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35 To-Die-For Cheesecake Recipes

35 To-Die-For Cheesecake Recipes

By Southern Living Editors

Updated January 20, 2021

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Death by cheesecake isn’t likely—but it wouldn’t be the worst way to go, especially if you’re digging into one of our smooth and creamy cheesecake recipes. We’ve got a cheesecake that’s right for every occasion, whether you’re baking for the holidays, a special dinner party, or just to satisfy a weeknight cheesecake craving. If you're hosting a crowd, we've got big-batch cheesecake recipes or mini cheesecake recipes for easy serving. Take your pick from more than 30 cheesecake recipes including decadent chocolate, tangy lemon, banana pudding, and more. Our easy cheesecake recipes will become staples in your dessert recipe rotation.

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Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes

As pretty as petits fours, these luscious little two-bite gems can be finished with any kind of berry or preserves. Get ahead, and bake the cheesecakes in advance. After baking, they'll freeze up to one month. Thaw and top with preserves and fruit before serving.

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Lemon Bar Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemon Bar Cheesecake

This indulgent recipe marries two delicious desserts: lemon bars and cheesecake. Using a dark springform pan ensures a golden brown crust on this tart dessert recipe without having to bake before adding the filling.

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

This sinfully sweet dessert is the perfect blend of fresh bananas, creamy cheesecake, and crunchy vanilla wafers.

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Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Jim Franco

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape featuring a gorgeous White Chocolate Snowflake in the center.

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

Test Kitchen Professional Pam Lolley combined the flavors of three favorites—pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and cheesecake—to create this luscious holiday dessert.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake

If you love both red velvet cake and cheesecake, this perfect sweet-meets-rich-meets-creamy concoction is bound to be your new favorite dessert.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

We use a mix of chocolate and cinnamon graham cracker crumbs here to give the crust a dark color with notes of chocolate and a little spice. You can choose one or the other, so long as you use 1½ cups total. We also like to give the canned pumpkin a whirl in the food processor so it's nice and smooth in the creamy filling.

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Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

This dreamy cheesecake recipe combines two of our favorite desserts for a beautiful result you can make all year long.

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Oreo Cheesecake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake

This kid-friendly cheesecake recipe uses Oreos in the crust, the filling, and the topping to ensure you get a little Oreo goodness in every bite.

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Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

This ultra-smooth cheesecake recipe comes by its name honestly—we’re still dreaming about it long after our first taste.

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Cheesecake Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

This vintage cookie recipe will be a hit at the Christmas cookie swap.

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Peach-Ricotta Cheesecake with Pecan Crust

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Peach-Ricotta Cheesecake with Pecan Crust

Georgia-favorite peaches and pecans star in this summery cheesecake recipe.

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Cheesecake Tarts

Credit: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Cheesecake Tarts

These single-serve cheesecake tarts are pretty and light for a bridal or baby shower.

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Italian Ricotta Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Italian Ricotta Cheesecake

This swoon-worthy cheesecake recipe first appeared in our November 1995 issue, and it’s remained a reader favorite for decades since.

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Instant Pot Double Chocolate Cheesecake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Instant Pot Double Chocolate Cheesecake

You already know your Instant Pot has dinner covered, but you’ll be blown away by what it can do with dessert.

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Star-Spangled Cheesecake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Star-Spangled Cheesecake

Your Fourth of July party’s finale fireworks can’t compete with this star-studded, big-batch cheesecake recipe.

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Nancy's Passover Cheesecake

Credit: Katie Rousso

Recipe: Nancy’s Passover Cheesecake

During Passover seder, many families expect a week of limited menus, but the Rousso family can’t wait for Nancy’s famous Passover cheesecake.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Credit: Jody Horton

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Your fall and Thanksgiving guests won’t miss the pumpkin pie with this incredible cheesecake tart on the table.

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Grapefruit Cheesecake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Grapefruit Cheesecake

This cheesecake recipe’s beautiful fruit topping should be added just before serving to ensure it doesn’t get soggy.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This dessert sandwiches a dreamy white cake between two red velvet cheesecakes for the most stunning cake you may ever make.

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Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Carrot Cake Cheesecake

This wonderfully spiced cheesecake sits on top of a thick layer of carrot cake for your new favorite way to enjoy carrot cake.

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Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Pecan Pie and cheesecake meet in beautiful harmony with this dessert that we’ll surely be serving at Thanksgiving from now on.

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

If you want to serve cheesecake to your Memorial Day or Fourth of July crowd but a single pie dish won’t feed everyone, these delectable cheesecake bars will do the trick.

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

You can make the glaze for this beautiful holiday dessert up to two days in advance to help with prep time the day of your gathering.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake

Credit: Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake

Our Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake isn't complete without a thick layer of ganache on top to pay homage to its inspiration.

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Butter Pecan Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch, prop styling: Prissy Lee, food styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Butter Pecan Cheesecake

Although the rich butter pecan sauce really steals the show, you’ll be amazed by the silky-smooth texture of this Butter Pecan Cheesecake.

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Toffee S'mores Cheesecake

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Toffee S'mores Cheesecake

Three incredible layers of toffee cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, and golden-brown marshmallows sit atop this classic graham cracker crust, making this dish irresistible to kids and adults alike.

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Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

Recipe: Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake

If pralines are your favorite candy, you’ll love this cheesecake topped with a gooey mixture of bourbon, pecans, and brown sugar. The dark brown sugar gives each layer a deep sweetness, and the bourbon takes it to another level.

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Peach Cobbler Cheesecake

Credit: Photography and Styling: Sarah Epperson

Recipe: Peach Cobbler Cheesecake

Some things are worth waiting for—at the top of that list is our Peach Cobbler Cheesecake.

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Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

Credit: Photography and Styling: Sarah Epperson

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

This creamy cheesecake is nestled in a buttery shortbread crust and surrounded by fluffy lady fingers. Top it with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream to make it even prettier and more delicious.

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35 To-Die-For Cheesecake Recipes

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Petite Blueberry Cheesecakes

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Lemon Bar Cheesecake

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Banana Pudding Cheesecake

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Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

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Pumpkin-Pecan Cheesecake

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

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Pumpkin Cheesecake

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Crème Brûlée Cheesecake

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Oreo Cheesecake

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Dreamy Lemon Cheesecake

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Cheesecake Cookies

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Peach-Ricotta Cheesecake with Pecan Crust

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Cheesecake Tarts

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Italian Ricotta Cheesecake

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Instant Pot Double Chocolate Cheesecake

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Star-Spangled Cheesecake

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Nancy's Passover Cheesecake

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

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Grapefruit Cheesecake

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Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Carrot Cake Cheesecake

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Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cheesecake

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Butter Pecan Cheesecake