Cheesecakes are the ideal desserts to bring to holiday parties and events where you’re surrounded by the people you love. Nothing brings people together like something sweet, and a big, decadent cheesecake is no exception! Granted, they’re not the quickest or the easiest desserts to make, but they’re so worth it. Plus, when you have the right recipe even the most challenging cheesecakes are achievable. In fact, the thought of making a cheesecake is more daunting than actually making it!
Below, you’ll find 35 amazing cheesecake recipes, from classic cheesecake recipes with different combinations of chocolate and berries to cheesecake-dessert hybrids to baked and no-bake recipes, and even some cheesecake bars for smaller, lighter snacks.
For you bold experimenters out there, we also have some truly unique, and out-there recipes for you to turn your hand to. Like we would with a thick, delicious slice of cheesecake, let’s dive right in!
New York Cheesecake
We have to kick off our list with this legendary cheesecake. The New York cheesecake, of course! Famously rich, smooth, and creamy, what sets New York cheesecake apart from a classic cheesecake is that it’s denser, and heaps creamier.
This recipe in particular is a velvety, rich cheesecake with a classic graham cracker crust, and provides all that you need to make this cheesecake at home. A good starting point if you’ve never made cheesecake before! We’ll leave the toppings up to you.
White Chocolate And Raspberry Cheesecake
This cheesecake is super elegant and would make a great dessert for Christmas dinner. It has a traditional graham cracker crust, topped with a layer of mouthwatering white chocolates combined with raspberries. The topping is made with raspberry sauce, and for extra berry goodness, you can garnish it with even more berries!
Smooth Chocolate Cheesecake
Calling all chocolate lovers! This cheesecake is for you. Creamy, rich, silky, and oh so chocolatey, this cheesecake not only has an Oreo crust but is topped with ganache. You can’t escape the chocolate with this one! Then again, why would you want to?
Lemon And Blueberry Cheesecake
Lemon and blueberry are such a winning combination, especially in cheesecake. With plenty of blueberries, this cheesecake is thick and smooth, with a classic graham cracker crust and a gorgeous lemon batter, topped with homemade blueberry sauce. One bite isn’t enough!
This cheesecake is great to make when blueberries are in season, and the fresh blueberry flavor compliments the tart and sweet lemon perfectly.
Espresso Cheesecake
If you love coffee flavors, you’re going to love this cheesecake! Made with real espresso for a true coffee flavor, this cheesecake also has an Oreo crust and a layer of chocolate ganache to satisfy your chocolate cravings too.
No Bake Cheesecake With Strawberries
No-bake cheesecakes are a great dessert option during a hot summer when you don’t exactly want to turn the oven on. The mascarpone cheese is what gives this cheesecake its delightful texture and cloud-like texture. Plus, it’s topped with sweet, fresh strawberry slices and homemade strawberry sauce. Plus, the mascarpone cheese makes this cake more flavorful, and the strawberry sauce is sure to make an appearance on more of your dessert plates.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
The perfect dessert for Thanksgiving or Christmas, this pecan pie cheesecake is a showstopper. Seriously, can’t you just imagine it as a Thanksgiving centerpiece? The gorgeous pecan crust layered with brown sugar cheesecake mixture and topped with pecans is delicious!
There’s an important distinction to make here. This is undoubtedly a pecan pie cheesecake, and not just a cheesecake with pecans sprinkled on top. This is thanks to the pecan crust flavored with cinnamon, and the cheesecake mixture that doesn’t just feature vanilla and brown sugar but a healthy amount of bourbon and just a touch of cinnamon. But if you’re not a fan of alcoholic desserts, then you can skip the bourbon if you want.
Then there’s the gooey, sticky pecan pie topping! This needs to go on last, to maintain the soft, delicious drip of the gooey caramel sauce. But if you would rather have a firm topping, then just let the cheesecake chill for a bit before adding the topping.
Baileys Cheesecake
Speaking of alcoholic cheesecakes, let’s talk about this boozy Baileys cheesecake! With an Oreo crust, a Baileys flavored filling, and toppings that include chocolate whipped cream and ganache, this indulgent cheesecake is decadent and delicious.
Banana Cream Cheesecake
The perfect family cheesecake, this banana cream cheesecake is packed with banana flavor, from the fresh banana mixture to the banana Bavarian cream topping. The mixture actually calls for banana extract and fresh bananas for that true banana flavor, and the vanilla wafer crust makes for a beautifully delicious cheesecake.
No Bake Oreo Cheesecake
Another cheesecake for the whole family to enjoy, this Oreo cheesecake is rather easy to make without needing to turn on the oven. Oreo works so well in loads of sweet treats, from ice cream to cheesecake, and this recipe starts with an Oreo crust. The crisp cookie crust is then filled with a creamy filling, with more Oreo crunch throughout. The chocolate fudge topping is what makes this cheesecake truly breathtaking.
Honestly, the hardest part about making this cheesecake is waiting for it to set in the fridge!
Key Lime Pie Cheesecake
Another cheesecake twist on a classic dessert, this cheesecake is packed with key lime flavors. This refreshing, citrus cheesecake has a classic graham cracker crust and is topped with whipped cream.
