Every year I whinge about Summer coming and how much I hate the heat. Every year I relish in the joyousness that is Winter. Then every year like clockwork, I get the hell over it! There is only so many cold, rainy and dreary days a girl can take, am I right? So when those first few rays of sunshine beat down on my skin, I rejoice. It’s on days like this that make me wish for Summer days, sunshine, salty air and of course, long cold cocktails. To me, nothing encapsulates Summer more than the classic Gin and Tonic. That’s why I HAD to turn it into a dessert. Because what’s better than enjoying a cocktail whilst eating dessert? Why, it’s having a cocktail IN my dessert of course! Enter my Gluten Free Gin and Tonic Cheesecake! 

Every year I rejoice in those first few rays of sunshine…. then all of a sudden it’s north of 45 degrees (Celsius) and I find myself wishing for Winter once again. It’s always the way. But for a few moments, in say late September, early October, I actually think “Hey I could get into this Summer thing!”.  Then it’s too dry, too hot and you end up doing very little of anything. Sadly that’s one of the drawbacks of living in the country, no sea breeze! So on the days when it’s not hotter than the Sahara you’ll find me on my (not quite built) deck, a tall gin and tonic in hand.

Summer BBQs = Gin and Tonic Cheesecake

Now if everything goes to plan I will have some kind of decking this year. If you’ve seen my house, then you’ll know things have been moving slowly on that front. I had planned of course to have this big beautiful deck, with a built in outdoor kitchen and wide steps down to my fire pit. (You know, the one we can’t use in Summer here in Oz thanks to fire restrictions haha). I can see us having so many friends over though, watching the sun set over the sun burnt countryside whilst enjoying a BBQ. And of course, if you know me at all, you know that I’ll grab every chance to entertain friends! And this naturally means = DESSERT! 

I think meal planning, I think dinner parties, I think dessert. It’s just the way I’m hardwired. Do I really need an excuse though? Haha, No I didn’t think so. This Summer though, I wanted to take dessert to the next level and create the ultimate of all flavour combos.

Cocktail + Dessert = Awesomeness in every bite!

That was quite simply, my inspiration for my gin and tonic cheesecake. It had to of course be a chilled dessert. Because who on earth wants to stand in a hot kitchen for hours on an already stinking hot day. So I took my classic Lemon Berry Cheesecake as a template and started adding those extra flavours. I will admit, I did almost take this dessert to a whole other level with a gin and tonic, juniper berry and lemon infused sugar syrup. But who wants the extra work! I want simple. I want to simply pull a cheesecake out of the fridge and serve. No muss, no fuss.

It was once I tasted the plain Gin and Tonic Cheesecake on it’s own though, that I realized it needed something more. Not much more, but just a little extra kick! My husband (who hates Gin by the way) did not agree. But meh, this isn’t about him is it!! So I decided to add a simple and gorgeous Gin and Tonic Jelly on top! And by golly and I happy that I did! It really adds that extra kick and I swear it tastes exactly like a gin and tonic!

So if you’re looking for the perfect chilled, relaxed and seriously Summery dessert, then you have to give my Gluten Free Gin and Tonic Cheesecake a try!

P.S. If you’re not a Gin drinker… this is not the dessert for you! Just saying.

[[ recipeID=recipe-9l452dldu, title=Gluten Free Gin and Tonic Cheesecake ]]

Tell me, what’s your favourite Summer cocktail or drink that you’d love to see in a dessert?! Let me know in the comments below!