45+ Showstopping Holiday Cheesecake Recipes

Updated November 14, 2019
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

There's nothing quite like unveiling a luscious, irresistible cheesecake at the holiday table. Eyes will widen and jaws are sure to drop when you present these showstopping cheesecakes at your next festive fete.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake Recipe

This decadent and beautiful chocolate cheesecake is decorated with plenty of peppermint candies and treats. Just like a delicious peppermint hot chocolate, this dessert takes one of our favorite flavor pairings to the next level.

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Red Velvet-White Chocolate Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Red Velvet-White Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe

This gorgeous, festive cake marries two favorite holiday cake flavors: red velvet and cheesecake. The cake features layers of white chocolate cheesecake alternated with red velvet cake layers, topped with white chocolate frosting and candy "leaves".

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Brown Sugar Cheesecake with Cranberry Compote

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr, Mary Lyn Hill Jenkins

Brown Sugar Cheesecake with Cranberry Compote Recipe

Filled with holiday flavors from crushed gingersnap cookies, brown sugar, fresh cranberries, pears, and cinnamon, this cheesecake deserves a spot at your holiday dessert table.

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Poinsettia Cheesecake

Credit: Ryan Moriarty; Styling: JK Denim

Poinsettia Cheesecake Recipe

Decorate a store-bought cheesecake with red petals made of candy melts for a quick and impressive holiday dessert.

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No-Bake Cheesecake with Pecan Caramel

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

No-Bake Cheesecake with Pecan Caramel Recipe

Since we've nixed the baking (even of the crust), you save tons of time; you don't have to wait for the cheesecake to cool out of the oven. Make the cheesecake up to 3 days ahead, but prepare the caramel shortly before serving. It hardens quickly to a yummy praline-like texture.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake Recipe

Test Kitchen Professional Pam Lolley combined the flavors of three holiday favorites--pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake-- to create this luscious holiday dessert.

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Roasted Sweet-Potato Cheesecake with Maple Cream

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Roasted Sweet-Potato Cheesecake with Maple Cream Recipe

Roasted sweet potato offers a perfect earthy sweetness to show off the flavor combo of cinnamon and nutmeg in this creamy cheesecake. Reviewers gave it 5 stars!

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Cinderella Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Cinderella Cheesecake Recipe

This fairytale dessert is positively enchanting, even Cinderella agrees! A chewy ring of brownie-batter crust folds over creamy and luscious peanut butter cheesecake.

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Chocolate Chunk Candy Cane Cheesecake

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Chocolate Chunk Candy Cane Cheesecake Recipe

Loaded with chocolate chunks and peppermint candies, slathered in a decadent chocolate ganache, and decorated with classic Christmas candies, this cheesecake is a "must-make" for the holidays.

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Pumpkin-Almond Cheesecake

Credit: Levi Brown

Pumpkin-Almond Cheesecake Recipe

Two layers--almond cake and pumpkin cheesecake--are the stars in this showstopping dessert. Garnish with whipped topping and almond brittle to add a special touch to your holiday dessert buffet.

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Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Recipe

Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape featuring a gorgeous white chocolate snowflake in the center. The chocoholics in your family will thank you.

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Vanilla Cheesecake with Cherry Topping

Credit: Oxmoor House

Vanilla Cheesecake with Cherry Topping Recipe

This classic, no-frills cheesecake features a traditional graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and sweet cherry sauce. We use the entire vanilla bean, so none of it is wasted: The seeds flavor the cheesecake, and the bean halves flavor the topping.

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Caramel Apple-Brownie Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Caramel Apple-Brownie Cheesecake Recipe

Combine two of fall's favorite flavors--caramel and applies--in this decadent cheesecake. The crust is an apple brownie, similar to a blonde brownie, but with the addition of chopped apple. Then the creamy cheesecake filling is topped wtih a caramel-apple topping and a rich caramel sauce.

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Orange Ribbon Cheesecake

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Dan Becker

Orange Ribbon Cheesecake Recipe

Add a burst of color to the table and make use of winter's best citrus fruits. This creamy cheesecake has a glistening topping of caramelized, candylike orange slices.

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Dulce de Leche-Pumpkin Cheesecake with Candied Almonds

Credit: Oxmoor House

Dulce de Leche-Pumpkin Cheesecake with Candied Almonds Recipe

Sweet milk caramel, or dulce de leche, takes this decadent cheesecake over the top, while candied almonds add pleasant crunch. Be sure to save room for dessert!

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake Recipe

Chocolate and peanut butter were meant to be. Together, they create a decadent marriage of flavors in this gorgeous, marbled cheesecake.

