Christmas Cheesecake Recipes featuring rich, creamy, festive flavors—perfect show-stopping desserts for Christmas dinners!

Christmas Cheesecake Recipes are the kind of desserts that instantly raise the stakes of any holiday table!


The Cheesecake Rules I Refuse To Break

Room-Temperature Ingredients Or You’ll Regret It

Set out for 60 minutes:

  • Cream cheese
  • Eggs
  • Sour cream
  • Cold cream cheese creates lumps that never fully disappear. You’ll taste them. You’ll notice. You’ll be annoyed.

Mix Like You’re Handling A Sleeping Baby

  • Beat the cream cheese smooth. After that, mix on low. Overmixing whips in air. Air expands. Cheesecake cracks. That’s the whole tragic plot.

A Water Bath Is Not Optional If You Want That Bakery Texture

  • Moist heat = silky texture and fewer cracks. I’ll show you the zero-drama way to do it.

Cheesecake Finishes In The Fridge, Not The Oven

Cheesecake needs time to become itself. Chill 8–12 hours. Overnight is the move.

The Leak-Proof Water Bath Method

  • Wrap the outside of your springform pan with two layers of heavy-duty foil.
  • Bring the foil up the sides and press it tight.
  • Place the wrapped pan inside a roasting pan.
  • After you pour in the batter, pour hot water into the roasting pan until it comes halfway up the springform pan.
  • This keeps your cheesecake moist and gentle while it bakes, like a spa day with a crust.

How To Know It’s Baked Perfectly

  • Edges look set and slightly puffed
  • Center jiggles like soft Jell-O, not like liquid batter
  • Internal temp hits 150–155°F if you check

The Base Cheesecake Formula (Your Holiday Safety Net)

This base gets customized in each recipe.

Base Crust

  • Cookie crumbs – 2 cups (graham, Oreo, gingersnap, etc.)
  • Sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Base Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz (4 blocks), room temp
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Sour cream – ¾ cup
  • Heavy cream – ¼ cup
  • Eggs – 4 large, room temp
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Oven Temp: 325°F (163°C)
  • Bake Time: 65–75 minutes

Now let’s turn this base into five different Christmas personalities!!


Christmas Cheesecake Recipes

1. Peppermint Bark Cheesecake With Chocolate Ganache Crown

Christmas Cheesecake Recipes

This cheesecake tastes like Christmas candy, but it still feels grown-up. Cool peppermint, creamy vanilla filling, and a glossy ganache top that makes every slice look like it’s wearing a tuxedo.

Ingredients

Crust

  • Oreo cookies – 24 cookies, crushed into crumbs (about 2 cups)
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Sour cream – ¾ cup
  • Heavy cream – ¼ cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Peppermint extract – ¾ tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Crushed peppermint candies – ½ cup (fold in gently)

Ganache + Finish

  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips – 1 cup
  • Heavy cream – ½ cup
  • Crushed peppermint – ¼ cup (for topping)

The “Cool Mint, No Toothpaste” Baking Ritual

  • Heat oven to 325°F. Grease your springform pan lightly. Wrap the outside in double foil.
  • Mix Oreo crumbs, butter, salt. Press firmly into the bottom using a flat-bottomed cup. Bake 10 minutes. Cool.
  • Beat 2 minutes until glossy. Scrape the bowl and beaters.
  • Add Sugar And Salt. Mix 30 seconds until fully blended.
  • Add Sour Cream, Heavy Cream, Vanilla, Peppermint. Mix on low until smooth.
  • Add Eggs One At A Time. Low speed. Stop mixing as soon as the egg disappears.
  • Fold In Peppermints. Use a spatula, fold gently so you don’t whip in air.
  • Bake In Water Bath. Pour batter into crust. Place in roasting pan. Add hot water halfway up the sides. Bake 65–75 minutes.
  • Cool Slowly. Turn oven off, crack door, cool 1 hour inside. Then cool on counter 1 hour.
  • Chill Overnight. Cover and refrigerate 8–12 hours.
  • Make Ganache. Heat cream until steaming. Pour over chocolate. Sit 2 minutes. Stir glossy. Spread on cheesecake. Sprinkle peppermint.

2. Gingerbread Swirl Cheesecake With Gingersnap Crust

This is the cozy one. Warm spices, molasses depth, and a swirl that makes every slice look like it belongs in a holiday magazine spread.

Ingredients

Crust

  • Gingersnap crumbs – 2 cups
  • Brown sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz
  • Sugar – ¾ cup
  • Brown sugar – ¼ cup
  • Sour cream – ¾ cup
  • Heavy cream – ¼ cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Molasses – 2 tbsp
  • Cinnamon – 1½ tsp
  • Ground ginger – 1 tsp
  • Nutmeg – ¼ tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp

Molasses Swirl

  • Molasses – 2 tbsp
  • Hot water – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon – ½ tsp

The “Spice Shop In Cheesecake Form” Method

  • Bake crust 10 minutes. Cool.
  • Beat cream cheese smooth, then add sugars and salt.
  • Mix in sour cream, cream, vanilla, molasses, spices on low.
  • Add eggs one at a time on low.
  • Mix swirl ingredients until smooth.
  • Pour half batter, drizzle swirl, pour remaining batter, drizzle again.
  • Use a knife for 2–3 gentle figure-eights. Stop before it turns muddy.
  • Water bath bake 65–75 minutes. Cool slowly. Chill overnight.

