilled ones.
You can mix in some ginger bisuits with the digestives - goes well with strawberries!

[MaureenMLove]

I'm with sophierosie. Chilled ones for me too and ginger nuts!

[Lemontart]

DH loves baked cheesecake served warm and fresh with blueberrys and double cream

Kids and I love chilled no bake "English" cheesecake with crunchy biscuit base and zingy creamy filling with lemon zest.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

I love baked and unbaked cheesecake, but always vanilla and definitely no ginger!

[stealthsquiggle]

I guess it was a bad idea to look for consensus from MN, but I was hoping for a clear majority.

[sigh]

The recipient is way too polite to say if I make exactly the wrong sort of cheesecake.

[dizzydixies]

my most requested one is a white chocolate cheesecake and its FABULOUS and ridicliously easy to make so everyone thinks you're a genuis!!

[christiana]

Message withdrawn

[buttercreamfrosting]

Baked

Vanilla

NO RAISINS. EVER.

[dizzydixies]

tesco oaty biscuits make a lovely base too

[Pavlovthecat]

Vanilla a must - I prefer simple NY style cheeecake myself.

[Pavlovthecat]

Vanilla a must - I prefer simple NY style cheesecake myself.
No ginger, lemon or raisins. EVER.

[dizzydixies]

seriously - nobody else for the white chocolate??!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Chocolate and cheesecake should never be mixed.

Waitrose do the most divine NY cheesecake pavlov. Have you tried it?

[totalmisfit]

baked with raisins, lemon and vanilla... mmmm... I have to make that again.

[WilfSell]

I like:

baked WITH raisins
chilled with LOTS of lemon and made with fresh Quark and digestives.

NO chocolate or pink-jam-food-product

[stealthsquiggle]

[evil cackle]

the thread is turning towards my own inclination (identical to Pavlov's)

Dizzy - your suggestion leaves me torn as I hate white chocolate but I suspect the recipient might love it...

[girlandboy]

Chilled, not baked.
NO RAISINS EVER.

Need a good thick layer of fruit topping.

[jojo76]

Oh,can I join in this discussion? I would LOVE to know about the white chocolate one, I love cheesecake and white chocolate! I always make an Annabel Karmel one. It's easy, always turns out gorgeous, and it always gets lots of compliments.....if you want the recepie?! Its just a simple baked one, with the option of sultanas, but Ive never put them in....

[dizzydixies]

stealth I made is as dh is a white chocolate fan and now I have to make it for every family gathering/party/work do/ just because occassion ever

its lovely on its own or with strawberry/raspberry topping too

[ChippyMinton]

baked vanilla, with raspberry topping
And it must stick to the roof of your mouth.