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Thanksgiving is coming. It is a time for family, food, and kindness, and to start planning what meal would be the most entertaining.
Finding one that will impress everyone can be tricky since many options exist. A cheesecake can be an excellent option for any occasion — but not all cheesecakes are created equal.
As much as it sounds crazy, we have compiled a list of some of the best Thanksgiving cheesecake recipes that aren’t only delicious but also easy to make in less than an hour.
Some of these are pecan pie cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake, turtle cheesecake, caramel apple cheesecake, crisp apple cheesecake, and many more.
What Is A Cheesecake?
Cheesecake is a sweet dessert with layers —it could be one or more. The base and thickest layer consist of a mixture of soft, fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar.
The bottom layer of cheesecake is often a crust made from crushed cookies, graham crackers, or pastry.
Cheesecake recipes vary by region—different regions have specific recipes for making cheesecakes. For example, in America, we like to make our cheesecakes with more gelatin than in other countries because it adds more moisture to the finished dish.
Also, there are several different cheesecakes, including fruit-based and chocolate-based. Fruit-based cheesecakes tend to be lighter in flavor than chocolate-based ones.
Chocolate-based cheesecakes tend to be sweeter than fruit-based ones, but they can still have a strong flavor if made with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate chips or other types of chocolate.
However, today we’ll only discuss the best Thanksgiving Cheesecake Recipes.
Best Thanksgiving Cheesecake Recipes
1. Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Pecan pie is one of the most iconic desserts in America. It’s a dessert that shows up at every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthday party, and it’s almost always the first thing to go. The reason why this is so popular is that it’s topped with a super-moist crumb crust!
Thus, if you’re looking for something exciting and something that will impress your guests this year, Pecan Pie Cheesecake will still do the trick.
This Cheesecake is made with a crust from graham crackers, cream cheese filling, and pecan pie filling. It looks like any other pecan pie recipe but has a twist: the crust!
The crust will take some practice to perfect, but once you master it, you will never want to return to regular pie crust again.
2. Pumpkin Cheesecake
What’s better than a pumpkin pie? Why, a pumpkin cheesecake, of course!
Thanksgiving is about celebrating with family and friends. And what better way would that be without a slice of sweet pumpkin goodness?
Pumpkin cheesecake is a holiday tradition, and it’s easy to see why: It’s creamy, decadent, and delicious.
Here’s the recipe for the most delightful pumpkin cheesecake you’ll ever make.
- 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup of melted butter
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 cups canned pumpkin (with some spices)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3. Turtle Cheesecake
Turtle Cheesecake is a Thanksgiving favorite. It’s a rich, creamy texture and a smooth caramel topping that melts in your mouth.
The cheesecake also has a sweet and tangy flavor profile that pairs well with the Thanksgiving turkey and cranberries.
The addition of chocolate also gives the cake an edge over others.
Don’t worry. It is simple, but you MUST make it ahead of time if you plan to serve it on Thanksgiving Day.
To make the crust, you need:
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
And the Filling:
- 2 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese softened
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 (3.4-oz.) pkg. instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
- 1/4 cup of chilled chocolate fudge ice cream topping
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping
- And Whipped cream, if desired
4. Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Besides Turtle Cheesecake and Pumpkin Cheesecake which sits predominantly on the Thanksgiving cake hierarchy, is another yet appealing cheesecake to try: The Caramel Apple cheesecake.
This cake is sure to be a hit with your guests! This cheesecake is rich and delicious, with a caramel apple filling to please even the pickiest eaters.
It is one of the most popular desserts on the Thanksgiving table that features a rich cheesecake base filled with caramel sauce and topped with an apple pie crust. It’s a delicious way to end your feast!
Moreover, it’s delicious and easy to make. It tastes like an apple pie without all the hassle of peeling or core-shredding.
5. Apple Crisp Cheesecake
Apple Crisp Cheesecake is a great way to get your kids into the spirit of the day, and it makes for a delicious dessert that everyone can enjoy.
