Cheesecakes are an incredible choice for a dessert or a birthday cake alternative as they're easy to whip up and bursting with flavour.

This particular recipe from queen of the kitchen Mary Berry is, according to her, one of the "simplest desserts" you could choose from her book "Cook Up a Feast". Incredibly, it takes just five minutes to prep and only 10 minutes more to create the cheesecake itself.

Mary has called this divine treat her personal "favourite pudding" that she's made, confessing it disappears "like lightning" when served to guests. Before diving into baking, grease a 20cm (an eight-inch) round, loose-bottomed tin and line the bottom with some good old baking parchment, reports the Express.

Get your aprons ready - here's what you'll need:

  • 100g (3 ½ oz) ginger biscuits, crushed
  • 50g (1 ¾ oz) butter, melted
  • Two 250g tubs mascarpone
  • 325g jar luxury lemon curd
  • Juice of one small lemon
  • Fresh raspberries and blueberries, to decorate
  • Icing sugar, to dust

Method:

1. Mix the biscuits with the butter in a bowl, then press into the base of the tin (but not up the sides). To crush the biscuits, Mary recommends placing the biscuits in a large, clear plastic bag. Lay the bag on a flat surface and firmly run a rolling pin back and forth over the biscuits. You will soon see the biscuits break into smaller crumbs. Shake the bag occasionally to bring the large pieces to the surface.

2. Put the mascarpone, lemon curd, and lemon juice in a bowl and beat with a spatula until smooth.

3. Spoon the mixture on to the biscuit base and level the top. Chill in the fridge for at least four hours and up to 24 hours to firm up.

4. To serve, remove the cheesecake from the tin, peel off the baking parchment, and arrange on a platter. Decorate with the fruit and dust with icing sugar.

The cheesecake can be made up to the end of step three up to one day ahead. This cheesecake is not suitable for freezing. Three cheesecakes can be made in one go, but take care not to overbeat the mixture at step two. For those making more than three cheesecakes, they should prepare them in separate batches.