Description
A rich, creamy holiday cheesecake with a buttery graham cracker crust, smooth vanilla filling, and festive red and green swirls the perfect showstopper for your Christmas dessert table.
Ingredients
Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
Red and green gel food coloring
Topping:
Whipped cream
Holiday sprinkles or crushed peppermint (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan.
3. Bake crust for 10 minutes, then cool slightly.
4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
5. Add sugar and mix until combined.
6. Beat in eggs one at a time, scraping the sides as needed.
7. Mix in sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
8. Divide the batter into three portions. Tint one portion red, one green, and leave one plain.
9. Pour the plain batter into the crust, then drop spoonfuls of red and green batter on top.
10. Use a knife to gently swirl the colors for a marbled effect.
11. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until the center is just set and slightly jiggly.
12. Turn off oven, crack the door open, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
13. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
14. Top with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles before serving.
Notes
For a chocolate twist, substitute Oreo crumbs for the crust.
To prevent cracks, bake the cheesecake in a water bath or place a pan of water on the rack below.
This cheesecake freezes beautifully — just wrap tightly and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Add crushed candy canes or chocolate drizzle for extra festive flair.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: Christmas cheesecake, holiday dessert, marbled cheesecake, festive cheesecake, vanilla cheesecake with sprinkles
