This Peppermint Cheesecake With Brownie Crust recipe is perfect for the Christmas holidays. The cool, creamy, peppermint cheesecake is dotted with crunchy bits of peppermint bark and is finished off with a chewy brownie crust.
Although I will continue making apple and pumpkin recipes through the holidays, I am so excited to start adding in peppermint desserts! Christmas candy and decorations are everywhere in the stores and although it seems a bit early, I am looking forward to my favorite holiday of the year. Today I’m sharing Peppermint Cheesecake With Brownie Crust to kick off the baking season!
Before we get to the recipe, I want to share my friend Lindsay’s brand new cookbook: Simply Beautiful Homemade Cakes: Extraordinary Recipes and Easy Decorating Techniques. Even if you aren’t already a follower of Life, Love and Sugar, you’ve seen Lindsay’s gorgeous cakes and desserts all over Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. She is so talented and she is a total sweetheart.
If you are interested in making cakes or know someone who is, this 256-page cookbook is a MUST. There are recipes for icebox cakes, cookie cakes, single layer cakes, cupcakes, layered cakes, ice cream cakes, cheesecakes, and holiday cakes. PLUS, there is a whole section where Lindsay shares all of her tips that take cakes from average to beautiful.
Today’s recipe for Peppermint Cheesecake With Brownie Crust is a based on her Mint Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake recipe from the book. I wanted to make a holiday version of the recipe so I left out the green food coloring and added peppermint bark bits.
How To Make Peppermint Cheesecake With Brownie Crust:
Step One: Make Bark and Cheesecake Filling
I made peppermint swirl bark (find the recipe here) and chopped it up before adding it to the cheesecake filling. If you don’t have any peppermint swirl bark available, you can substitute Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips or chopped candy canes.
Step Two: Make Brownie Crust
First, make the chocolate brownie crust in a 9-inch springform pan. Once the brownie has cooled, line the springform pan with parchment paper to form a collar.
Step Three: Cheesecake
Add the peppermint cheesecake filling and smooth it out. Place the cheesecake in the fridge for 5-6 hours, or until firm. Then, remove the springform pan sides and the parchment paper.
Step Four: Decorate
Pipe whipped cream around the edge of the cheesecake and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Finish off with a sprinkle of chopped peppermint swirl bark or chopped candy canes.
Peppermint Cheesecake FAQs:
Yes, you can! Add as much or as little peppermint as your family prefers.
Yes, wrap with plastic wrap and place in a large zip top freezer bag.
Yes, it would be delicious with just the peppermint cheesecake. If you wanted it to be thicker you could make a double batch.
Minty desserts are popular year round! You can skip the peppermint bark or use sprinkles or other toppings such as mini chocolate chips.
More Chocolate Peppermint Recipes to Enjoy
This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups recipe has chocolate cookie cups filled with peppermint ganache and a candy cane handle topped with crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows.
Three ingredient Peppermint Oreo Fudge has white chocolate chips, peppermint frosting and peppermint Oreos. This Christmas dessert recipe is easy to make.
These Chocolate Peppermint Brownies have a fudgy chocolate brownie base and melt-in-your-mouth peppermint buttercream frosting topped with smooth chocolate mint icing and crushed candy canes.
Chocolate and peppermint are the perfect combination for holiday desserts! This Chocolate Peppermint Torte recipe is a layer cake filled with peppermint cream frosting.
Peppermint Cheesecake With Brownie Crust
Ingredients
Brownie:
- ¾ cup 168 g unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup 207 g sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ¾ cup 98 g all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoon 43 g natural unsweetened cocoa
- powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Cheesecake Filling:
- 16 oz 452 g cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup 104 g sugar
- 1-2 tablespoon 19-38 ml peppermint mint extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup 180 ml heavy whipping cream cold
- ½ cup 58 g powdered sugar
- 1 cup peppermint swirl bark or candy canes, chopped
Whipped Cream:
- ½ cup 120 ml heavy whipping cream cold
- 1 ½ tablespoon 11 g powdered sugar
Garnish:
- Chocolate sauce as needed
- ¼ cup peppermint swirl bark or candy canes, chopped
Tools:
- Piping bag
- Ateco 844 icing tip or Wilton 1M or 2D
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Line the bottom of a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides. Note: if your springform pan leaks, use a 9-inch (23-cm) cake pan so the brownie batter won’t leak out while baking.
- To make the brownie, combine the melted butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and mix until well combined. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Bake the brownie for 22 to 26 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the brownie from the oven and allow it to cool for 3 to 4 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Once the brownie is cool, make the cheesecake filling. In a large mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well combined and smooth. Add the peppermint extract (2 tablespoon for a strong peppermint flavor or use light for a lighter flavor) and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and smooth. Set this mixture aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold one-third of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined. Gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until well combined. Gently fold in the peppermint swirl bark (or candy canes) until evenly distributed.
- Place the brownie back into the 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan. Line the sides with parchment paper that sticks out about 1 inch (3 cm) above the sides of the pan to act as a collar and account for possible overflow. (Note: if you used a regular cake pan for the brownie, it may be a little different size. You can use the same cake pan for the following steps but you’ll want to put a piece of clear plastic wrap in the pan first, followed by a cardboard cake round that the brownie will sit on. You’ll use the clear plastic wrap to lift the cheesecake out of the pan when it’s done.) Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly over the brownie. Refrigerate the cheesecake until firm, about 5 to 6 hours. Once it is firm, remove from the springform pan (or cake pan) and set it on a serving plate.
- To make the whipped cream, whip the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Using the whipped cream, pipe a swirl border around the edge of the cheesecake. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the cheesecake.
- Refrigerate the cheesecake until you are ready to serve. This cheesecake is best eaten within 2 to 3 days but should be fine for 4 to 5 days.
Video
Tracy says
you should put that it’s strong in the description.
Laura says
Is 2 tablespoons of peppermint extract correct? I just tasted the cheesecake mixture after mixing it up, and the peppermint flavor is very strong.
Tonia says
Yes, the peppermint flavor is strong in this dessert. Lindsay said that is how much peppermint needs to be added to hide the cream cheese flavor. If you prefer, you can use less though.
Maggie says
Can you use a brownie box mix? Would 1 box be equivalent to the brownie portion in the recipe?
Tonia says
Yes, that should work well!
Heather says
Can this be frozen?
Tonia says
Hello Heather,
I’ve never tried freezing it so I’m not sure but I believe it would be okay.
Best of luck,
~Tonia
Kate says
Looks delicious! Do you think I could use a square pan and just put the cheesecake filling on top?
Kristin says
Great pie! Looks awesome. But just be prepared and plan because total time from start to finish takes a lot longer than 22 minutes ~ But definitely worth the extra time. Thanks for the recipe!
LJ says
Do you have a recipe for the bark that you mix in? I would love o make this and adding the bark sounds even better than just candy canes!LJ
Tonia says
Hi Laura, I will be posting the bark recipe tomorrow so be sure to stop back! ~Tonia
LJ says
Will do! Thanks!
Sofia :) says
This looks amazing! And THANK YOU so much for adding the measurements in metric/Celsius! I do have American cups and measuring bowls; but the converting of ounces and cups into grams and deciliter does take some time. (Since I often have to translate the recipes into Swedish/Norwegian to share with friends who are not used to cups/American scales and measuring system.) 😊
Kim @ The Baking ChocolaTess says
Tonia, this looks so festive, decadent and delicious! Perfect for Christmas holidays. LOVE!
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
Tonia this looks so amazing! I LOVE the peppermint twist! Perfect for the holidays! Thank you so much for sharing the book! 🙂