Our 25 Favorite Cheesecake Recipes

Mrs. Kostyra's Country Cheesecake
Bryan Gardner

There's no doubt about it: Cheese is one of the most timeless desserts around. The combination of a sweet, buttery graham cracker crust, the cake's luscious texture, and that sweet cheesy flavor is nothing short of spectacular. The basic cheesecake recipe is made with cream cheese, sour cream, egg yolks, sugar, and a touch of lemon juice. While the ingredients required for making a cheesecake are simple, you need a specialty springform pan for baking and easy release. A classic cheesecake recipe bakes for at least two hours, then chills for a minimum of eight hours until it's cold all the way through. Serve a slice as is, or top your pieces with a handful of fresh berries for a pop of color and tart contrast.

Of course, we have dozens of variations on the classic cheesecake recipe. We have flavored iterations such as key lime or chocolate cheesecake, cheesecake served in the form of a tart, sheet cake, or bars, and even no-bake versions that swap the usual egg yolks for other decadent ingredients such as sweetened condensed milk, ricotta cheese, or whipped cream. You could also take a page out of Martha's mother's book and try her recipe for Country Cheesecake, pictured here, which is made with farmer's cheese instead of the usual cream cheese, and a tart dough for the crust made from flour, confectioner's sugar, egg yolks, and sour cream.

Whether you choose to make a classic New York-style bakery cheesecake or enjoy one of our more innovative takes (Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites, anyone?), these cheesecake recipes result in a delightful dessert anytime of the year.

01 of 24

Classic New York-Style Cheesecake

New York Style Cheesecake
Bryan Gardner

This is the fan-favorite cheesecake recipe. Inspired by the very best from New York bakeries, this version features a thick graham cracker crust and a rich filling made with cream cheese, sour cream, egg yolks, and two kinds of sugar.

02 of 24

No-Bake Cheesecake

no-bake cheesecake
Andrea Araiza

There's no need for the oven and water bath or long cook time when you prepare this no-bake version of classic cheesecake. The filling is made with a decadent combination of cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk, which creates a pure white, silky finish.

03 of 24

No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

no-bake ricotta blueberry cheesecake
Alpha Smoot

Cheesecake made in the form of a sheet pan makes dessert preparation so easy. This version, topped with plump, seasonal blueberries and a berry compote, is especially delicious.

04 of 24

Instant Pot Cheesecake

pressure cooker cheesecake with fruit topping
Bryan Gardner

You'll make use of everyone's favorite multi-cooker with this cheesecake recipe. This classic-style of cheesecake bakes on the Pressure Cooker setting for 45 minutes, then chills in a refrigerator for at least two hours.

05 of 24

Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake

round cranberry cheesecake with slice cut
Justin Walker

If you have leftover cranberry sauce from holiday festivities, swirl it into this classic cheesecake recipe that's perfect for celebrating the end of the year.

06 of 24

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crunch Bites
Mike Krautter

Cheesecake doesn't need to be prepared in a springform pan and served in traditional slices. Here, we formed this autumnal recipe in a 9" x 13" baking dish. The pumpkin filling is topped with a crumble made from pecans, butter, flour, and brown sugar.

07 of 24

Cheesecake Babka

cheesecake babka loaf on cutting board
Mike Krautter

Can't decide between serving cheesecake or babka, a sweet braided braid that originated in eastern Europe? Try this recipe that combines two desserts in one amazing recipe. A cream cheese and ricotta cheese mixture—flavored with vanilla and lemon juice—is swirled throughout each layer of the loaf.

08 of 24

Apricot Cheesecake Tart

apricot cheesecake tart martha bakes patterned
Mike Krautter

Who knew that a few dollops of fruit jam—in this case, apricot—could instantly take a basic cheesecake recipe to a sweet next level? We pipe it on top of the cheesecake right before baking.

