30 Recipes That Prove Cheesecake Is Worth Making At Home

Updated October 02, 2019
Credit: MarkRussell

There's a reason cheesecake is a classic: it's got a decadence that most other desserts just can't beat, and can make a luscious treat when it's combined with brownies or cut into tangy bars. Top these thick and creamy cheesecakes with fresh fruit, rich chocolate, or even a fun mocha twist, and get ready to hear your guests rave.

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Cookie Butter Cheesecake

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Cookie Butter Cheesecake Recipe

This decadent cheesecake harnesses the addictively toasty power of speculoos cookies in the crust, in a layer of the filling, and in an over-the-top delicious caramel sauce you’re gonna want to pour over everything (we highly suggest you do). Perfect for a holiday gathering or other special occasion, this cookie butter cheesecake recipe is guaranteed to please. We tested using Biscoff cookie butter, but feel free to use your favorite brand of speculoos spread. 

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No-Bake Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake

Credit: Photographer and Food Stylist: Briana Riddock

No-Bake Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake Recipe

Strawberry season is an indicator of two things; it means the sun is out and the oven is off. Take a break from a hot kitchen to make this easy, fresh and stress-free no-bake Nutella flavored cheesecake. The hazelnut spread not only gives the cheesecake a velvety texture and chocolatey taste, but it also helps stabilize the pie to set up a creamy yet firm consistency when chilled. The addition of condensed milk adds a touch of milky sweetness and the lemon juice creates a mellow, zesty flavor that balances the cheesecake’s sweetness. You can prepare the crust a day ahead and also chill cheesecake overnight. This cheesecake will be a hit at any summer event, and it’s a great way to use up the season’s favorite berry.  

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Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake

Credit: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Tina Stamos and Gordon Sawyer Prop Styling: Kay Clark

Instant Pot Salted Caramel-Pecan Cheesecake Recipe

Rich, creamy, and smooth, this cheesecake "bakes" surprisingly well right in the Instant Pot. Drizzle your remaining caramel sauce on top after the dessert cools to make this showstopping cake look as amazing as it tastes. 

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Crushed Peppermint Cheesecake

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Crushed Peppermint Cheesecake Recipe

This peppermint cheesecake features a homemade Oreo cookie crust and crushed peppermint candy topping and is ideal for holiday entertaining.

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Keto Cheesecake

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Keto Cheesecake Recipe

Think the keto diet means you can't have cheesecake? Think again. Our keto-friendly cheesecake gets its sweet notes from erythritol sweetener, which can be found at Whole Foods. 

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The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake

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The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake Recipe

The Cheesecake Factory has more than 30 flavors, but it's the original that makes us swoon. Try this copycat version and enjoy a restaurant favorite in the comfort of your own home.

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Cheesecake Sandwiches

Credit: Hector Sanchez Styling: Caroline Cunningham

Cheesecake Sandwiches Recipe

The oreo sandwich just got some major upgrading. Layers of cream cheese over chocolatey wafers result in a sinful, sweet treat. Top with berries and repeat with 4 more wafers.

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Tangy Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Tangy Lemon Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Classic lemon squares can contain 36g sugar per piece. We put a puckery cheesecake spin on ours--cutting sugar to just 6g per bar--which allows the bright citrus to shine.

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Gingered-Grapefruit Cheesecake

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Gingered-Grapefruit Cheesecake Recipe

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cl-Gingered-Grapefruit Cheesecake image

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Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake

Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake Recipe

Chocoholics are sure to love this ultra-rich cheesecake, which features traditional cheesecake filling sandwiched between a chocolate-pecan brownie base and a thick, homemade chocolate glaze.

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Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

These peppermint cheesecake brownies are an elegant and delicious holiday dessert.

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Lime In Coconut Cheesecake

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Lime In Coconut Cheesecake Recipe

This no-bake key lime cheesecake is served in a halved, fresh coconut for a light, fresh, and fun twist on dessert. If you have trouble finding coconut whipped topping, you can use dairy whipped topping with a drop of coconut extract mixed in. 

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Peanut Butter and Banana Cheesecake with Candied Bacon

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Peanut Butter and Banana Cheesecake with Candied Bacon Recipe

It's a cake fit for a king. 

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Peach-Ricotta Cheesecake with Pecan Crust

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Peach-Ricotta Cheesecake with Pecan Crust Recipe

This silky peach-topped cheesecake is made with another Georgia staple: pecans. For the smoothest texture, make this gluten-free dessert a day in advance and store in the refrigerator before serving.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Credit: Jen Causey, Food Styling: Gordon Sawyer and Tina Stamos, Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Even if you're not a huge pumpkin pie fan, it's hard to pass on a slice of this decadent pumpkin cheesecake. Sweet pumpkin is enhanced with warming spices and brown sugar, and perfectly balanced by the smooth, rich tang of cream cheese. Our pumpkin cheesecake recipe is easy to make, but we can almost guarantee, it'll be the first thing to disappear from the dessert table. 

