This Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake is creamy, easy, and loaded with swirls of brown sugar and cinnamon filling in a smooth cheesecake base with a Biscoff cookie crust. It’s definitely a crowd-pleaser!

A slice of cinnamon roll cheesecake on a plate.


Table of Contents
  1. What You’ll Need
  2. How to Make a Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
  3. How to Make an Easy Cheesecake Water Bath
  4. Freezing Cheesecake
  5. Recipe FAQ’s
  6. Tips for Success
  7. How to Store Cheesecake
  8. More Cheesecake Recipes
  9. Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Recipe

The only thing I might love better than a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls is another treat that highlights the warm, spicy flavor of cinnamon. Like my copycat Crumbl cinnamon roll cookies or cinnamon roll waffles. Or this phenomenal cinnamon roll cheesecake.

If a batch of cinnamon rolls and a classic cheesecake had a baby, this is what you would get. It’s got all the classic cinnamon roll flavor in a creamy, dreamy slice of cheesecake. The simple glaze on top is the perfect finish!

We went to Disneyland during the holidays not too long ago and they had mini cinnamon roll cheesecakes at the Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe on Main Street. I immediately fell in love and decided to come home and recreate a full-size version for the blog, along with their raspberry rose macarons and the churro toffee that are my other favorite Disney treats.

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Cream cheese – I highly recommend full-fat cream cheese, although you could get away with neufchatel.
  • Eggs
  • Flour
  • Sour cream
  • Heavy cream
  • Sugar – You’ll need granulated sugar for the cheesecake base and brown sugar for the filling.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salted butter
  • Biscoff cookies – I love the flavor of a Biscoff cookie crust with the cinnamon swirl filling of this cheesecake, but you could also just use gingersnaps, graham crackers, or Nilla wafers if you prefer.
Ingredients for a cinnamon roll cheesecake recipe.

How to Make a Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

There are a few elements that go into making this cinnamon roll cheesecake recipe, but they are actually all easy to make and come together quickly. The longest part is baking and cooling the cheesecake slowly to prevent it from cracking or sinking.

  1. Make the crust. Pulse the Biscoff cookies in a food processor (affiliate link) or a large ziplock bag with a rolling pin until they are fine crumbs. Then combine them with a little granulated sugar and melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
  1. Press into a springform pan. Use a flat-bottomed measuring cup or glass to compact the crust into the bottom and about an inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees F to set the crust.
A biscoff cookie crust in a 9-inch springform pan.

Cinnamon Swirl Filling

  1. Make the cinnamon roll filling. In the same bowl you used for your cookie crust (no sense dirtying another bowl), combine brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and ground cinnamon. Stir until evenly moistened and crumbly. Squeeze a few handfuls together to create larger clumps. Set aside.

Cheesecake Filling

  1. Beat cream cheese until creamy and smooth. Use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese for 1-2 minutes on medium speed until no lumps remain.
  2. Add sugar, sour cream, heavy cream, flour, and vanilla extract. Mix again on medium speed until combined, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
  3. Mix in the eggs on low speed. Switch the mixer to low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl so everything is evenly mixed.

Don’t overmix the cheesecake filling once you start adding the eggs. It adds air to the dense filling, which can lead to cracks in the finished cheesecake.

Assemble and Bake

  1. Alternate layers of cheesecake filling and cinnamon swirl filling. Pour ⅓ of the cheesecake filling into the prepared crust. It doesn’t need to be exact, so you can just eyeball this. Sprinkle ⅓ of the cinnamon swirl filling on top. Repeat two more times so the cinnamon swirl filling is evenly dispersed throughout the cheesecake.
  2. Gently swirl the top layer with a knife. After testing this recipe a few times I found that gently swirling the top layer of cinnamon and cheesecake filling resulted in a smoother top that was better for glazing. There is no need to worry about swirling all the way to the bottom of the cheesecake though.
  1. Bake. You can bake the cheesecake at 325 degrees F without a water bath for 60-70 minutes or with a water bath for 80-90 minutes (more on this below). Either way, when the cheesecake is done, turn off the oven and crack open the oven door slightly to let the cheesecake cool slowly for 30 minutes.
  2. Cool. After 30 minutes, remove the cheesecake from the oven (and water bath, if using) and run a thin, sharp knife around the edges to separate them from the springform pan. Let the cheesecake cool for another 1-2 hours on a wire rack before transferring to the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours to set up completely.
A baked and cooled cinnamon roll cheesecake on a marble cake stand.

