Cheesecake is a dessert formed of a topping made with soft, fresh cheese upon a base made from biscuit, pastry or sponge.^[1] The topping is frequently sweetened with sugar and flavoured or topped with a puree or compote of fruit.

Savory cheesecakes also exist, served sometimes as hors d'oeuvre or with accompanying salads. Despite their name, cheesecakes are technically tarts; the word 'cake' was formerly applied to a much broader category of foods than it is today.^[2]

qtd. from Wikipedia