This Cranberry Cheesecake is a showstopping dessert guaranteed to get wild praise and requests for you to be in charge of dessert every year. It’s got a few components, but it’s well worth the effort when you present this stunning Christmas cheesecake piled high with sugared cranberries and hear the oohs and ahhs from your friends & loved ones.
Table of Contents
Our tall & proud Cranberry Cheesecake with white chocolate mousse topping, sugared cranberries & rosemary decoration, and buttery graham cracker crust swirled with homemade cranberry sauce is the most festive dessert of the holiday season!
It involved a few different steps what with making the crust, the cranberry filling, the cheesecake filling, white chocolate mousse for the topping, and candied cranberries for decorating, but none of them are difficult and the whole thing can be made two or three days in advance so you can take your time and not stress.
The best part is that you don’t need to mess around with a tricky water bath to get this beautiful cheesecake to turn out right. I use my favorite pan-of-water-on-the-rack-below trick to mimic a moist environment in a lower temperature oven that helps prevent cracking and makes it so the cheesecake bakes more evenly without sinking in the middle. It’s a game-changer and if you have historically avoided cheesecakes because of intimidating water baths, I’m here to tell you that this method works wonderfully well.
If cranberry is your favorite flavor of the holiday season, be sure to also try our popular Fresh Cranberry Shortbread Bars, Cranberry Orange Bread, and Cranberry Jello Salad!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Cream Cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese for flawless results.
- Graham Crackers – I know some folks think a graham cracker crust is basic, but I love them anyway. Use Biscoff cookies, gingersnaps, or even Oreos if you want to change things up.
- Cranberries – You’ll need fresh or frozen cranberries for the cranberry jam swirl situation (although a jar of canned whole cranberry sauce or leftover homemade cranberry sauce can also work) as well as for the sugared cranberries that are used on top.
- White Chocolate – This is for the white chocolate mousse topping. I really recommend using the best quality white chocolate baking bars you can instead of white chocolate chips, which don’t melt nearly as well.
- Eggs – Let your eggs come to room temperature so they mix in and bake well in the filling.
- Granulated Sugar – Just the right amount to balance the tartness of the cranberries.
- Sour Cream – Adds richness and tang to the cheesecake batter.
- Heavy Cream – I like to add a little to my cheesecake batter, but the rest will be used for the white chocolate mousse to lighten it up.
- Vanilla Extract – If you haven’t tried making your own homemade vanilla extract yet, what are you waiting for?! It’s the best!
- Salted Butter – Helps bind the crust together and gives it a rich, buttery taste.
- Flour – I have found after baking DOZENS of cheesecakes that I get much more consistent, even results when I add just a little bit of flour to my cheesecake batter to stabilize it.
How to Make Cranberry Cheesecake
- Make the cranberry jam. Combine the cranberries and sugar in a medium-size pot over medium heat. Stir frequently while cooking until the cranberries have burst and become sort of mashed and jammy, about 10-15 minutes. Add a couple tablespoons of water if the jam seems like it is sticking to the bottom of the pot too much while cooking. Still in the vanilla extract off the heat, then let the cranberry jam cool completely. You can make this up to 2 weeks ahead and refrigerate it until you are ready to make your cheesecake.
- Make the candied cranberries. I have a whole post on how to make sugared cranberries and rosemary, but the gist of it is that you boil sugar and water together to make a simple syrup. Soak fresh or frozen cranberries in the syrupy liquid, then strain and spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Let them sit out for 1 hour until they are tacky, then toss them with granulated sugar until completely coated. Let them sit out to dry, then store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
- Make the crust. Pulse graham crackers in a large food processor (affiliate link) until finely crushed. Add sugar and melted butter until the graham cracker crumbs are evenly moistened. Press into a 9-inch springform pan, using a flat-bottomed measuring cup or glass to help press the crumbs halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes in a 350°F oven to set the crust, then remove and cool while preparing the filling. Decrease the oven temperature to 325°F.
- Make the filling. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the granulated sugar and flour until creamy and smooth using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add sour cream, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, then beat again, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- Add eggs, one at a time. Start adding the eggs, mixing only on low speed and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl between each addition. Do not overmix the batter or beat it too fast once you start adding the eggs or it can incorporate too much air into the batter and cause the cheesecake to crack.