Decorate

  1. Make the glaze. To make the glaze, simply whisk powdered sugar with enough milk or heavy cream to thin it out to a nice glaze consistency that drizzles off a spoon or whisk. Spread as much of the glaze as you like in a thin layer over the top of the cheesecake.
  2. Make the whipped cream. Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or using an electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip. I typically use an Ateco 826 or 827 tip or a Wilton 1M or 8B for this kind of piping.
  3. Decorate. Pipe swirls of whipped cream around the top of the cheesecake, then gently dust them with a little cinnamon. Top with mini cinnamon rolls between the mounds of whipped cream, if desired.

How to Make an Easy Cheesecake Water Bath

I found using a water bath for cheesecake to be intimidating and problematic for years until I discovered this easy approach. You just need a 10-inch round cake pan, a 12-inch pan, and some boiling water to make it work.

First, nestle your cheesecake in the 9-inch springform pan into a 10-inch cake pan.

Then nestle the 10-inch pan into the larger 12-inch pan. Heat your water to boiling on the microwave or stovetop, then carefully pour it into the outside ring of the 12-inch pan until it fills the pan about halfway up the sides.

I like this method because you don’t need to worry about wrapping the springform pan with aluminum foil or using an oven bag to protect it from leaks.

A cheesecake in a water bath ready to go into the oven.

Freezing Cheesecake

Cheesecake freezes really well for up to 2 months! You can freeze the whole thing and thaw it later if you are thinking ahead and baking for the holidays. Or freeze just a slice or two for easier thawing and enjoying any time the craving for a slice of cheesecake hits you!

I recommend freezing individual slices on a baking sheet or plate for 3-4 hours until firm, then wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and transferring to an airtight container or resealable freezer-safe bag for longer term storage.

A cinnamon roll cheesecake baked with a biscoff crust and decorated with whipped cream and mini cinnamon rolls.

Recipe FAQ’s

Do I have to use a water bath for cheesecake?

No, definitely not! You can bake almost any cheesecake recipe without a water bath and they are mostly going to turn out really well. The main reasons I recommend using a water bath when baking cheesecake, is for a more even bake and creamy texture, a level top that doesn’t sink or crack as easily, and less browning on top. That doesn’t mean that a cheesecake made without a water bath is bad, it’s just that you might run into some of those issues. It will still taste delicious though!

How long can cheesecake sit out?

I don’t recommend leaving cheesecake out for longer than 2 hours at room temperature. Also, keep in mind that if you decorated it with whipped cream that will start to melt sooner too so if you are going to let it sit out you might want to wait to decorate until shortly before serving.

How do I know when my cheesecake is done?

You can tell a cheesecake is done when you jiggle the pan. The outside edges might be set, but the center should still wiggle quite a bit. If the whole thing seems way too loose and jiggly, then try giving the cheesecake another 10 minutes before checking again.

Tips for Success

  • Let the ingredients come to room temperature. It really does make a difference, especially if you are trying to avoid cracks in your cheesecake. I recommend letting the cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, and heavy cream all sit out for at least 1 hour to come to room temperature before making the cheesecake.
  • Don’t overmix after adding the eggs. The biggest culprit of cracks in cheesecake, besides overbaking, is overmixing the eggs. This can happen by just beating at too high of a speed, or by beating too long.
  • Avoid overbaking. A good cheesecake will jiggle in the middle when it is done. It will continue to set up as it cools slowly in the oven and then even more in the fridge while it chills.
  • Leave the springform pan ring on the cheesecake. Don’t remember the outer ring until after the cheesecake has chilled for at least 4-6 hours in the fridge.
Slices of cinnamon roll cheesecake in front of the rest of the cheesecake on a cake stand in the background.

How to Store Cheesecake

This cheesecake will keep for 5-7 days in the fridge, although the whipped cream might deflate over time. Keep it loosely covered with a piece of plastic wrap.