3. Eggnog Cheesecake With Nutmeg Cloud Whipped Cream

Tasty Christmas Cheesecake Recipes

Eggnog lovers don’t want subtle. They want the taste to hit like a carol sung too loudly. This one delivers—rich, spiced, and perfectly creamy.

Ingredients

Crust

  • Graham cracker crumbs – 2 cups
  • Sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Sour cream – ½ cup
  • Eggnog – ¾ cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Nutmeg – ¾ tsp
  • Cinnamon – ½ tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Rum extract – 1 tsp (optional, but festive)

Whipped Cream

  • Heavy cream – 1 cup
  • Powdered sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Vanilla – 1 tsp
  • Nutmeg – ¼ tsp

The “Eggnog Flavor Without A Watery Cheesecake” Method

  • Reduce Eggnog. Simmer eggnog 6–8 minutes until reduced to about ½ cup. Cool completely. This intensifies flavor and keeps texture thick.
  • Bake crust 10 minutes. Cool.
  • Beat cream cheese smooth, add sugar and salt.
  • Add sour cream, reduced eggnog, vanilla, spices. Mix low.
  • Add eggs one at a time. Stop mixing fast.
  • Water bath bake 65–75 minutes. Cool slowly. Chill overnight.
  • Whip topping and spread before serving. Dust nutmeg like snowfall.

4. Cranberry Orange Cheesecake With Glossy Cranberry Topping

This one is bright, festive, and balanced. Cranberry cuts through richness. Orange makes it feel like a holiday candle—except you’re eating it, which is better.

Ingredients

Crust

  • Vanilla wafer crumbs – 2 cups
  • Sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Sour cream – ¾ cup
  • Heavy cream – ¼ cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Orange zest – 2 tbsp
  • Orange juice – 2 tbsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp

Cranberry Topping

  • Fresh cranberries – 12 oz
  • Sugar – ¾ cup
  • Orange juice – ½ cup
  • Orange zest – 1 tsp
  • Salt – pinch
  • Cornstarch – 1 tsp + water – 1 tbsp (slurry)

The “Tart Jewel Topping” Method

  • Bake crust 10 minutes. Cool.
  • Mix filling with zest and juice, eggs last.
  • Water bath bake 65–75 minutes. Cool slowly. Chill overnight.
  • Simmer cranberries, sugar, juice, zest, salt 8–10 minutes until berries pop.
  • Add cornstarch slurry, cook 1 minute until glossy.
  • Cool topping completely, then spread on chilled cheesecake.

5. Hot Cocoa Cheesecake With Marshmallow Whip And Chocolate Crust

Must have Christmas Cheesecake Recipes

This is the nostalgic one. It tastes like hot chocolate by the tree, but richer, deeper, and absolutely not playing around.

Ingredients

Crust

  • Chocolate wafer crumbs – 2 cups
  • Melted butter – 6 tbsp
  • Salt – ¼ tsp

Filling

  • Cream cheese – 32 oz
  • Sugar – 1 cup
  • Sour cream – ¾ cup
  • Heavy cream – ¼ cup
  • Eggs – 4
  • Vanilla – 2 tsp
  • Cocoa powder – ½ cup
  • Espresso powder – 1 tsp
  • Salt – ½ tsp
  • Mini chocolate chips – ½ cup (fold in)
  • Marshmallow Whip
  • Heavy cream – 1 cup
  • Marshmallow fluff – ½ cup
  • Powdered sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Vanilla – 1 tsp

The “Deep Cocoa, Zero Graininess” Method

  • Bake crust 10 minutes. Cool.
  • Beat cream cheese smooth, add sugar and salt.
  • Mix cocoa and espresso together first, then add. This prevents cocoa clumps.
  • Add sour cream, cream, vanilla. Mix low.
  • Add eggs one at a time, stop mixing quickly.
  • Fold in chips gently.
  • Water bath bake 65–75 minutes. Cool slowly. Chill overnight.
  • Whip topping and spread before serving.

The Cooling And Slicing Routine That Makes You Look Like A Pro

  • Cooling Routine
  • Oven off, door cracked, cool 1 hour
  • Counter cool 1 hour
  • Refrigerate uncovered 1 hour (prevents condensation)
  • Cover and chill overnight
  • Clean Slice Routine
  • Dip knife in hot water
  • Wipe dry
  • Slice
  • Repeat

It’s repetitive. It’s also why your cheesecake slices look like a magazine photo!!!

Christmas desserts should feel like a celebration, not a gamble. These Christmas Cheesecake Recipes give you festive flavors with confident, foolproof technique—so you get smooth, creamy cheesecake that slices clean and makes people ask for the recipe before they even finish chewing.

Bake one, chill it overnight, and enjoy the quiet power of having 5 Christmas Cheesecake Recipes that turn you into the dessert authority of the season.

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