- Pour batter into crust. Once the eggs have been completely incorporated, pour half of the batter into the prepared crust. Dollop about half of the cranberry jam onto the batter by the spoonful. You might need to stir the cranberry jam first to break it up if it is cold.
- Swirl & repeat. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cranberry mixture into the cheesecake batter. Pour the remaining cheesecake batter over this first layer.
- Layer. Dollop the remaining half of the cranberry jam onto the cheesecake batter, then swirl again with a knife.
- Bake. Transfer the cheesecake to a preheated 325°F oven. Place a large baking pan filled with very hot water on the rack immediately below the cheesecake to create a faux water bath. Bake for 55-60 minutes until just set around the edges but still jiggly in the center.
- Cool. Turn off the oven and crack the door. Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully run a very thin, flexible knife like a paring knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cheesecake from the pan. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for another 20-30 minutes to cool gently before removing to cool the rest of the way at room temperature.
- Chill overnight. Transfer the cooled cheesecake to the fridge to chill for at least 4+ hours or overnight to finish setting up completely.
- Make white chocolate mousse. Start by carefully melting the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on 50% power in 20-30 second bursts. Stir well between each burst of heat until the white chocolate is melted and smooth.
- Combine ingredients. Beat the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, then add the melted white chocolate and mix again.
- Make whipped cream. In another bowl, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- Finish mousse. Add the whipped cream to the white chocolate and cream cheese mixture. Use a large rubber spatula to fold them together until combined.
- Top cheesecake. Remove the fully-chilled cheesecake from the springform pan and transfer it to your cake stand or serving plate. Pile the white chocolate mousse on top of the cheesecake and spread it in an even layer all the way to the edges.
- Decorate. Pile as many sugared cranberries on top of the cheesecake as you would like. I love the sweet-tart bursts with the bites of creamy cheesecake so I use them all, even though I know some will spill off when slicing the cheesecake. Place the sugared rosemary around the edges of the cheesecake like a wreath.
Recipe FAQ’s
Why did my cheesecake crack?
It’s not uncommon for a swirled cheesecake like this to crack somewhat on top, even if you perfectly baked it and didn’t overmix the batter or anything. I feel like it’s just the nature of adding a fruit swirl because it can crack along those lines between the cheesecake and fruit.
That said, the most common causes of cracking in cheese are overbaking, overmixing, and cooling the cheesecake too quickly.
Baking cheesecake for too long or at too high a temperature can cause it to crack. The edges might cook faster than the center, leading to uneven expansion and cracking as it cools.
Also, once you start adding the eggs to the cheesecake batter, you want to avoid overmixing the batter, which adds air to the mixture which can be another cause of cracks.
Finally, rapid temperature changes can shock the cheesecake and cause cracks. For instance, removing it from the oven and placing it in a cold area or exposing it to a draft can lead to cracking, which is why I recommend letting it cool in the oven with the door cracked for the first 30 minutes.
Tips for Success
- Give yourself plenty of time! Cheesecake is not a last minute dessert because the ingredients need to come to room temperature, it has a long bake time, and then it requires an even longer time to cool and then chill completely in the fridge. Start at least a day or two ahead. I feel like cheesecakes taste even better on day 2 or 3 after being made anyway, so these are perfect to make in advance.
- Add spice! I wanted to focus on just cranberry and white chocolate flavors, but cranberries pair beautifully with orange and cinnamon. Add some orange zest and juice to your cranberry jam mixture or stir in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon or other warm spices. Stir even more orange zest into the cheesecake batter for a citrus burst and decorate with orange peel curls instead of candied rosemary!
- Use room temperature ingredients. I pull my cream cheese, eggs, and sour cream out at least a full 1-2 hours before I begin making my cheesecake. It really does make a difference in how evenly the cheesecake will bake.
How to Store Cheesecake
Store the completed cheesecake in the fridge for up to 5-7 days. It should be covered in plastic or kept in an airtight container to avoid any fridge odors.
You can also freeze the cheesecake, either whole or by the slice. If you want to make this ahead of the holidays to have on hand when life gets busier, I recommend baking the cheesecake, letting it cool completely, chill it in the fridge for a few hours, and then wrap it in plastic wrap to protect it. Freeze for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. I like to let the cheesecake sit out on the counter for an hour to have even better flavor.
