Simon Gault- Fruit cheese

Why is fruit cheese called cheese, when it isn't a dairy product?

Perhaps I’ve missed something in the great University of Life, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why fruit cheese is called cheese. I’ve made it myself, using quince and also plum, but I sure didn’t add any dairy products. Please enlighten me!

For anyone who doesn’t know, a fruit “cheese” is made from pureed fruit and sugar. Its texture is quite firm and you can slice it, so that might be a clue to its name. I’ve also discovered that, long ago, cooks would set it in their family cheese mould, so that’s possibly part of the explanation too. What’s more, it’s delicious on a cracker with “real” cheese. If you haven’t tried it, you must.