Christmas Cheesecake

by Betty Rosbottom

Christmas Cheesecake Recipe

This Christmas Cheesecake by Betty Rosbottom is a holiday showstopper that’s as festive as it is indulgent. Baked in a buttery graham cracker crust and topped with a vibrant cranberry-orange sauce, this rich and creamy cheesecake strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy. With its jewel-toned topping and classic flavor, it’s a stunning centerpiece for your holiday dessert table—and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at every gathering.

Rich, indulgent, and irresistible are words that describe the Christmas cheesecake featured here. From the pecan crust and creamy filling studded with dried fruits soaked in orange liqueur to the sour cream topping, everything about this Christmas Cheesecake dessert is ambrosial. An update of an old family recipe, this cheesecake is perfect to end a special dinner on Christmas Eve or Day.

This delectable dessert comes with many bonuses for holiday cooks. This Christmas Cheesecake can be baked and garnished a day (even two!) ahead and improves in flavor as it rests in the fridge. This Christmas Cheesecake is easily transported in a cake carrier, and it serves 12 to 14 with generous portions. Best of all, this beautiful Christmas Cheesecake looks as if it requires far more work than it actually does. It should definitely bring requests for seconds, if it lasts that long!

Christmas Cheesecake Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 60 minutes

Yield: Serves 12 to 14

Christmas Cheesecake Recipe Ingredients

Christmas Cheesecake Crust:

1 cup finely ground pecans

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup confectioner's sugar

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Christmas Cheesecake Filling and topping:

1/2 cup plus golden raisins, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish

6 tablespoons dried cranberries, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish

1/4 cup finely diced dried apricots, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish

1/4 cup currants, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish

1/3 cup orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier

1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

16 ounces sour cream

3/4 cup sugar

Christmas Cheesecake Recipe Directions

Arrange a rack at center position and preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

For the cheesecake's crust, toss pecans, graham cracker crumbs and confectioners' sugar in a 10-inch springform pan, and pour in the melted butter. Mix with a fork until mixture is thoroughly moistened. Use your fingers to firmly pack mixture evenly on the bottom and halfway up the sides of the pan.

For filling, place 1/2 cup raisins, 6 tablespoons cranberries and 1/4 cup each apricots and currants in a mixing bowl. Cover with orange liqueur and let marinate an hour or longer.

Place cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl and with an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, and beat just until incorporated. Drain the marinated fruits and fold them into the cream cheese mixture. Pour filling into prepared pan. Bake cheesecake until firm, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from the oven but retain oven temperature.

For topping, whisk sour cream and sugar together in a mixing bowl, then with a metal spatula or table knife, spread mixture over the warm cheesecake. Return to oven and bake until topping is set, about 10 minutes.

Remove cheesecake from oven and cool to room temperature. Mix 2 tablespoons each raisins, cranberries, apricots, and currants together, and arrange them as a border on top of the cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 2 days.

Cheesecake, Christmas Cheesecake, Dessert

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The Best Cheesecake Recipe for Christmas and the Holidays

This Christmas Cheesecake by Betty Rosbottom is the ultimate holiday indulgence—ultra-creamy, beautifully balanced, and crowned with a vibrant cranberry-orange topping. Baked in a classic graham cracker crust and finished with jewel-toned fruit, it’s an elegant dessert that delivers festive flair and rich flavor in every slice. Whether you're hosting a big gathering or keeping things cozy, this cheesecake is a showstopping centerpiece for your holiday table