More Christmas Dessert Recipes
- Santa Hat Brownie Bites
- Gingerbread Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream
- Frosted Eggnog Cookies
- Peppermint Ice Cream
- Chocolate Peppermint Lasagna
Did you make this recipe?
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.
Cranberry Cheesecake
This Cranberry Cheesecake is a showstopping dessert guaranteed to get wild praise and requests for you to be in charge of dessert every year. It's got a few components, but it's well worth the effort when you present this stunning Christmas cheesecake piled high with sugared cranberries and hear the oohs and ahhs from your friends & loved ones.
Ingredients
Cranberry Filling
- 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries (about 3 cups)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Crust
- 2 1/4 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
Cheesecake
- 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
- 1/4 cup heavy cream, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
Mousse
- 1 (4-ounce) bar white chocolate, chopped
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Candied Cranberries & Rosemary
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup water
- 8-10 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
Cranberry Filling
- Combine cranberries, sugar, and water in a medium-size pot over medium heat. Stir frequently while cooking until the cranberries have burst, about 10-15 minutes. Add a couple tablespoons of additional water if the jam seems like it is sticking to the bottom of the pot too much while cooking.1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup water
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool completely before using. You can make this up to 2 weeks ahead and refrigerate it until you are ready to make the cheesecake.1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Sugared Cranberries & Rosemary
- Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat just until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, then add the whole cranberries to the syrupy liquid and let soak for a 1-2 minutes.2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar,, 1 cup water
- Strain cranberries and spread them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a wire rack set over a baking sheet so they aren't touching and can dry somewhat. Add rosemary to the same syrup mixture and let soak for 1-2 minutes, then drain and place on another baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let the cranberries and rosemary sit out for 1-2 hours until tacky, then toss with granulated sugar until completely coated. Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days or use right away.8-10 sprigs fresh rosemary
Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with 3-inch tall sides with a circle of parchment paper.
- Pulse graham crackers in a large food processor (affiliate link) until finely crushed. Add sugar and melted butter until the graham cracker crumbs are evenly moistened.2 ¼ cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 6 Tablespoons salted butter,
- Press into the prepared pan, using a flat-bottomed measuring cup or glass to help press the crumbs halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes to set the crust, then remove and cool while preparing the filling. Decrease the oven temperature to 325°F before proceeding.
Filling
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar and flour until creamy and smooth using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add sour cream, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, then beat again, stopping to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.24 ounces cream cheese,, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ cup sour cream,, ¼ cup heavy cream,, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed and scraping the bottom and sides of the bowl between each addition. Do not overmix the batter or beat it too fast once you start adding the eggs or it can incorporate too much air into the batter and cause the cheesecake to crack.4 large eggs,
- Pour half of the batter into the prepared crust. Dollop about half of the cranberry jam onto the batter by the spoonful. You might need to stir the cranberry jam first to break it up if it is cold.
- Use a butter knife to gently swirl the cranberry mixture into the cheesecake batter. Pour the remaining cheesecake batter over this first layer. Dollop the remaining half of the cranberry jam onto the cheesecake batter, then swirl again with a knife.
- Transfer the cheesecake to a preheated 325°F oven. Place a large baking pan filled with very hot water on the rack immediately below the cheesecake to create a faux water bath. Bake for 55-60 minutes until just set around the edges but still jiggly in the center.
- Turn off the oven and crack the door. Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully run a very thin, flexible knife like a paring knife around the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cheesecake from the pan. Leave the cheesecake in the oven for another 20-30 minutes to cool gently. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let cool the rest of the way at room temperature before refrigerating.
- Transfer the cooled cheesecake to the fridge to chill for at least 4+ hours or overnight to finish setting up completely.
Mousse
- Carefully melting white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on 50% power in 20-30 second bursts. Stir well between each burst of heat until the white chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside.1 (4-ounce) bar white chocolate,
- In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth so there aren't any lumps. Add the melted white chocolate and mix until combined.4 ounces cream cheese,
- In another bowl, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Add the whipped cream to the white chocolate and cream cheese mixture. Use a large rubber spatula to fold them together until combined.½ cup heavy cream, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Remove the fully-chilled cheesecake from the springform pan and transfer it to your cake stand or serving plate. Pile the white chocolate mousse on top of the cheesecake and spread it in an even layer all the way to the edges.