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Amaretti Cheesecake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Amaretti Cheesecake Recipe

Cheesecake in a slow cooker is a brilliant idea for a heavenly fall dessert. Top with fresh raspberries to complete your sweet treat.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Recipe

Two favorite desserts are blended into one sensational Banana Pudding Cheesecake, perfect for a Southern holiday extravanganza.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Credit: Luca Trovato; Styling: Lynda Hirst

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Like pumpkin pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake is an instant classic, filled with warm spices and good memories. Candied nuts make a delightful topping for this autumnal cheesecake.

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Chocolate-Almond Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Justin Walker; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Chocolate-Almond Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Surprise friends with a batch of Chocolate-Almond Cheesecake Bars.These sweet treats are just as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palette.

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Pumpkin-Orange Cheesecake with Salted Caramel

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Pumpkin-Orange Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Recipe

Pumpkin and chocolate together are surprisingly delicious. The contrast of colors in this cheesecake look beautiful on display, and when guests discover it's topped with salted caramel, they just might lose their minds.

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Caramel-Apple Cheesecake

Credit: Luca Trovato; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Caramel-Apple Cheesecake Recipe

Caramelized apples are artfully arranged on top of this rich and delicious cheesecake for a showstopping fall dessert.

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Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake

Credit: Gentl & Hyers; Styling: Cindy DiPrima

Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Recipe

Think beyond cranberry sauce and use the tart winter fruit in dessert, instead. Garnish the cheesecake with sprigs of mint to complete the Christmas color spectrum.

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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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Pumpkin Toffee Crunch Cheesecake

Credit: Charles Schiller

Pumpkin Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Recipe

Bring Halloween cheer to the dessert table with this too-cute cheesecake. Keep it simple by preparing just about everything for this cake ahead of time.

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Crushed-Peppermint Cheesecake

Credit: Christina Schmidhofer

Crushed-Peppermint Cheesecake Recipe

This peppermint cheesecake features a homemade Oreo cookie crust and crushed peppermint candy topping. It's hard to imagine a more festive holiday dessert.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Credit: Jody Horton; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue Recipe

Begin with a toasted pecan crust, layer with cream cheese and a classic pumpkin filling, and then gild the lily with a creamy Honey Swiss Meringue.

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Caramel-Pear-Cheesecake Trifle

Credit: Chris Court

Caramel-Pear-Cheesecake Trifle Recipe

Skip a step by ditching the crust; instead, layer gingersnap cookies with cheesecake filling, pears, and salted caramel sauce. This decadent trifle is perfect for a party because it can be made a day ahead and it serves a crowd.

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White Chocolate-Cranberry Cheesecake

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

White Chocolate-Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe

A chocolate cookie crust is filled with amaretto-spiked white chocolate cheesecake and topped with a fresh cranberry topping. This over-the-top dessert is perfect for celebrating the holidays with friends and family!

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Snickers Cheesecake

Credit: Kate Sears

Snickers Cheesecake Recipe

This layered dessert recipe starts with an Oreo crust, then a layer of chopped Snickers, then cheesecake batter and, finally, caramel sauce and peanuts. Creamy, sweet, and with a crunchy crust, this cheesecake is a dream dessert.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Lynn Miller

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe

These cheesecake bars aren't meant to just haunt the dessert table at your Halloween party, the memory of their delicious pumpkin flavor will haunt your dreams for nights to come. They're cute, edible, and over-the-top tasty. What more can we say?

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Ginger-Pear Cheesecake

Ginger-Pear Cheesecake Recipe

Gingersnap cookies form the base for this indulgent dessert, full of spicy-sweet crystallized ginger and juicy pears. Garnish with extra crystallized ginger and revel in the holiday cheer.

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Praline-Crusted Cheesecake

Credit: Southern Living

Praline-Crusted Cheesecake Recipe

This top-rated cheesecake is a "masterpiece of pure decadence," according to one reviewer. Find out just how quickly it disappears at your holiday table!

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Cranberry Cheesecake with Cranberry-Orange Sauce

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cranberry Cheesecake with Cranberry-Orange Sauce Recipe

Cut into this fall cheesecake to find a surprising fruit layer on the bottom. Dress it up by pooling sauce on top and garnishing with fresh mint leaves, citrus curls, and sugared cranberries.

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Caramel Apple Cheesecake Tart

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Tart Recipe

It may look like a chore, but this cheesecake tart calls for a relatively straightforward preparation: First, press the crust into the tart pan. Next, mix the cream cheese filling, fill the tart shell, and bake. Finally, gild the pie with sautéed tart apples, and paint them with melted apple jelly for a jewelled effect.

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