Cheesecake!

At the end of a meal, what is better than a slice of dense and sweet yet ethereally light cheesecake?

For cheesecakes fanatics, nothing is better. Especially if you live in New Jersey and know where to get the best ones.

We love ours from Cheesecake Aly, the Glen Rock bakery Aly Boyd founded 15 years ago using her family’s old Lithuanian recipe. It forms the basis for 27 different cheesecakes including seven varieties of low carb and sugar-free.

Those are made without a crust, and the texture is less dense than the traditional. But the flavor is classic cheesecake opulence without compromise. It isn’t low fat — 300 calories in a 3.5 oz. serving. Still, those who watch carbs more than calories will appreciate it is only 3 net carbs. Buy at the shop or at Whole Foods, or order online.

Another favorite is mango cheesecake at Sabor Latin Bistro in North Bergen and Hawthorne. The mango’s tropical acidity plays nicely off the lush creaminess.

And at Mara’s Country Desserts (25 E Main St., Denville, 973-625-0901), a specialty is flavoring with liqueurs like amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Chambord. They serve breakfast and lunch, too.

At the Shore, we hear good things about the cheesecake at Charlie’s Café (491 Route 35, Normandy Beach, 732-793-3305). And we’ve tasted the great cheesecake lollipops (www.gourmetpops.com) created by NJ My Way friend David Burke, owner and chef of Fromagerie in Rumson, one of the top restaurants in the state. If you’d like to see how he makes these and other great desserts, click www.njmyway.com/content/view/339.

In South Jersey, we can vouch for the no-frills approach at the legendary Bordentown diner Mastori’s. Then there is Cinderella Cheesecake Company, in Riverside since founder Alfred Rezende moved from Philadelphia in 1965. Philly-style cheesecake is “lighter in texture, yet creamier in flavor than New York style cheesecake,” according to the oracle of Wiki. To which Rezende adds, “and sweeter, too.” You can order online for home delivery.

If you’ve got a favorite spot for cheesecake, let us know by clicking on the Write The Editor link below. We’re happy to put your suggestions to our taste test and report back.

Tags: Fromagerie | Cheesecake Aly | cheesecake | Charlie's Cafe | Mastori's | Cinderella Cheesecake Company

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