I think one of the main reasons that I love the holidays is because you get to spend time with family over a meal. Yes, I am a lover of food but a meal just tastes better when you are surround by friends or family. So when it starts to cool down I fire up my oven and cook. Sometimes I make tried and true easy homemade recipes, other times I create something new. For this peppermint cheesecake, it was a completely new recipe for me. I’ve never made a plain cheesecake. Well, not plain. I’ve never made a peppermint cheesecake before. I’m happy to say that now I have, and that I’m glad my mom and husband were around to help me eat it!
When I first had the idea for a peppermint cheesecake I wasn’t sure how the flavors would go together. It turns out that peppermint is a great addition to a basic cheesecake! It was easy to make and it was gone within 2 days. Here is what I used to make it:
- 2 8 oz packages of cream cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red food coloring (optional)
- 5 candy canes crushed for garnish
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup of melted butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Preheat the oven to 300. Spray a springform pan with PAM Cooking Spray. Mix the melted butter, the graham cracker crumbs and the brown sugar together until moist. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan to form the crust. Next, cream the sugar, cream cheese and peppermint extract in a medium mixing bowl. Add the eggs one at at a time and mix until blended. Pour over the crust. Add a few drops of the red food coloring and swirl it around with a toothpick. Bake for one hour. Top with crushed candy candy canes.
When I started baking this cheesecake I was worried that it would stick to the pan. I had tried a new recipe a few weeks ago and it bombed because the top half stayed in the pan. I used PAM Baking Spray and it almost slide off the bottom off the springform pan. I’m also pretty sure that I over baked the cheesecake because the top was brown, but it was so good that it didn’t matter. [I should have taken it out after the timer went off instead of leaving it in the oven. Lesson learned!]
Either way, I would say that my first cheesecake was a success. My mom agreed and my husband ate half of it the next day. I didn’t ask him, but I’m pretty sure he agreed as well.
Peppermint Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 2 8 oz packages of cream cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- Red food coloring (optional)
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup of melted butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
Notes
If you are using a regular pan, bake at 325 or 350.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 3774Cholesterol: 1301mgSodium: 2088mgCarbohydrates: 298gFiber: 2gSugar: 255gProtein: 53g
What is your favorite holiday treat?
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Anji Domejka says
that cheesecake sounds amazing!
Kelley says
Thanks Anji!
Diane Lloyd says
My favorite holiday treat would have to be my sisters homemade caramels!
Kelley says
Hey Diana! You won the giveaway! Can you please email at [email protected]? Congrats and thanks so much!
Sarah {the fontenot four} says
This looks amazing!! My favorite holiday treat is the Scottish shortbread that I’ve been the “designated baker” of since I was probably about 10 years old. It’s simple but it is SO SO good. I only make it during the holidays.
Kelley says
Ohh! That sounds good Sarah! You’ll have to share the recipe!
kelli says
Yum! Looks delicious! That is a hard question to answer, but I love homemade fudge!
paula says
This looks AMAZING!!! FAvorite hoilday treat, is christmas cookies that I make with my son 🙂
Kelley says
Thanks Paula! And fun!
Denise says
I love baking any kind of cookies – with peppermint and usually chocolate included.
Samantha G says
Oh my goodness this is a recipe combining two of my favorite things. My favorite holiday treat is Pineapple casserole. Oh man is it bad for you but delish.
Kristine Foley says
Love me some cheesecake and peppermint! This is right up my ally! YUM! Thanks for sharing Kel!
stacey gibbon says
My favorite holiday treat is pumpkin pie. But it has to have a TON of whipped cream on it.
You’re cheesecake looks great! Thanks for the giveaway <3
Tracy says
Not very exciting, but I really do love pumpkin pie.
Jelli says
Kelley, you’ve been rocking the foodie posts lately. This sounds delicious. I think I’ll hit up my mom for a bottle of peppermint extract for Christmas (it’s hard to find here in Costa Rica) and get my bake on!
Kelley says
Thanks Jelli! I hope you get your hands on some peppermint! You can do so many yummy things with it! 🙂
Bobbie says
My favorite holiday treat is anything people make for me. Ha! 🙂
kelly rae says
my favorite holiday treat is peppermint bark