Cranberry Cheesecake: An Easy Holiday Dessert
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Cranberry Cheesecake is a favorite holiday seasonal dessert. It’s stunning on the table, and so deliciously creamy and rich. And really… quite simple!
During the holidays, it’s naturally festive. The combination of cinnamon and orange and cranberries is a time-honored flavor combination everyone loves.
And the sugared cranberries sitting on top? Deceptively easy… and beautiful.
The colors, the sparkle of a rich red cranberry, the smooth richness of a homemade cheesecake and its creamy deliciousness, is simply perfect for this time of the year.
Cranberry Cheesecake: An Easy and Simple Holiday Dessert
- Total Time: 8 hours
- Yield: 8-10 Servings 1x
Description
Cranberry Cheesecake is a favorite holiday seasonal dessert. It’s stunning on the table, and so deliciously creamy and rich. And really… quite simple!
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- Three 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
- 1–1/2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- zest of a large orange
For the Crust:
- 1 sleeve graham crackers, finely crushed (about 1–1/2 cups)
- 5 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Sugared Cranberry Topping
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325-degrees and set aside a 9-inch springform pan (affiliate link).
To Make the Crust:
Mix the finely ground graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until blended. Press into the bottom of the springform pan.
To Make the Filling:
Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together in a stand mixer using a paddle attachment. Add the eggs. one at a time, mixing on low speed until just blended. Add the sour cream and mix again. Pour the filling over the prepared crust.
Bake the cheese in a 325-degree oven for about an hour, or until the center is almost set. Let the cheesecake cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Then run a knife around the pan rim to loosen the cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
Sugared Cranberries:
In a medium saucepot over medium heat, combine water, orange juice, and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Then add the cranberries; toss in the sugar mixture until fully coated. Transfer the cranberries onto parchment paper and let them cool, about 15 minutes. When cool, toss them in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and top the cheesecake.
- Prep Time: 30