Description
This Sugar Cookie Cheesecake combines the buttery, festive flavors of sugar cookies with a creamy, rich cheesecake base. A sugar cookie crust serves as the foundation, topped with festive cookie dough balls baked inside a velvety cream cheese filling, crowned with a luscious white chocolate ganache and colorful Christmas sprinkles. Perfectly indulgent for holiday celebrations, this dessert blends traditional sugar cookie elements with decadent cheesecake for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Sugar Cookie Crust
- 1 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 3/4 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup White granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
- 1 Large egg, room temperature
- 1 Egg yolk, room temperature
- 1/3 cup Christmas sprinkles, jimmies
Cookie Dough Balls
- 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup White granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
- 3 TBSP Milk
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles, jimmies
Cheesecake
- 24 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
- 3/4 cup White granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Sour cream, room temperature or greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup Heavy cream, room temperature
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
- 4 Large eggs, room temperature
- 3/4 Cookie dough balls (from above)
White Chocolate Ganache
- 1 cup White chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup Heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare Sugar Cookie Crust: Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray, line the bottom with parchment paper, and spray again. Bake 1 1/2 cups flour alone on a cookie sheet for 5 minutes; let cool. In a bowl, mix 1 3/4 cup flour, baking soda, and salt. Using a mixer, beat butter and sugar on high for 2 minutes, then add vanilla, egg, and yolk; mix until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix on low, then fold in sprinkles. Press dough evenly across bottom of pan. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden.
- Make Cookie Dough Balls: Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Beat butter and sugar on high for 2 minutes, add vanilla and milk, mix until combined. Add dry mixture and mix on low, then add sprinkles. Roll dough into dime- to nickel-sized balls on wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Freeze until firm.
- Prepare Cheesecake Batter: Preheat oven to 325℉. Start water bath. Beat cream cheese and sugar on high for 2 minutes, scraping bowl halfway through. Add sour cream, heavy cream, and vanilla; mix until smooth. Add eggs, mix on low until combined. Fold in 3/4 of cookie dough balls with spatula.
- Assemble and Bake Cheesecake: Pour batter over crust. Prepare water bath by either: (1) placing springform pan inside 10-inch cake pan, then placing this in a roasting pan filled halfway with hot water, or (2) wrapping springform pan tightly twice in foil and placing it in roasting pan filled halfway with hot water. Bake 80-90 minutes until edges are set and center jiggles slightly. Turn off oven, crack door, cool cheesecake 30 minutes. Remove, cool completely on rack, then chill wrapped for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Make White Chocolate Ganache: Place white chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat heavy cream on medium until steaming, pour over chips. Wait 2 minutes, stir until smooth, microwaving in 20-second intervals if needed. Pour ganache over chilled cheesecake, freeze 10 minutes to set.
- Finish with Toppings: Top cheesecake with remaining cookie dough balls and sprinkles before serving.
Notes
- Using room temperature ingredients helps create a smooth cheesecake batter.
- Freezing cookie dough balls before baking keeps them firm and prevents melting into the batter.
- Water bath helps prevent cracks and promotes even baking.
- Cooling cheesecake gradually reduces cracking and helps set texture.
- White chocolate ganache should be smooth; reheat gently if lumps remain.
- Press the crust only on the bottom; it shouldn’t extend up the sides for this recipe.
- For best results, chill cheesecake overnight before ganache and serving.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: sugar cookie cheesecake, holiday cheesecake, Christmas dessert, cream cheese dessert, festive cheesecake, sugar cookie crust, white chocolate ganache
