Baker puts cheesecake formulas into iTunes cookbook

"Cheesecakes," by Hector Wong ($8.99; available on iTunes; visit goo.gl/AUkAdP)

Baker Hector Wong, who has long dazzled Hawaii’s dessert lovers with his elaborate, delicious cakes, has finally documented some of his concoctions with the e-book publication of "Cheesecakes," a baker’s dozen of recipes. Wong’s recipes are adaptations of those in Rose Levy Berenbaum’s "The Cake Bible" and feature products grown in Hawaii, such as mango, coconut, banana, vanilla and coffee.

The 13-recipe collection features several mango cheesecakes and others made with homemade local fruit jellies. It even includes a savory recipe using eggplant. The book goes over several types of cheesecake "bases," or crusts: a basic cookie crust, crushed-nut crust and sponge cake crust.

Wong says cheesecake batter, referred to as "butter," starts with cream cheese. His recipes combine cream cheese with either sour cream, heavy cream or Italian meringue.

He says sour cream butter produces a tangy, almost lemony flavor, while heavy cream works well with fruit flavors. Italian meringue is best for nonfruit cakes such as chocolate, coffee and red velvet.

In putting the cookbook together, Wong says he "suffered a lot."

"It was frustrating," he said. "I told myself, ‘I need a new computer. I need new software.’ I don’t know if it was fear or a lack of confidence, so finally I told myself, ‘Just do it, Hector.’ And the book just wrote itself."

Wong says the collection is a work-in-progress that might require a bit of tinkering here and there — an easy thing to do, thanks to it being an e-book — but the doubt and worry are things of the past.

"I’m really happy with it," he said.

PURE MANGO CHEESECAKE

9-inch removable bottom cheesecake pan 
240 grams (about 1 cup) mango purée (see directions below)
200 grams (about 1 cup) turbinado sugar
460 grams (about 2 cups) heavy cream
450 grams (about 1 pound) cream cheese
150 grams (about 8) egg yolks
1-1/2 teaspoons dark rum (optional)
1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make fruit purée: peel and dice fresh fruit, then process in food processor until smooth, about 5 minutes. (Straining isn’t necessary; processing eliminates fibers.) If desired, make the purée in advance and freeze.

In pot on medium heat, combine purée and sugar, stirring continuously, until mixture starts to darken and thicken, about 10 minutes. It will resemble liquid honey. Do not overthicken to caramel consistency. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature, uncovered.

Using food processor, pulse mango jelly with remaining ingredients, gradually, in order listed. Pulse until incorporated.

Fill cake pan, then wrap with two sheets heavy-duty aluminum foil to prevent leaks.

Bake in water bath until cake reaches 160 to 170 degrees, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Turn off oven and keep cheesecake inside for 1 more hour to slowly cool. Keep door closed.

Refrigerate overnight.

Notes: Recipe can be halved and baked with a 6-inch pan for 35 minutes.