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50 Christmas Cheesecakes That Are Even Better Than Milk & Cookies

Santa approved!

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chocolate peppermint cheesecake
Parker feierbach

What better way to finish your holiday celebrations than with a decadent, festive cheesecake? While we love highlighting classic Christmas cakes in our holiday dessert spread, there's something about a cheesecake that feels a little extra special. We've got more than just cakes—bars, bites, and even dips all showcase the rich flavors and creamy texture of cheesecake we know and love. No matter how you like your cheesecake, we've got a recipe here sure to bring some Christmas cheer to your holiday celebration.

If you're looking for classic Christmas flavors, we've got them: Our chocolate peppermint cheesecake, mini eggnog cheesecakes, and pecan pie cheesecake bring the festive flavors you know and love in creamy cheesecake form. Serving a crowd with a variety of different dietary restrictions? No sweat—our keto cheesecake, vegan cheesecake, and gluten-free cheesecake make planning a party easy as can be, no matter the diet or size of your crew.

Intimidated by that often necessary (but pesky) water bath? We get you. We've got plenty of no-bake recipes that are not only super-easy to whip up, but take half the time of a regular cheesecake. Our no-bake cheesecake is a great base to decorate and customize with whatever festive flair your heart desires, while our Santa hat cheesecakes and no-bake blackberry cheesecake bars make serving up cheesecake for a crowd as easy (and adorable) as can be.

Looking for more? Don't miss our easy no bake holiday desserts for the easiest additions to your dessert spread. Whatever you do, you can't forget the holiday cocktails!

1

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake

red velvet cheesecake cake pin – delishcom
Parker Feierbach

Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: part cheesecake, part red velvet cake. (Head here to learn all about what red velvet cake really is.) The layers get sandwiched together and then frosted all over in a cream cheese frosting into an epic cake that will stun all of your guests.

Get the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake recipe.

2

Santa Hat Cheesecakes

santa hat cheesecake bites vertical
Chelsea Lupkin

When Santa makes his list and checks it twice this year, we plan to be right at the top: These mini Santa hat cheesecake bites are the easiest way to show just how nice you are.

Get the Santa Hat Cheesecakes recipe.

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3

Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake

chocolate peppermint cheesecake
Parker Feierbach

With an Oreo crust and ganache topping, this is one of our favorite cheesecakes to make for Christmas. It's peppermint bark in cheesecake form, and we can't get enough!

Get the Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake recipe.

4

Creamsicle Cheesecake

creamsicle cheesecake
Park Feierbach

Orange and vanilla is one of our favorite flavor combinations, year-round. You too? Try our creamsicle milkshake next.

Get the Creamsicle Cheesecake recipe.

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5

Hot Fudge Cheesecake Bars

hot fudge cheesecake bars
Yossy Arefi

If you love our chocolate cheesecake and want to take it over the top, these are the cheesecake bars for you. They've got everything you love about that classic, PLUS Oreos and a hot fudge drizzle. 😍

Get the Hot Fudge Cheesecake Bars recipe.

6

Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars

lemon cranberry cheesecake bars
Photographer: Erik Bernstein. Food Styling: Makinze Gore.

Tart, tangy, and sweet, these cheesecake bars are sandwiched between a pastry crust that just happens to be super-easy to make (thank you, store-bought crescent roll dough!). Something about the combo tastes like the Entenmann's danishes of our youth, but even better thanks to the sweet and creamy filling.

Get the Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars recipe.

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7

Classic Cheesecake

classic cheesecake sliced on a plate
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cheesecake is one of those desserts that’s amazing, classic… and gets a bad rap for being impossibly difficult to make. From making a graham cracker crust from scratch to setting up a water bath, it can seem pretty involved. We’re here to tell you: Involved doesn’t have to mean difficult!

Get the Classic Cheesecake recipe.

8

Orange Creamsicle Bars

orange creamsicle bars with a graham cracker crust
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These triple-layered orange bars have us feeling all nostalgic for the classic frozen Popsicle treat that inspired them. They’re creamy, dreamy, and the perfect blend of citrusy orange and vanilla bean flavor paired with a graham cracker crust.

Get the Orange Creamsicle Bars recipe.

