A Surprise Birthday Cake (Black Berry Cheesecake)

Surprise surprise!! Today is another of my dear dear friend's birthday..:) I gave her a surprise!! Of course its a cake, what else?!...haha!
Since she's staying nearby, I surprise her by sending the cake over in the morning once she wakes! And a birthday song was sang while she's still in her pyjamas...lol!

This is a cheese cake which was my 1st attempt. Luckily it turns out nicely or else....stress!!
A Blackberry Cheese Cake by Kevin Chai. Love the taste of the blackberry mixed with the cream cheese...yum yum!

Layered of vanilla sponges was added, and the result is perfect! Somehow the sponges can be avoided if you like a more cheesy cake.
Recipe adapted from the book Cheese Cake with Kevin Chai but with my own version of vanilla sponge and some changes from the original recipe.

Ingredients for Vanilla Sponge:
250g eggs (weigh without shells)
110 sugar
125g plain flour
50ml water
2 tsps emulsifier
1 tsp vanilla
60g melted butter

Method:
~ Whisk all the ingredients except melted butter at high speed until light and fluffy.
~ Then fold in melted butter and bake in a 9" square tin lined with parchment paper for 40-45 mins at 180'C. Cool and sliced into 2.

Ingredients for the Cheese:
350g cream cheese
115g sugar
120g black berries (blended)
1 tbsp gelatine powder
3 tbps water
350g whipping cream (lightly whipped)

Method:
~ Beat cream cheese with sugar until smooth, stir in blended black berries.
~ Melt gelatine powder with water over simmering water. Stir into cheese mixture. Then fold in whipped cream.

Display:
~ Place a slice of vanilla sponge into a 8" square loose base tin. Spread in half of the berry cheese mixture. Cover with another sponge cake. Top with remaining berry cheese mixture and smooth the top.
~ Chilled in fridge for over night. Remove cake and decorate as desired.

Happy Birthday Grace...!!