More Cheesecake Recipes

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Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

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Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

5 from 7 votes
Amy Nash
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cooling and Chilling Time 5 hours
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
This Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake is creamy, easy, and loaded with swirls of brown sugar and cinnamon filling in a smooth cheesecake base with a Biscoff cookie crust. It's definitely a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 2 1/4 cups biscoff cookie crumbs (one 8.8-ounce package or 250g)
  • 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 8 Tablespoons salted butter, melted

Cinnamon Filling

  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup salted butter, melted (8 Tablespoons)

Cheesecake Filling

  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs

Glaze

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-4 Tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Decorating

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Mini cinnamon rolls, for decorating

Instructions
 

Crust

  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Pulse biscoff cookies in a food processor (affiliate link) or crush in a gallon-size ziplock bag until they are fine crumbs. Add sugar and melted butter. Mix until evenly moistened.
  • Press crust mixture into the bottom and an inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes to set the crust.

Cinnamon Filling

  • Combine brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add melted butter and stir until evenly moistened. Set aside.

Cheesecake Filling

  • Beat cream cheese in a large bowl for 1-2 minutes until creamy and smooth.
  • Add sugar, sour cream, heavy cream, flour, and vanilla extract. Beat again on medium-low speed until combined, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl partway through to ensure the eggs mix in evenly.
  • Pour ⅓ of the cheesecake filling into the prepared crust. Crumble ⅓ of the cinnamon filling on top. Pour another third of the cheesecake filling over this, and repeat with another third of the cinnamon filling. Pour the remaining cheesecake filling on top and sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon filling.
  • Place the springform pan inside a 10-inch cake pan. Place both pans into a large roasting pan and carefully transfer to the oven. Fill the roasting pan halfway with boiling water to create a water bath before closing the oven door.
  • Bake for 80-95 minutes just until the edges are set but there is a still a slight jiggle in the center of the cheesecake. Start with the lower amount of time. If the whole cheesecake is too jiggly, continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes before checking again.
  • Once the cheesecake looks done, turn off the oven and leave the oven door slightly ajar so the cheesecake can cool slowly for 30 minutes. Then carefully remove the springform pan from the water bath and let the cheesecake cool completely on a cooling rack for 1-2 hours.
  • Transfer the cooled cheesecake to the fridge and chill for 4-6 hours until completely set. Remove the cheesecake from the springform pan.

Glaze

  • Whisk powdered sugar and heavy cream or milk together in a small bowl, then drizzle over the cooled cheesecake before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Storage: This cheesecake will keep for 5-7 days in the fridge, although the whipped cream might deflate over time. Keep it loosely covered with a piece of plastic wrap.
  • Freezing: You can freeze the entire cheesecake after baking or slice individual slices and wrap them in plastic wrap to freeze individual portions. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 595kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 62g | Vitamin A: 1017IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

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About the author

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

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Reader questions and reviews

  1. Anonymous says:

    5 stars
    I made this last night and let me tell you, it is DELICIOUS. Just the cheesecake though. It doesn’t need anything else on it. I’m glad I didn’t put anything else on it because it is extremely rich and sweet as is!

  2. Donna says:

    I have made this twice in the past two months. My sister says โ€œbetter than sexโ€!
    Incredible! I used windmill cookies because my store did not have biscoff cookies.
    I COULD EAT THIS EVERYDAY.

    1. Amy says:

      Windmill cookies are a great idea! So glad you love this as much as we do!

  3. DAMPA SHAH says:

    I am Vegetarian, can I omit the eggs in the recepie?

    1. Sarah says:

      That really wouldn’t work… It would just become a soupy mess.

  4. MaryLou Grimm says:

    How would I change this recipe to bake it in a 6 x 3 inch pan please? And Thank you!

    1. Amy says:

      6X3 inch pan is just a little bit smaller so you can try just cutting the recipe in half but I must admit I haven’t made this recipe in a 6X3 so can’t guarantee that cutting the recipe in half will provide perfect results! You could also just use the full recipe amounts and see how much you can fit in the pan and just use the leftover ingredients to make mini cheesecakes. Just an idea!

  5. Senthil says:

    Can I add 1/2 tbsp cornstarch to the powdered sugar for the whipped cream recipe?

    1. Amy says:

      Yes you can.

  6. Senthil says:

    Also, for the whipped cream recipe, can I use 1/2 cup powdered sugar + 1 tbsp cornstarch instead of 1/4 cup powdered sugar + 1/2 tbsp cornstarch?

    1. Amy says:

      You can customize it any way you want! If you want a sweeter whipped cream, feel free to add more powdered sugar.