Description
A festive cranberry cheesecake featuring a buttery crust, creamy cheesecake filling, and a tangy-sweet cranberry topping—perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker or cookie crumbs, 6 tbsp melted butter, 2 tbsp sugar (optional)
Cheesecake Filling: 24 oz full-fat cream cheese (softened), 1 cup sugar, 3 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup sour cream or heavy cream
Cranberry Topping: 2 cups fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup orange juice or water, 1 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Optional Garnish: sugared cranberries, white chocolate curls, whipped cream, orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (150°C). Combine crust ingredients in a bowl and press into a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8–10 minutes or chill until set.
- In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla, then eggs one at a time, mixing gently after each. Stir in sour cream or heavy cream.
- Pour filling into crust. Bake in a water bath for 60–75 minutes, or until edges are set and the center slightly jiggles. Turn off oven and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
- Remove from oven and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- For cranberry topping: In a saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, and orange juice. Simmer over medium heat until cranberries burst and mixture thickens (8–10 minutes). Stir in cornstarch slurry if desired for extra thickness. Cool completely.
- Spread cranberry topping over chilled cheesecake. Garnish with sugared cranberries, whipped cream, or white chocolate curls if desired.
Notes
- For a no-bake version, chill crust instead of baking, fold whipped cream into the cream cheese-sugar mixture, and set overnight in the fridge.
- White chocolate can be folded into the filling for a richer taste.
- Swirl cranberry sauce into the filling before baking for a marbled effect.
- Frozen cranberries can be used—thaw and drain first.
- Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