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Rhubarb Jam Cheesecakes

Credit: Brian Kennedy; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Rhubarb Jam Cheesecakes Recipe

Pull a cake out when you start making dinner, and it'll be ready for dessert. Now that's sweet!

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Orange Cheesecake Brownies

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Orange Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

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Pink Lemonade Meringue Cheesecake

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Emily Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Pink Lemonade Meringue Cheesecake Recipe

This incredible cheesecake says, “special occasion” like no other. With a delightedly salty-sweet, crunchy pretzel crust (which balances its tangy filling perfectly) holding layers of pink lemonade curd and pink lemonade cheesecake, all of which is topped off with a striking pile of meringue, this dessert is nothing short of fabulous. That said, making this cake isn’t nearly as difficult as it appears. Both the filling and crust are made by whizzing together a few ingredients in the food processor. If your crust seems a little crumbly—don’t worry, that’s perfect; it will firm up beautifully after baking and cooling. We find the meringue to be a wow-worthy finishing touch, but if you opted to skip this element, your cheesecake is still going to be delicious. However, if you go all out and pile on the meringue, do note that it will begin to weep if you leave the cake standing out at room temperature for too long. So just be sure to pop any remaining cheesecake back into the fridge when you’re finished slicing and serving. 

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Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Shots

Credit: Lauren Musgrove

Turtle Cheesecake Pudding Shots Recipe

These layered dessert shooters sure aren't your mama's turtle candies.Take everything you love about the turtle flavor combo (caramel, chocolate, and pecan) and mix in Bailey's Irish Cream for a grown-up version of the classic candy treat. Top each shot with all of the chocolate and caramel that your heart desires. 

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Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

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Strawberry Cheesecake Pops

Credit: Jason Varney; Styling: Claire Spollen

Strawberry Cheesecake Pops Recipe

From the land of cream cheese comes this frosty twist on cheesecake.

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Want to be the star of the summer potluck? Make a batch of these crowd-pleasing cookie bars up to two days in advance.

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Pecan Pie Cheesecake

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Pecan Pie Cheesecake Recipe

Combine two of your favorite holiday treats in this rich and delectable dessert. This pecan pie cheesecake recipe produces a dessert worthy of a gourmet bakery, but requires a fraction of the effort. Starting with a store-bought short-cut means you can swap out whatever cheesecake filling you desire, from pumpkin pie to sweet potato pie. No matter who attends your family gathering or holiday party, this pecan pie cheesecake is sure to satisfy all of your guests.

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Chai Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

Chai Swirl Cheesecake Bars Recipe

These eye-catching dessert bars taste like your favorite chai latte, reimagined in cheesecake form. Featuring flavorful swirls of chai-infused cream cheese filling, each bite offers richly aromatic, spiced flavor set against a cool and creamy vanilla cheesecake backdrop. They’re a simple dessert to make, but undeniably impressive. 

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze Recipe

Lemon and ginger make a lively duo, as you’ll see in this bright and tangy cheesecake. The glaze can be made up to two days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Spoon it over the cheesecake just before serving. 

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Mini Coconut-Chai Cheesecakes

Credit: Con Poulos; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Mini Coconut-Chai Cheesecakes Recipe

Whether it’s your classic New York style, key-lime flavored, or chocolate marbled, I’ll gladly eat an entire wheel of cheesecake. Don’t put it past me. But, as we know, this famously rich dessert is heavy on the fat and calories, so it’s not wise for our health to overdo it (*sigh*). That’s why these miniature treats are perfect when you want to indulge, given that they’re muffin-sized. What’s even better is that this cheesecake recipe is infused with an unexpected flavor: chai. Besides coffee (duh!), chai is another favorite year round bevvy, as we enjoy an iced chai latte in summertime or a piping hot chai tea in the colder months. Ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg are beaten into the mixture and help to give it that comforting taste, which balances sweeter ingredients like the Neufchatel cheese and vanilla. A single slice of The Cheesecake Factory's Original Cheesecake contains 707 calories (yikes!), 29 grams of saturated fat, and 62 grams of carbohydrates, but these bite-size cheesecakes only contain 182 calories per serving, 5 grams of saturated fat, and 17 grams of carbohydrates. Perfect as a light finish to any dinner party or when you’re just craving something sweet, these mini coconut chai cheesecakes are the dessert you need in your life.

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Keto Cheesecake

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Keto Cheesecake Recipe

Think the keto diet means you can't have cheesecake? Think again. Our keto-friendly cheesecake gets its sweet notes from erythritol sweetener, which can be found at Whole Foods. 

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Grapefruit Cheesecake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Grapefruit Cheesecake Recipe

A rainbow of in-season grapefruit adds a bright not to this rich, creamy cheesecake. To keep the cheesecake from getting soggy, arrange the citrus on top just before eating. If you have leftover cheesecake, remove the grapefruit and store separately in the refrigerator.

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"Almond Joy" Cheesecake

Credit: MarkRussell

"Almond Joy" Cheesecake Recipe

Taking its cues from the classic candy bar, this cheesecake recipe has cream of coconut added to the cream cheese filling and it's completed with a chocolate-cream of coconut topping and sliced almonds.

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