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!
Chocolate Cheesecake
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.
Butter Pecan Cheesecake
Toasty, buttery pecans turn a classic cheesecake into an even more decadent and rich dessert. Butter pecan is a classic comfort flavor, and it fits perfectly in a creamy cheesecake. Our traditional graham cracker crust gets a little boost with more pecans to really amp up the flavor. Topped off with whipped cream and even more pecans, it's the perfect holiday dessert.
Get the Butter Pecan Cheesecake recipe.
Turtle Cheesecake
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.
Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
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!
Lemon Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
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.
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
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.
Basque Cheesecake
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.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Take your pecan pie to the next level by turning it into a rich and nutty cheesecake! Extra-creamy base + sweet and sticky pecan topping = best Christmas dessert ever.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Cheesecake-Swirled Ghirardelli Brownies
Don’t get us wrong, we love our homemade brownie recipe. When our lives get extra busy though, we appreciate how cutting some corners with a boxed mix can still yield delicious results. Thanks to a Ghirardelli boxed mix, these fabulous semi-homemade cheesecake-swirled brownies come together fast, and you can turn to these whenever a cheesecake or brownie craving hits!
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Peppermint Bark Cheesecake recipe
We love classic New York cheesecake, but the holidays demand something a little fancier. It doesn’t get more festive than everyone’s favorite holiday menu special from The Cheesecake Factory. Peppermint bark meets cheesecake in this minty, chocolate-y epic dessert. Studded with chopped chocolate and candy canes, it tastes just like the real thing.
Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Peppermint Bark Cheesecake recipe.
Easy Cheesecake Recipe
Cheesecake is one of those desserts that's amazingly classic—making one kinda feels like a rite of passage. Use your favorite jam, fresh berries, or a lemon curd for a bright citrusy topping. A chocolate ganache or caramel are always a good idea or get really fancy with a brûléed top, like in our creme brûlée cheesecake!
Get the Easy Cheesecake Recipe recipe.
No-Bake Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
This no-bake cheesecake gets a stunning, swirly topping of blackberries that looks more like art than dessert. The cheesecake is tart and fluffy with the creamiest texture.
Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake
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.
Snickers Cheesecake
This outrageous cheesecake has a creamy milk chocolate center and is topped with plenty of caramel and roasted salted peanuts. Oh, and Snickers, obviously. Hungry? Grab a slice.
Get the Snickers Cheesecake recipe.
Santa Hat Cheesecakes
When Santa makes his list and checks it twice this year, we plan to be right at the top: These mini Santa cheesecake bites are the easiest way to show just how nice you are.
Get the Santa Hat Cheesecakes recipe.
Apple Crisp Cheesecake
One of the best things about this cheesecake? (Besides that caramel drizzle, of course!) Since it's covered in toppings, you can skip the water bath. It might still crack, but no one will care when they're biting into that crunchy oat topping. 😍
Get the Apple Crisp Cheesecake recipe.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Chocolate peanut butter lovers, this cheesecake is for you. This is a rich and creamy peanut butter cheesecake with an Oreo crust and topped with lots of chocolate ganache for a decadent dessert and it's always what we're craving. Go ahead and top with Reese's to drive the theme home. Of all of our cheesecakes, this one is at the top of our list, and we can never put our fork down.
Vegan Cheesecake
This cake is downright magic. A vegan cheesecake that tastes shockingly smooth, creamy, and rich. The secret? Soaked cashews! Cashews are an amazing ingredient that can be used across a variety of recipes, in anything ranging from a sweet & sour stir-fry to super-creamy vegan mac & cheese, and it's no exception here.
Get the Vegan Cheesecake recipe.
Boston Cream Cheesecake
If you love Boston cream pie, prepare to freak out over this cheesecake. Looking for something a little easier to make? Try our Boston Cream poke cake.
Get the Boston Cream Cheesecake recipe.
Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes
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! If you want to make your own eggnog, give ours a try!
Get the Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes recipe.
Taylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more. She was previously a freelance editor on the food team for Good Housekeeping, where she also contributed entertainment and culture pieces as a freelance writer. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and a lifelong love of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, testing out a new pasta recipe, or rewatching one of her favorite shows.
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