09 of 24

Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie with Gingersnap Crust

Pumpkin-Cheesecake Pie with Gingersnap Crust
Kate Mathis

Serve this stunning twist on a classic fall dessert for Thanksgiving and no one will miss the usual pumpkin pie. The crust made from gingersnap cookies may just be the most genius thing we've ever created.

10 of 24

Bruléed Vanilla-Bean Cheesecake

bruleed vanilla bean cheesecake
Ngoc Minh Ngo

Crème brûlée, meet cheesecake. In this two-for-one special, cheesecake is baked in a round tart pan, baked, then torched with a mesmerizing swirl of sugar.

11 of 24

No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

no-bake key lime cheesecake
Armando Rafael

Sometimes, it can be hard to satisfy two cravings at once, but that's not the case with this genius pairing of key lime pie and cheesecake, which makes for one epic (and quite tart!) dessert.

12 of 24

Peanut-Butter-and-Jelly Cheesecake Squares

pbj-cheesecake-bars-094-d113040-1.jpg
Bryan Gardner

Who doesn't love peanut butter and jelly? Since we know this combination is so widely beloved, we turned the kid-friendly sandwich into crowd-pleasing cheesecake bars.

13 of 24

No-Bake Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

no-bake-0504-mla100715.jpg

Add a hint of spice to this easy no-bake cheesecake recipe by using gingersnaps instead of the usual graham crackers—once you try it, you'll never go back to your old habits.

14 of 24

Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake

Pumpkin Mousse Cheesecake

This airy cheesecake recipe will instantly transport you to cloud nine. The dessert is comprised of three layers—a graham cracker crust, cheesecake filling, and pumpkin mousse topping.

15 of 24

Carrot Cheesecake with Marzipan Carrots

carrot cheesecake
Anna Williams

Cream-cheese frosting and warm spices, carrot cake's best features, are reimagined as a showstopping cheesecake topped with marzipan carrots.

16 of 24

Margarita Cheesecake

margarita cheesecake
Con Poulos

If you don't feel like mixing cocktails, dole them out by the slice instead. The alcohol bakes out while cooking, so guests of all ages can enjoy this decadent treat.

17 of 24

No-Cook Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake

No-Cook Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake
Andrew Purcell

This berry pretty combination of fruit suits July 4th, but you can use whatever is best at the market—and make this cheesecake whenever you please.

18 of 24

Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake

ed103255_1107_choccheesecak.jpg
David Loftus

Fancy a triple dose of chocolate? There are chocolate wafers in the crust, semi-sweet chocolate in the filling, and a rich chocolate ganache smoothed on top of this super cheesecake.

19 of 24

Rhubarb-Raspberry Cheesecake Squares

rhubarb-cheesecake-md110802.jpg
Con Poulos

Topping cheesecake with shimmering fruit is nothing new, but we spun this one in a fresh direction by swapping out the expected cherries for a rhubarb-raspberry gelee that's a spectacular ruby red color.

20 of 24

Strawberries-and-Cream Cheesecake

strawberry cheesecake
Beatriz Da Costa

Intense oven-roasted strawberries are folded into a blend of tangy mascarpone and cream cheese, then covered with a rich vanilla layer—proof that cheesecake can be both unexpected and delicious.

21 of 24

Ricotta Cheesecake

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With just 15 minutes of prep and no water bath required, this Italian-style recipe is one of our easiest cheesecake recipes.

22 of 24

Maple Cheesecake with Roasted Pears

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Maple syrup flavors this luscious cheesecake inside and out, from the creamy filling to the broiled pears on top.

23 of 24

Gingerbread Cheesecake

gingerbread-cheesecake-mscakes-105-r4.jpg
Sang An

A molasses-gingerbread cookie dough does double duty here; it forms the crust and the cookies that top this charming holiday dessert.

24 of 24

No-Bake Spiderweb Cheesecake

No-Bake Spiderweb Cheesecake

Innocents are snared easily by a ganache spiderweb spun by a gumdrop spider with licorice-string legs. Try a bite, if you dare.

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