Cheesecake is one of the most delicious desserts and has gained popularity for its rich and mildly sweet flavor. In addition, it has a smooth texture which everyone loves. However, if you have ever ordered cheesecake at restaurants, it’s usually served in a slice because the entire cheesecake tends to be extremely expensive. So, if you are a dessert fan and are worried about the higher prices, we are sharing what leads to such high prices!
Why Is Cheesecake So Expensive?
1. Ingredients
We all love cheesecake for its rich and premium flavors, but it’s only possible if the right ingredients are used. Many restaurants tend to use cheaper ingredients which tends to adversely impact the quality of cheesecake. That being said, the restaurants that use high-quality ingredients will always sell cheesecake at a higher price. In addition, the ingredients of cheesecake are usually more expensive as compared to regular grocery staples, which results in a higher price factor.
When it comes down to the ingredients, one needs to consider the price of cream cheese. Not only is cream cheese expensive, but the cheesecake recipe also needs at least 2lbs of cream cheese, and there are various other ingredients (they are expensive as well). Having said that, the price of ingredients directly influences the final price of cheesecake. Not to forget, the cheesecake ingredients don’t have a longer shelf life, even with refrigeration, which means the restaurants have to source fresh ingredients every time the cheesecake has to be made.
2. Overhead Costs
When you purchase cheesecake from a restaurant, you need to remember that there are additional costs accounted for in the final price of the cheesecake. That being said, there will be overhead costs calculated in the cheesecake, which leads to a higher price. To summarize, you have to pay for the labor costs as well as for ambiance.
3. Demand
Have you ever seen someone who says no to cheesecake? It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the demand for cheesecake is increasing, which only increases the price. Keep in mind that the demand for cheesecake is fueled by the trend of eating out, and the restaurants are cashing in this demand – all in all, this is what businesses actually are!
4. Cooking Process
It might seem simple to bake a cheesecake, but in reality, it’s an extremely difficult cooking process. This is because the ingredients have to be whisked at a specific speed and time to make sure the texture comes out well. Having said that, the bakers have to be extremely particular about the preparation and cooking process. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the cooking process is labor-intensive, which is why the restaurants charge a higher price for cheesecakes.
5. Perceived Value
When it comes down to the cheesecake and its high price, it is needless to say that it creates a perceived value. For instance, when restaurants charge more for cheesecake, everyone simply thinks that it’s worth more. So, whenever a restaurant sells an expensive cheesecake, the customers start believing that the cheesecake is worth more, and the customers won’t have any choice other than to pay a higher price.
6. Supply Chain
With the COVID-19 restrictions, it’s needless to say that there have been extreme disruptions in the supply chain. These supply chain issues have increased the prices of cheese. In addition, when the pandemic first started, the cheese companies signed up for any contract they could find, and now that the restaurants are reopening, cheese is becoming hard to procure. For this reason, these supply chain issues are causing the high prices of cheese. Similarly, the prices of cheese won’t normalize until the supply chain is fully restored. As far as the restoration is concerned, it is highly likely to take a few months or years, depending on the upcoming pandemic and economic conditions.
7. Increased Consumption
Cheesecake use cream cheese, which is one of the most common ingredients for a variety of desserts as well as savory recipes. It simply means that the consumption of cream cheese has increased, which is reducing the supply. In addition, the cream cheese manufacturers are taking time to produce the product, hence the slow supply. All of this is contributing to the higher prices.