Cheesecake is having a moment. According to food-trend analysts Tastewise, conversation about cheesecake grew 17.3% year on year at the start of 2026. But which flavors do people actually love, and which ones are on the rise? Here is our top 10, the trends to watch and how the original Basque cheesecake from San Sebastián fits into all of this.
The 10 most popular cheesecake flavors
Our list combines the most-mentioned flavors in Tastewise’s January 2026 data with the classics you find in every bakery.
- Classic / plain. Still the benchmark. The New York style and the Basque burnt cheesecake both win on pure cheese flavor.
- Chocolate. The most talked-about cheesecake flavor, with around 22% of social mentions.
- Cookies (cookies & cream, Oreo, Lotus). Almost level with chocolate, at about 21%.
- Coffee. Around 8.3%: think tiramisu-style or espresso swirls.
- Strawberry. The fruit classic, at about 7.2%. Berries in general are the most-used ingredient (29%).
- Ice-cream cheesecake. Around 7.1%, especially in summer.
- Caramel and dulce de leche. About 6.6%, often with sea salt.
- Lemon. Fresh and light; lemon appears in about 7.4% of cheesecake ingredient mentions.
- Pistachio. The star of the moment (see below).
- Pumpkin and apple. Seasonal favourites, and the big autumn 2026 trend according to The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s forecast.
The fastest-growing cheesecake trends of 2026
| Trend | Growth (year on year) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate + pistachio | +104% | Pistachio cream with chocolate, often «Dubai-style» |
| Chocolate + sea salt | +102% | Dark chocolate with flaky salt |
| Strawberry + matcha | +94% | Japanese-inspired, green and pink |
| Kataifi (crunchy pastry) | +586% | The crispy shredded pastry from the viral Dubai chocolate bar |
| Knafeh | +164% | Middle Eastern cheese pastry flavors meet cheesecake |
Source: Tastewise, January 2026. The common thread is texture: creamy cheesecake with something crunchy on top or inside. Mini sizes, bars and no-bake versions are also growing.
Where does Basque cheesecake fit in?
The Basque burnt cheesecake from San Sebastián is the opposite of the topping craze: no biscuit base, no sauce, just cheese, eggs, cream and sugar, baked until the top is almost burnt. That simplicity is exactly why it became a global hit, and why many of the best versions in Spain focus on the taste of cheese rather than on toppings.
Still, flavored Basque cheesecakes are everywhere now:
- Chocolate Basque cheesecake. Bassk Cheesecakers in San Sebastián sells one next to its original. Read our Bassk guide (in Spanish).
- Pistachio Basque cheesecake. Popular in cafés from Tokyo to Madrid.
- Blue cheese or Idiazabal. A tiny amount of blue cheese is the secret of Michelin-praised versions, like the one at Bertakoteka. More in our guide to which cheese to use (in Spanish).
Want the original? Here is our guide to the best Basque cheesecake in San Sebastián, and a look at the world’s most famous cheesecakes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular cheesecake flavor?
Apart from the classic plain cheesecake, chocolate is the most popular flavor, with around 22% of social media mentions according to Tastewise (January 2026), closely followed by cookies.
What are the trending cheesecake flavors in 2026?
Chocolate with pistachio, chocolate with sea salt and strawberry with matcha are the fastest-growing combinations, along with crunchy kataifi toppings inspired by the Dubai chocolate trend.
Is Basque cheesecake flavored?
The original from San Sebastián is plain: cheese, eggs, cream and sugar. Flavored versions such as chocolate or pistachio are modern variations.