- Place sugared rosemary sprigs in a wreath around the border of the cheesecake and pile as many sugared cranberries on top of the cheesecake as you would like. I love the sweet-tart bursts with the bites of creamy cheesecake so I use them all, even though I know some will spill off when slicing the cheesecake.
Notes
- Storage: Store the completed cheesecake in the fridge for up to 5-7 days. It should be covered in plastic or kept in an airtight container to avoid any fridge odors.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the cheesecake, either whole or by the slice. If you want to make this ahead of the holidays to have on hand when life gets busier, I recommend baking the cheesecake, letting it cool completely, chill it in the fridge for a few hours, and then wrap it in plastic wrap to protect it. Freeze for up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. I like to let the cheesecake sit out on the counter for an hour to have even better flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 715kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 159mg | Sodium: 387mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 73g | Vitamin A: 1467IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1mg
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I made one for my daughter and it turn to be delicious. Thanks
Thank you for this recipe! It wanted to user what was readily available, so Is ended up baking my own shortbread crust, leaving put the sources cream and topping with dark chocolate ganache instead and it still came put stunning. Even my father in law who doesn’t like cake in general had a generous helping!
Hi! If you are making this ahead of time and freezing, would you make the white chocolate mousse layer and add that before freezing or do that part after thawed on the day of eating? Thank you!
Hi! You could do either or. The mousse freezes well so you can add the layer of white chocolate mousse before freezing and it thaws well.
how much water for the filling it doesnt say
Hi, just start with a couple of tablespoons of water and add more if there is some sticking to the bottom of the pan.
You don’t include the amount of water to use in the list of ingredients for the cranberry jam. When I make cranberry jelly I use 1 cup water. Is that the correct amount to use here? I’m looking forward to making this cheesecake,!!
Thank you! I don’t know how I missed that but yes, it’s 1 cup of water. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Instead of water, I use fresh squeezed orange juice. I also put orange peel slices (about three or four, peeled with a potato peeler) and a stick of cinnamon in with the cranberries. Very delicious.
I’m making this delicious looking cheesecake today for Thanksgiving! The recipes here look wonderfully delicious and aesthetically pleasing.
I’ve never baked a cheesecake before but I had a few bags of fresh cranberries and saw the recipe and thought why not?
There are a few steps that go into making the cheesecake but the recipe is written up so well and is super easy to follow that it doesn’t seem to be too much work.
That being said, I presented for Thanksgiving dessert. My guest went wild over just seeing it. It makes a pretty big cake but my guest eat the entire cake in one evening and 6 of them requested the recipe. Thanks for the recipe and I will definitely be making it again and again!
Oh man I love this recipe so much. I really appreciate the time you dedicated to making this. Sounds like it turned out great! I have quite a few cheesecake recipes you can check out!
I made this cheesecake for Thanksgiving dessert. I followed the directions to the t with the exception of the crust and white chocolate. I have food allergies and can’t eat those two items. I used gluten free lemon snaps for the crust but followed the instructions for the crust. When it got to the mousse I followed the instructions omitting the chocolate. The cheesecake was delicious and I will be baking more in the future.
Great! I love the modifications for your food allergies. I’m glad you enjoyed this!
I made this cheesecake for a thanksgiving party and it got compliments from everyone! I’m even making a second one for one of the guests who loved it so much. Fantastic recipe!
Wow that’s great! Thank you so much for making it!
I Made this for a pre christmas potluck. it was easy and DELICOUS! everyone commented on how good it was and how beautiful it looked. I want to make it again for a christmas party, but Id like to try to turn it into mini cheesecakes, by making them in muffin tins. any advice on bake time? or tips?
I’m so glad it was a hit! Yes, you can easily turn this cheesecake into mini cheesecakes and I bet they would be adorable! Bake time should be between 15 to 20 minutes. I have a few other mini cheesecake recipes on the site – peppermint and blueberry – you might want to glance at them because essentially the bake is the same.
Made this for a holiday dessert party. Guests went wild. I made the glazed cranberries several days ahead and the started to weep. I was worried they wouldn’t be good, but I just laid them out on a plate and sprinkled with more coarse sugar and they were fine. Lot of work, but can be made ahead. Will repeat this recipe for my family for Christmas.
Great job! It’s a very impressive dessert!