This cake has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and is suitable for Thanksgiving or any time.
The best part about this recipe is that you don’t have to worry about making a pie crust or any other pastry—just use puff pastry dough, and you’re good to go!
The cheesecake uses a simple graham cracker crust made by baking the graham crackers with butter and brown sugar. Then you’ll top them with vanilla pudding and layer them with a crisp apple filling made from apples, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.
6. Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake
Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake is a modern spin on an old classic. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving dessert to serve at your family dinner table.
This recipe is easy to make and tastes like heaven! It’s everything you want in a dessert: rich, creamy vanilla cheesecake with layers of caramel sauce and coffee flavoring that is delicious.
The caramel sauce not only gives the cheesecake its rich color but also adds a sweet flavor that complements the coffee undertone in the cheesecake.
7. Maple Cheesecake
This holiday season, try something with a unique twist on the classic cheesecake: Maple Cheesecake!
You’ll have to try it to believe it. We know it sounds crazy, but we mean it when we say that Maple Cheesecake is better than regular cheesecake.
We’ve known some families who make this cheesecake recipe yearly and have perfected it in their kitchen.
And now we know the secret ingredients (sprinkles!) that make their Maple Cheesecake so unique.
You can choose from several different flavors of sprinkles, but we recommend sticking with the traditional Sugar Cookie flavor.
8. Sweet Potato Cheesecake
Sweet Potato Cheesecake is a no-bake cheesecake made with sweet potatoes as the base. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving, but it’s also great all year round!
This dessert is made with pureed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and cream cheese. You can add some spices, like cinnamon or ginger, to make it more holiday-y. But this recipe will work just fine without them!
You’ll need to let the cake for about an hour before serving. This gives the sweet potato flavor time to develop and become more pronounced. If you make your sweet potato pie filling from scratch, this recipe should only take about 2 hours total from start to finish!
9. Honey Pecan Cheesecake
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to treat yourself to a little something sweet. We’ve got you covered with our Honey Pecan Cheesecake, which will make your family members green with envy.
This cake uses light cream cheese, honey, pecan pie filling, and sweetened condensed milk. It’s also made with a graham cracker crust.
It’s moist, rich, and sweet.
The honey adds a sweetness to each bite, while the walnuts add a bold flavor that makes it perfect for any occasion.
10. Loaded Butterscotch Cheesecake
You can also celebrate the holiday with a delicious, loaded butterscotch cheesecake. This cheesecake will surely be a crowd-pleaser and make your guests smile from ear to ear.
You can even take this recipe to your next party as a dessert or appetizer!
This recipe is filled with rich, creamy chocolate and butterscotch cheesecake filling, topped with a layer of whipped cream frosting, and finished with a drizzle of caramel sauce.
The key to making Loaded Butterscotch Cheesecake at home is using high-quality ingredients.
You’ll need a mix of cream cheese, butter, and sugar and an egg yolk to bind the ingredients together. You can use regular or reduced-fat cream cheese, giving you an extra flavor dose without adding too much fat.
11. Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
These little cheesecakes are so cute that you’d love to share them!
It’s sweet, spicy, and just takes the place of other more traditional Thanksgiving staples. Mini pumpkin cheesecakes are a fun option that can be served alongside your traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The best part about serving mini pumpkin cheesecakes? They’re super easy to make! You only need a few simple ingredients and some time in the kitchen.
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Thanksgiving Cheesecake Recipes
Here's a list of the best Thanksgiving cheesecake recipes that aren’t only delicious but also easy to make in less than an hour.
Ingredients
Directions
- Choose your preferred recipe.
- Get the necessary ingredients.
- Make your own thanksgiving cheesecake recipe at home.
Conclusion
If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving event, why not make a splash with one of the delicious cheesecake recipes mentioned above?
Whether you prefer the ever-popular pumpkin cheesecake or are looking for something different, the collection above can help you make your guests very happy.
I can vouch for Pecan pie and Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake, but it’s up to you.
But anyways, happy Thanksgiving!
