White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake is the perfect dessert for your holiday table. You’ll love this silky white chocolate cheesecake topped with whipped white chocolate ganache and jewel-like Cranberries in Red Wine.
To help you plan the perfect holiday dinner the #SundaySupper members are offering our Best Holiday Dessert recipes. Thanks to T.R from Gluten Free Crumbley for hosting today’s event.
Horray for Holiday Desserts!
Of course I was excited when I saw the theme for today’s event. Cause, you know, desserts are my thing! I also knew right away that I wanted to make a dessert that included Cranberries in Red Wine, a dish that shows up on my Thanksgiving and Christmas table every year. Not only are Cranberries in Red Wine a great side dish to the main meal, they’re also a perfect component for festive holiday desserts like my Cranberry Linzer Tart.
I created this White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake especially for this #SundaySupper event, and boy am I glad I did. It’s absolutely delicious, if I do say so myself.
White chocolate ganache before and after whipping.
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest white chocolate fan. In fact, white chocolate is not really chocolate at all since it doesn’t contain any chocolate liquor (that’s the cocoa mass that makes chocolate, chocolate). White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, milk solids, milk fat, vanilla and sugar.
But I do like white chocolate paired with a strong flavor that has some bitterness or acidity to offset the sweetness. I love white chocolate with coffee, citrus fruits and raspberry. Tart cranberries cooked in red wine are the perfect foil for the sweetness of white chocolate cheesecake and white chocolate ganache.
I wish you and yours a sweet holiday season full of love and dessert!
(Find additional hints for cheesecake success here.)
Yields 12-16 slices
30 minPrep Time
60 minCook Time
1 hr, 30 Total Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 6 tablespoons (3 oz , 90g) butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 10 crackers)
- 1/4 cup (2 oz, 60g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 lb (16 oz, 455g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (4 oz, 120g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (8 oz, 230g) sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 oz (230g) white chocolate, melted
- 3 eggs plus 1 yolk, whisked together with a pinch of salt
- 8 oz (230g) white chocolate, chopped very finely
- 1/2 cup (4 oz, 125ml) heavy cream
- 1 Recipe Cranberries in Red Wine
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F convection or 350°F regular
- Line the bottom of a 9" cake pan or springform pan with a parchment paper round
- Combine the cracker crumbs, cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl
- Pour the melted butter over the crumbs and toss to combine
- Dump the crumbs into the cake pan and press into an even layer
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned
- Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and turn off the convection
- (If you're using a spring form pan wrap the pan with aluminum foil to cover the bottom and sides.)
- Combine the softened cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl
- Mix on medium speed to combine the ingredients, scraping the bowl often to avoid lumps
- Once the mix is smooth, add the sour cream and vanilla and mix to combine
- Stir in the white chocolate
- Add the eggs in three stages, scraping well after each addition
- Mix just until the eggs are combined, do not over mix
- Pour the batter into the cake pan, rap the pan on the counter a few times to release air bubbles from the batter
- Set the pan into a sheet pan or roasting pan
- Set the pan into the middle rack of the oven and pour water to come at least 1/2 way up the side of the cake pan
- Bake until the cake softly jiggles as a mass when the pan is shaken
- Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes
- Run a thin sharp knife that has been moistened with warm water around the sides of the cake to release it from the pan (this will prevent the cake from cracking while it cools)
- Refrigerate several hours or overnight.
- Place the finely chopped white chocolate in a bowl
- Heat the cream in the microwave until it is scalding hot
- Immediately pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for 2-3 minutes
- Gently stir the ganache until it comes together and all the bits of white chocolate are melted
- Hold the ganache at room temperature until ready to assemble the cake (this can be done the day before).
- Remove the cold cheesecake from the refrigerator
- If you used a spring form pan run a knife around the edges of the cake and release the pan
- If you used a regular cake pan set the cold cake into a bowl of very hot water for 20-30 seconds to release the sides
- Run a warm knife around the sides of the cake
- Place a plate or cardboard cake circle on top of the cake pan
- Immediately flip the cake over and remove the pan and the parchment circle
- Flip the cake right side up onto a serving plate
- Pour the White Chocolate Ganache into a mixer bowl and whip on medium speed until the ganache is aerated and has lightened in color.
- Immediately spread 3/4 of the ganache over the top of the cheesecake.
- Put the remaining ganache in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe a border of ganache around the edge of the cake. (see note)
- Spread 1.5 cups of the cranberries onto the top of the cake. Reserve remaining cranberries to serve along side the cake or keep for another purpose.
- Keep refrigerated until serving
- To make clean cuts, dip the knife in hot water then wipe clean between each cut.
Notes
If you don't have a piping bag you can build up a border with the spatula while spreading the ganache onto the cheesecake. This border will keep the cranberries from dripping down the sides of the cake.
Cranberries in Red Wine
Gingerbread Scones
Buttermilk Biscuits
Easy Chicken Stock
Cranberry Linzer Tart
Mashed Potato Craisin Bread
Sharpen your sweet tooth and peruse these Best Holiday Dessert recipes by the #SundaySupper group members.
Bars and Cookies
- Frosted Sugar Cookies by Pies and Plots
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Shortbread Bars by Gluten Free Crumbley
- The Best Pecan Pie Bars by Life Tastes Good
Cakes
- Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Clementine Cake with Cranberry Glaze by Caroline’s Cooking
- Coconut Pecan Cake with Coconut Rum Frosting by The Chef Next Door
- Coconut Syrup Cake by Palatable Pastime
- Japanese Sugar Plum Fairy Cupcakes by NinjaBaker.com
- Moms Texas Sheet Cake by My Life Cookbook
- Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Rave Review Coconut Cake by Family Around The Table
- Salted Caramel Mocha Bundt Cake by A Mind “Full” Mom
- Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Spiked Chocolate Eggnog Cake by The Crumby Cupcake
Cheesecakes
- Raspberry Cheesecake by Mindy’s Cooking Obsession
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake by Baking Sense
Drinks
- Pumpkin Patch Cocktail by Wholistic Woman
Pastries
- Black Bottom Oatmeal Pie by This is How I Cook
- Butterscotch Pecan Pie by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- Perfect Plum Pie from Art of the Pie #Giveaway by Sunday Supper Movement
- Pumpkin Spice Mochi by Cricket’s Confections
- Purple Yam-Ube Blueberry Tart by Asian in America
- Swedish Apple Pie Cups with Date Caramel Sauce by Simple and Savory
Puddings and Creams
- Arroz Con Leche with Coconut and Cheese by Basic N Delicious
- Cranberry Apple Croissant Bread Pudding by The Freshman Cook
- Rauhreif – German Apple Dessert by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
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