Caramel Apple Blondie Cheesecake
This cheesecake is perfect for when you have some apples lying around and don’t know what to do with them. This is a no-bake caramel cheesecake with delicious apple spice blondie layers. It’s then topped with cinnamon apples and caramel sauce. Is your mouth watering yet?
Baked Raspberry Cheesecake
Packed with raspberry flavors, this baked raspberry cheesecake is easy to make without a water bath and doesn’t require any special tools like a stand mixer. Incredibly rich and creamy, this cheesecake is intense with raspberry flavors and is unbelievably fresh.
Mixed Raspberry Cheesecake
Topped with all your favorite summer berries such as fresh blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, this cheesecake is sure to satisfy your berry cravings. Plus, the red, white, and blue color scheme makes it a great dessert for a July 4th celebration. This cheesecake doesn’t only utilize fresh berries, but a tasty, sweet mixed berry purée. Not only is this purée added to the mixture, but to the crust and slathered on top too.
You’ll probably have some purée left over too, leaving you enough to serve on the side of each slice!
Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Salted caramel is a classic cheesecake flavor, and this cheesecake is packed with this iconic flavor. As well as irresistible caramel, this cheesecake has a touch of vanilla that melts in your mouth. The caramel couldn’t be easier to make. Just melt down sugar before adding butter and then heavy, whipping cream. This makes for a smooth, buttery caramel sauce.
To make the caramel topping sit perfectly on top of the cheesecake, add flour. It’s not a conventional ingredient found in caramel sauce, but without the flour, the caramel will just sink into the cheesecake.
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
With a pretty pink hue, this strawberry cheesecake is the ideal dessert to make for bridal showers, or maybe a birthday party where the birthday girl or boy loves pink! Plus, it’s a no-bake recipe and is pretty easy to make. Even if you don’t like pink but do love strawberries, this cheesecake is for you! Not only does this cheesecake look beautiful, but it doesn’t taste half bad either. It’s sure to wow whoever you make it for!
Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
This cheesecake recipe combines two legendary desserts. The New York cheesecake with the peak cobbler. This is an amazing recipe to try when peaches are in season, as this cheesecake is bursting with fresh, juicy, sweet peaches. Not only can you find peaches in the filling, but in the cobbler element of this cheesecake (naturally), and the juicy peach topping.
No Bake Cherry Cheesecake
A super simple, no-bake cheesecake, you can make this delicious cherry dessert with a few pantry staples. Like the New York cheesecake we mentioned at the beginning of this article, this cherry cheesecake is a great starting point for no-bake cheesecakes, and shows you that cheesecakes are nothing to be afraid of!
Crème Brûlée Cheesecake
For a fancy cheesecake, why not combine it with an elegant crème brulée? Not only does this dessert look beautiful, but it tastes delicious. This hefty, custard-like cheesecake has a gingersnap crust, a touch of vanilla, and a crunch caramel shell topping just like the classic dessert it’s inspired by.
Almond Amaretto Cheesecake
Serve this almond amaretto cheesecake to your friends and family, and they’ll think you picked it up from a fancy bakery! It’s creamy, thick, and flavorful, thanks to the amaretto and the almond extract. The perfect dessert to serve at the end of a dinner party! This decadent, rich cheesecake has a graham cracker crust and a creamy, almond filling, topped with toasted almonds.
No Bake Tiramisu Cheesecake
Tiramisu is a delicious Italian dessert, and its beautiful flavors are only elevated when combined with a no-bake cheesecake. The iconic mascarpone, chocolate, and espresso flavors marry so well with a creamy cheesecake. The ladyfinger crust makes this one divine dessert!
Caramel Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake
Speaking of winning cheesecake combinations, how about a raspberry and chocolate combination? And why not throw caramel into the mix as well? With a chocolate graham cracker crust, and a mixture made of melted chocolate and caramel, can this dessert get any better? Yes, it can! Because it’s topped with fresh raspberries and even more caramel.
his cheesecake is the ideal dessert to make for any special family celebration. This indulgent, luscious, and velvety cheesecake is the perfect, sumptuous treat.
Decadent Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
The bold flavors of this decadent dark chocolate cheesecake are all down to cocoa powder and melted chocolate, making for one rich and ultra-creamy cheesecake. An excellent Thanksgiving centerpiece or Christmas dessert, it’s sure to be gone within minutes!
The melted chocolate is responsible for making this cheesecake stand out, while the cocoa really extenuates the chocolate flavor. To make this chocolate cheesecake look as rich as it tastes, finish it with a chocolate ganache layer spread over the top, and pipe the ganache around the edges too for good measure. Finish with some chocolate shavings and some pieces of dark chocolate, because why not? You need to go all out with a decadent cheesecake like this!
Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake
If you and your family are fans of Nutella, then this is the cheesecake for you! This cheesecake is creamy, rich, and melts in your mouth. Plus, it looks pretty good too!
It’s a no-bake cheesecake that is super rich with a chocolate crust and a velvety smooth filling. There isn’t a more sumptuous combination than chocolate and strawberries, and when featured here, it makes for a truly decadent cheesecake.