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9

Chocolate Cheesecake

chocolate cheesecake
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Have you ever wondered what a gooey chocolate brownie paired with cheesecake would taste like? Look no further! This chocolate cheesecake recipe is a chocolate lover’s dream. It’s rich, silky smooth, moist, and almost fudge-like—everything you want in a chocolate dessert.

Get the Chocolate Cheesecake recipe.

10

No-Bake Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake

no baked whipped ricotta cheesecake with vanilla bean and biscoff lemon cookie crust
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

"No-bake" and "whipped" in the same recipe name as "cheesecake"? Sure! The whipped ricotta and mascarpone combination lightened with whipped cream is quite dreamy.

Get the No-Bake Whipped Ricotta Cheesecake recipe.

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11

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

cinnamon roll cheesecake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Love cinnamon rolls? Us too! While we’ve got a couple different hacks and recipes to get our fix (cinnamon roll cookies, anyone?), this is by far the most impressive. We took the decadent breakfast treat and turned it into a cinnamon sugar-filled cheesecake that’s sure to elicit wows.

Get the Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake recipe.

12

Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

lemon meringue cheesecake
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you’re looking for a showstopping, mouthwatering dessert to impress dinner guests, look no further than this lemon meringue cheesecake recipe. The layers of graham cracker crust, creamy cheesecake, bright yellow lemon curd, and a big swoop of toasted meringue will get everyone in a frenzy even before their first bite.

Get the Lemon Meringue Cheesecake recipe.

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13

Cheesecake-Swirled Ghirardelli Brownies

cheesecake swirled ghirardelli brownies
Andrea monzo

We love our homemade brownie recipe, but when our lives get extra busy though, we appreciate how cutting some corners with a boxed mix can still yield delicious results. These fabulous semi-homemade cheesecake-swirled brownies come together fast, and you can turn to them whenever a cheesecake or brownie craving hits!

Get the Cheesecake-Swirled Ghirardelli Brownies recipe.

14

Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes

mini eggnog cheesecakes
Parker Feierbach

Eggnog is one of the best ways we know how to celebrate the holidays so, naturally, we had to turn some into mini cheesecakes. Using gingersnaps for the crust makes these extra easy and makes them taste even more seasonal.

Get the Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes recipe.

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15

Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars

snickerdoodle cheesecake bars
Parker feierbach

Snickerdoodle blondies + creamy cheesecake = MAJOR success. Don't worry if the top of the cheesecake isn't perfectly covered with cookie dough, either—it's meant to be a little bit crumbly. 😉

Get the Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars recipe.

16

Gingerbread Cheesecake

gingerbread cheesecake
Charlie Gillette

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple. That said, no one EVER turns down a slice of cheesecake at our holiday celebrations. This beauty merges the two, for a festive cheesecake worthy of your holiday table.

Get the Gingerbread Cheesecake recipe.

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17

No-Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars

nobake buckeye cheesecake bars
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

These no-bake cheesecake bars might be even easier than OG buckeyes. Instead of individually hand-dipping each one, you get to cut squares of peanut cheesecake with a crunchy chocolate crust and a snappy chocolate top.

Get the No-Bake Buckeye Cheesecake Bars recipe.

18

Turtle Cheesecake

turtle cheesecake
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This rich turtle cheesecake takes its inspiration from turtles, a delicious chocolate candy filled with gooey chewy caramel, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, and crunchy toasted pecans all throughout. This dessert is made for those who love the chewy and crunchy turtle confection and the creamy decadence of cheesecake.

Get the Turtle Cheesecake recipe.

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19

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake

copycat cheesecake factory oreo cheesecake
Joel Goldberg

When it comes to a Cheesecake Factory cheesecake, we don't expect anything less than extreme decadence. With five indulgent layers of chocolate and Oreo, this Oreo dream cheesecake certainly delivers that and more.

Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake recipe.

20

Basque Cheesecake

basque cheesecake
Erik bernstein

Originally created by La Viña Bar in San Sebastian, Spain, the recipe for Basque cheesecake is basically foolproof. Unlike an American-style cheesecake, it's baked without a crust and at a high temperature. This caramelizes the outer layer while the center stays light and creamy.

Get the Basque Cheesecake recipe.

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