While you might think that cheesecake is cheesecake, there is a difference between burnt cheesecake and New York cheesecake. The most obvious is the difference in the top of the cheesecake. The top of the basque cheesecake is crispy and caramelized and the top of the New York-style cheesecake is soft and has the same texture as the rest of the cheesecake. Another difference is that burnt basque cheesecake is denser and creamier than a more traditional cheesecake. The center will still be creamy when sliced.