Easy Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe (Graham Cracker Crust)

This rich and creamy Cranberry Cheesecake has a delicious buttery graham cracker crust and is the perfect blend of sweet cheesecake and tart cranberries with beautiful holiday colors. It’s the perfect fall and winter dessert and ideal for your holiday dessert table!

My family is pretty traditional in many ways.

And when it comes to our holiday meals, we all have our favorite, must-have items.

One of my sons wants mashed potatoes. Another wants sweet potato casserole. And the third will consider the holiday ruined if he doesn’t get green bean casserole.

I’m not happy unless we have pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie as an option.

But one thing everyone can agree on is that we need a new and creative dish each year.

I bet you already know where I am going with this. 🤣 This Cranberry Cheesecake is going to be the surprise dessert on my table this year!

Now, if you are like me, cheesecakes used to sort of intimidate me…..but not anymore. This recipe is so easy and the best part is that it can be made in advance so you have more time for all the other things that have to be done during the holiday rush.

And for my DIY gifts for neighbors, I’m in a cranberry mood, so I’ll be making my Cranberry Orange Pound Cake.

But I digress. Anyway, this Cranberry Cheesecake will quickly become a favorite for family gatherings and holiday parties!

If you want more amazing creamy cheesecake recipes, try my Easy Raspberry Cheesecake Recipe or Creamy Instant Pot Fresh Berry Cheesecake – they’re perfect for holidays or any time of the year!

Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe Ingredients Needed

• Graham Cracker Crumbs
• Sugar – granulated
• Butter – melted
• Cream Cheese – softened
• Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract
• Eggs – room temperature
• Cranberry Sauce – canned or homemade for the cranberry filling
• Water
• Fresh Cranberries – rinsed

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• 9-inch Springform Pan
• Hand mixer or stand mixer

NOTE: For more recipe details, please refer to the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!

How To Make Cranberry Cheesecake

Step 1 – Make The Simple Graham Cracker Crust

Add the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in a mixing bowl and stir until well incorporated.

Then press the graham cracker crumb mixture into the bottom of the springform pan. Set to the side.

Step 2 – Make The Cheesecake Filling

Add cream cheese, sugar and vanilla to a large bowl. With a mixer or stand mixer on medium speed, mix until blended thoroughly.

Next, add 1 egg at a time while continuing to blend the mixture with the stand or hand mixer.

Step 3

Now pour half of the cream cheese mixture onto the crust in the springform pan.

Step 4

Spoon cranberry sauce over the cream cheese mixture and then use a knife or spatula to swirl it around.

Step 5

Add the remaining cheesecake batter to the springform pan. Use a knife or spatula to smooth the top. Bake cheesecake for approximately 55 minutes.

Step 6

Remove the cheesecake from the oven. Using a sharp knife, run it around the edge of the springform pan. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely.

Step 7

After the cheesecake has been allowed to cool completely, place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours

Step 8 – Make Sugared Cranberries For Topping

Add water and sugar to small saucepan.

Turn to medium heat and stir for approximately 2 – 3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved completely.

Pour cranberries into sugar mix and stir making sure all the cranberries are coated.

Pour coated cranberries onto parchment paper (or use a slotted spoon to pull them out of the syrup and put them on the parchment paper) and allow to cool and dry for at least 1 hour. 

Next, roll the cranberries in the remaining granulated sugar until fully covered. Let dry for at least 1 more hour.

Step 12

Top the cheesecake with the sugared cranberries.

Step 13

Slice, serve and ENJOY!

Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe Notes And Expert Tips

A cranberry cheesecake pie is the perfect holiday dessert. Here are some tips to help make sure that your turns out perfect every time!

• When adding the eggs, do not overmix or beat the mixture to fast. If this happens, too much air will get into the batter and cause the cheesecake to crack. (You will be covering the top with cranberries so it might not matter if it is cracked.)

• Using room temperature ingredients such as the cream cheese, eggs, and butter will make a big (positive) difference in how evenly the cheesecake bakes.

• Cranberry sauce – You can use a canned simple cranberry sauce, whole berry cranberry sauce, or your favorite homemade cranberry sauce in this cheesecake recipe.

• Springform and cheesecake pans work the best when baking any type of cheesecake. These pans make it easy to remove the cheesecake from the pan with little to no damage.

• Pay close attention not to overbake the cheesecake. You will know when it is done when the outer ring of the cheese cake is slightly puffy and the center portion has a slight jiggle.

• Cool slowly to prevent cracking. One way to do this is to turn off the oven and crack open the oven door to let the oven (and your cheesecake) cool down at the same speed.

• If the top of your cheesecake does crack, cover it with sugared cranberries!

Variations Of Cranberry Cheesecake To Try

• Crust – Instead of a graham cracker crust, try making your crust with gingersnap cookies (wouldn’t a gingersnap crust be amazing?), Biscoff cookies, Ritz Crackers, vanilla wafers, animal crackers, or Oreo cookies! A shortbread crust would also be incredible!

• Sauce – Cranberry jam is a great substitution if you don’t love cranberry sauce.

• Change Up The Flavor – This recipe is so versatile that you can swirl in cherries, blueberry jam, or strawberry jam. Use the same technique to sugar the fruit for the top of the cheesecake – use this recipe any time of the year!

• Add More Color – Make some sugared Rosemary leaves to add to the top of the cheesecake for an even more festive appearance.

• Pop of Citrus – Add some citrus flavor by adding a splash of orange juice or a teaspoon of orange zest to the cranberry sauce that goes in the center of the filling.

• Sugar – Swap out the granulated sugar for brown sugar to add another level of flavor.

• Drizzle White Chocolate on top – If you want to elevate this cheesecake to another level (not that you need to!), drizzle some melted white chocolate over the top of the cheesecake and sugared cranberries.

Make Gluten-Free Cranberry Cheesecake

To make this cranberry cheese recipe gluten-free, replace the regular graham crackers with gluten-free graham cracker crumbs.

How To Serve

I’m planning to serve our festive cheesecake with homemade whipped cream.

You could also have some ice cream to put on top. Or some maple syrup drizzled on top could taste amazing!

Storing Cranberry Cheesecake

If you have leftovers (or make your cranberry cheesecake ahead of time), store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 days.

Freezing Instructions

If you want to freeze your cheesecake, I would recommend wrapping it in plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container and placing it in the freezer. Keep it frozen for up to 2 months then thaw overnight in the fridge.

I would not recommend freezing this Cranberry Cheesecake with the sugared cranberries on top because it will change the texture of the cranberries and make them soggy (which will make your cheesecake soggy). Add them after you have removed the cheesecake from the freezer and it is completely thawed.

Cranberry Cheesecake FAQs

More Delectable Desserts To Try

• Best Old-Fashioned Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad
• Cotton Candy Cake (Sweet Birthday Sheet Cake Idea)
• Streusel Apple Cream Cheese Pie
• The BEST Pumpkin Cobbler Recipe
• Apple Pie Bites (Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Cups)

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