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Festive Peppermint Cheesecake with Whipped Cream

A rich and creamy holiday cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust and a peppermint topping, perfect for festive celebrations.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 620
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the crust
  • 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (about 20-25 Oreos)
  • 3 Tbsp salted butter, melted
For the cheesecake filling
  • 3 packages cream cheese, softened (8 oz each)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 bag Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses divided
  • 1 Tbsp milk
  • 1-2 drops red food coloring (optional)
For the whipped topping
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 Tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
For decoration
  • to taste peppermint bark squares

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and unwrap the peppermint kisses.
  2. Crush the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
  3. Bake the crust for 5-7 minutes and set aside to cool.
Filling
  1. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth, then add eggs and mix until combined.
  2. Set aside 1 cup of batter and spread the rest over the cooled crust.
Peppermint Swirl
  1. Heat 30 kisses and milk in the microwave on 50% power until melted, then stir in food coloring into reserved batter.
  2. Spoon the peppermint mixture over the cheesecake and swirl gently with a knife.
Bake and Chill
  1. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is slightly jiggly, then cool slowly in the oven with the door cracked for 20-30 minutes.
  2. Loosen edges with a knife, cool completely at room temperature, and chill before removing springform sides.
Finish and Serve
  1. Once chilled, chop most remaining candy kisses and sprinkle over the top.
  2. Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to stiff peaks, pipe around the cheesecake, and add peppermint bark.

Notes

For the best texture, let cream cheese soften at room temperature before mixing. Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent cracks. Can substitute ingredients for variations.