Sweet Indulgence

A Heavenly Taste Test with the Belfast Cheesecake Company

Belfast is no stranger to exceptional food and artisanal treats, but few things bring as much instant joy as a well-made cheesecake. Thanks to the Belfast Cheesecake Company and the generosity of the lovely Jonathan I recently had the pleasure of sampling four of their popular mini pots: Galaxy Caramel, Raspberry White Chocolate, Biscoff, and Kinder. Each one delivered a deliciously different experience, but all shared the same unmistakable hallmark of quality: a light, mousse-like texture and a perfectly crumbly base that made each spoonful a little moment of indulgence.

Let’s start with the Galaxy Caramel. This one was pure velvet , a rich but airy caramel cheesecake topped with swirls of Galaxy chocolate, marrying smoothness with just the right amount of sweetness. The caramel wasn’t overpowering; instead, it provided a buttery backdrop that complemented rather than competing with it. The crumbly biscuit base underneath offered a satisfying contrast, giving structure to the airy cheesecake without stealing the spotlight.

Next up was the Raspberry White Chocolate, the most refreshing of the bunch. The tartness of the raspberry was beautifully balanced by the creamy sweetness of the white chocolate. The fruit taste cut through the richness and added a summery, almost palate-cleansing effect. Texturally, it was a standout too, with the same melt-in-your-mouth mousse feel, but an added zing that kept you coming back for more.

Biscoff lovers, rejoice, this one was everything you could want and more. From the first bite, it was instantly recognisable: that warming, spiced caramel flavour you get from a Lotus biscuit, dialled up and transformed into a dessert that somehow managed to be decadent without being too heavy. I could have honestly eaten a dozen of these.

Finally, the Kinder pot was pure nostalgia. Think Kinder Bueno meets luxury dessert — sweet, nutty, and lightly chocolatey with a hint of hazelnut cream. This pot had a slightly more indulgent feel than the others, but still maintained that signature mousselike lightness. It was playful and fun, with just the right balance of sweetness and creaminess.

What ties all four of these flavours together is the craftsmanship. These cheesecakes aren’t just sugar bombs — they’re thoughtfully made, with flavour profiles that are rich yet balanced, sweet but never sickly. The light texture makes them dangerously moreish, and the attention to detail in the bases — all distinct, all perfectly crumbly — shows the level of care and quality that the Belfast Cheesecake Company puts into every pot.

Whether you’re after comfort, a fruity lift, or a nostalgic hit of childhood favourites, there's a cheesecake pot for you. Jonathan and the team have created something special here — a local gem that proves good things really do come in small packages.

Here is an insight from Jonathan Belfast Cheesecake Co started out about 10 years ago when I had more hair and was a few pounds lighter. Back then it was first known as Death by Cheesecake! I always had an interest in baking but would say I’m quite a clumsy person so finesse and careful decoration were out the window. In my last job in insurance claims a friend brought in a Mint Aero cheesecake and when I heard the recipe and method I thought even I could give it a go, to this day I still say if you can’t make a cheesecake there is something wrong.

I started making cheesecakes for family and friends and they encouraged me to sell them and that’s when my social media presence began. Shortly after this I started selling to the public at Newtownards Market where I built a great customer base only issue being it was outdoor , great in the summer but not so good in winter and that’s when I managed to secure a 1 day spot in St Georges as I was still working full time, it was indoor and they supply a proper display fridge. This is also when I started reaching out to some restaurants and retail establishments and was lucky to stock several places, some of which are still with me today.

Over time I increased my days in St George’s and retail stockists grew which allowed me to go part time in my ‘normal’ job and focus on the cheesecakes more all the while making everything in a small galley kitchen at home with fridges stuck in every corner of the house. Over time the business grew and I finally made the decision to go full time with the cheesecakes.

I'm a cautious person so the jump didn’t happen overnight. Around this time a lot of the donut shops were popping up , selling a full selection of donuts and my idea/dream was to have a cheesecake version of this which has never been done so totally unique but with property and utility prices I never thought a shop would become a reality. I finally got to move out of the kitchen and share a space with another bakery business in Dundonald which really helped me grow the retail side of the business stocking more and more places.

The business was growing but then hit a snag when we had to move from the unit we occupied and I could only downsize due to costs so had to downsize production as well, probably one of the downfalls of sharing a space , whilst cost effective your not the only decision maker but in the long run things have worked out for the better, we operated from a small unit continuing with some retail and St Georges Market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then purely by chance a shop unit came up for rent in East Belfast , near to my home and in a great location for good footfall, after viewing and on the same day I expressed my interest in the premises and to my absolute surprise I got the tenancy.

It took a while to have the space workable but being close to Xmas my priority was to have the space workable to fulfil our orders then worry about opening to the public after Christmas, each year Christmas gets busier and busier , I opened the order book back in July and closed it within 2 hours with 140 orders !

The shop finally opened to the public on February 15th 2025! with a queue up the street, being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community I was finally able to add my own camp touches which everyone loves. Since opening the shop continues to thrive so much so I have just taken on a second unit so we can move all production to it giving us more space in the shop and opening opportunities to add to what we already offer, including cheesecake filled croissants and donuts.

I now only do St George’s on a Sunday and work 6 days in the shop. The plan is to work and grow our retail stockists as they are more constant and regular with orders, whereas the shop and St George’s are more unpredictable and who knows maybe down the line if the demand is there we could see another branch of Belfast Cheesecake Co!!

For anyone thinking of going full time at a hobby or business idea , do it , work things out and be methodical. I work more now than I ever did but being your own boss is something different to working for someone, yes it's stressful, hard work but the rewards and sense of pride make it worthwhile.

I am very lucky to have amazing customers both personal and business but also family and friends who have helped me and still help out along the way.

Here is to the future which hopefully includes a win at the GNI awards 2025 !! Everything crossed

Thanks for being so hospitabile, if you are in the area or see the cheesecakes in a local premises you simply have to try them

Belfast Cheesecake Co is located at 2B Grampian Avenue , Belfast , BT4 3AB 07846695418

Follow them on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok @ belfastcheesecakeco