Passion Fruit No Bake Cheesecake
Another no-baked delight, this passion fruit cheesecake is ideal for a summer dessert. One bite, and you’ll think you’re in the tropics! The perfect dessert for a garden party or potluck, this cheesecake is sure to be the talk of all your guests. It has a simple, traditional graham cracker cookie crust, a passion fruit cheesecake filling, and is topped with a passion fruit curd.
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Inspired by the Vanilla Bean cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, you might think this homemade version is even better than the original! Not only is this cheesecake kinder to your wallet, but how impressed will your family be when you bring a restaurant favorite to your kitchen table? It has a classic graham cracker crust, a mixture flavored with vanilla beans, and is topped with whipped cream and a white chocolate mousse.
While the recipe does call for vanilla beans, as these are not the most budget-friendly of ingredients, you can swap them out for vanilla extract for the same results. When using vanilla extract, use 1 teaspoon in the cheesecake and mouse, and ½ teaspoon in the whipped cream topping.
Goats Cheese Cheesecake With Figs
Goats cheese in a cheesecake may raise some eyebrows, but this stunning cheesecake with figs, honey, and pistachios is sure to knock your socks off. This cheesecake melts in your mouth, and should definitely be your go-to recipe next time you find yourself with some figs! Not only do figs have a delicate, sweet flavor, but they marry so well with flavorful pistachios and a drizzle of honey.
There’s so much going on with this cheesecake, and it has an immense depth of flavor. The goats’ cheese is tangy with a creaminess we all want from our cheesecakes and is blended into a fluffy, featherlight mixture with honey and lemon zest.
Blackberry Cheesecake Bars
If you have some fresh, juicy blackberries lying around, why not use them to make decadent and delicious cheesecake bars? These bars are creamy, delicious, and with a beautiful blackberry swirl. A generous amount of lemon zest and vanilla bean paste is what gives these cheesecake bars their kick. Meanwhile, blackberry reduction is what gives the blackberry swirl its aromatic flavor.
No Bake Mango Cheesecake
Another excellent summer cheesecake, this wonderful cheesecake is made with juicy, sweet, ripe mangoes and tastes of summer. A no-bake cheesecake, the creamy mousse is packed with mango chunks for a truly refreshing dessert.
No Bake Snickers Cheesecake
Sure to win over your kids – and a perfect birthday cake alternative! – This no-bake Snickers bar cheesecake has a classic graham cracker crust, a creamy chocolate mixture, and is topped with everyone’s favorite chocolate bar. Snickers! Your family will love this fun, delicious cheesecake.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Pumpkin cheesecake bars are a fun, tasty snack to bring to a Halloween party, or can be a whimsical, lighter alternative to pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. Simple to make, these cheesecake bars have a graham crust base, and layers of vanilla cheesecake and pumpkin cheesecake. Not only are cheesecake bars a quicker, easier alternative to a full cheesecake, but they’re a great dessert option for parties. They’re the perfect finger desserts!
No Bake Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
Combining Creamsicle flavors with cheesecake shouldn’t work… but it does! Nothing screams summer quite like this dessert. It’s a no-bake, smooth, rich, creamy, and refreshing cheesecake, with a Nilla Cookies crust and a creamy, orange filling. Plus, it looks dreamy, delicious, and so impressive! It resembles a creamsicle bar but a bit more grown-up.
Lemon Lavender Mascarpone Cheesecake
Another unlikely combination, lemon, and lavender is actually a match made in heaven. This deliciously divine cheesecake is creamy and rich, featuring a graham cracker crust, with a gently flavored filling of subtle lavender and hints of lemon, all topped with whipped cream.
The beautiful crust is made with a smidge more butter than most recipes call for, ½ a cup in fact! This may seem risky, but the results speak for themselves. Not only does this extra butter help the crust stick together better, but it’s one of the highlights of the whole cheesecake.
Rhubarb-Raspberry Cheesecake Squares
A fun, fruity cheesecake that you can’t wait to bite into, these rhubarb-raspberry cheesecake squares are bite-size delights that make for great finger desserts at a party, or a small, delightful dessert at a dinner with friends. Berries on cheesecake is a classic topping, but the addition of rhubarb definitely brings something new to the table.
Your friends and family are certainly going to be asking for more of these sweet treats, and we bet you won’t be able to resist a few more squares yourself!
Margarita Cheesecake
We’re finishing with a boozy cheesecake, and while this may seem like a dessert just for adults, kids can actually enjoy it too! This is because the alcohol in the cheesecake actually evaporates in the oven, so it tastes more like a virgin cocktail. All the tasty cocktail flavors, but without the alcohol! This is the ideal fun dessert to make for a dinner party or a cookout.
Conclusion
We hope the above recipes have opened your eyes to all the potential flavors you can incorporate into your cheesecake, and maybe encouraged you to try out making this classic, creamy dessert! The thought of a cheesecake can be quite intimidating, but so many of these cheesecakes can be made quite easily, and the recipes provide simple, step-by-step instructions, so you’ll always know what you’re doing.
Plus, no-bake cheesecakes or a classic recipe like a New York cheesecake are the perfect places to start your cheesecake-making career.
