Best 2 Festive Holiday Cheesecake Recipes

With the holiday season upon us, it's time to start thinking about the perfect dessert to serve at your festive gatherings. A cheesecake is always a popular choice, and there are endless possibilities when it comes to flavors and toppings. Whether you're looking for a classic cheesecake with a graham cracker crust or a more unique flavor like pumpkin or peppermint, there's sure to be a recipe out there that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Let's cook with our recipes!

FESTIVE HOLIDAY CHEESECAKE

Festive Holiday Cheesecake image

Looking for some show-stopping Christmas cheesecake recipes? Look no further! Each slice of this holiday cheesecake is overloaded with fun candy toppings. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 2h

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
FILLING:
4 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
TOPPING:
2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
Optional: Chocolate and vanilla star meringues, chocolate shavings, chocolate curls, candied orange peel, chopped pistachios

Steps:

Place an ungreased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. , In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, pecans and brown sugar; stir in butter. Press onto bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into crust. Place in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. , Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until center is just set and top appears dull. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and sugar until smooth; spoon over hot cheesecake and spread to cover. Bake for 5 minutes longer or until topping is just set. , Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan. If desired, top with optional garnishes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 499 calories, Fat 38g fat (20g saturated fat), Cholesterol 122mg cholesterol, Sodium 285mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (29g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 7g protein.

HOLIDAY CHEESECAKE SQUARES

Holiday Cheesecake Squares image

Make these festive and delicious Holiday Cheesecake Squares from My Food and Family for all of your friends this season! The best things come in small packages, like diamonds...and cheesecake! Top these creamy Holiday Cheesecake Squares with seasonal designs for holiday perfection.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories Baking Ingredients

Time 4h10m

Yield 32 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 Tbsp. sugar
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
suggested decorations: decorating gels, colored sprinkles

Steps:

Heat oven to 350°F.
Mix graham crumbs, butter and 3 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add eggs; mix just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake 30 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours. Cut into bars. Decorate with gels and sprinkles to resemble presents.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 140, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 130 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 2 g

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cheesecake will be. Use full-fat cream cheese, fresh eggs, and pure vanilla extract.
Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature: This will help it mix smoothly with the other ingredients.
Don't overbeat the batter: Overbeating can cause the cheesecake to be dense and crumbly.
Bake the cheesecake in a water bath: This will help prevent the cheesecake from cracking.
Let the cheesecake cool completely before serving: This will help it set properly.

Conclusion:

Cheesecake is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed all year round. With so many different recipes to choose from, there's sure to be a cheesecake that everyone will love. Whether you're looking for a classic New York-style cheesecake or something more unique, you're sure to find a recipe in this article that you'll enjoy. So next time you're in the mood for a sweet treat, give one of these cheesecake recipes a try!