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Festive Cranberry Cheesecake

Featured in Sweet treats that make you happy.

This creamy cranberry dessert has layers of tangy jam, smooth cheesecake, and light-as-air white chocolate mousse. Topped with fresh cranberries and chocolate curls, it's sweet, tart, and irresistible. The textures and flavors will make this your holiday go-to!
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Maria from tastyhush
Updated on Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:21:20 GMT
Festive Cranberry Cheesecake Pin it
Festive Cranberry Cheesecake | tastyhush.com

Dig into this Holiday Cranberry Cheesecake that layers sweet vanilla bean, a punchy cranberry jam, and a creamy white chocolate mousse. It’s just right when you want something unforgettable at your holiday get-togethers.

INGREDIENTS

  • White Chocolate Mousse:
    • 8 oz softened cream cheese
    • 8 oz whipped topping
    • 8 oz baking white chocolate bars (use two bars each 4 oz)
  • Cheesecake Base:
    • 1 vanilla bean
    • 2 eggs
    • ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
    • 2 Tbsp corn starch
    • 24 oz cream cheese, let it sit out to soften
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ cup white sugar
    • 2 Tbsp sour cream
  • Cranberry Jam:
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 16 oz cranberries, fresh
    • ½ Tbsp vanilla extract
  • Crust:
    • 5 Tbsp melted butter
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar
    • 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Optional Candied Cranberries:
    • 1½ cups white sugar
    • 1½ cups water
    • 8 oz fresh cranberries
    • ½ cup extra fine sugar (or regular) for rolling

INSTRUCTIONS

Optional Candied Cranberries:
Mix water with sugar. Toss in the cranberries. Chill in the fridge overnight, then coat with sugar just before topping.
Put Together the White Chocolate Mousse:
Melt your white chocolate. Whip it up with the softened cream cheese. Fold in your whipped topping gently then slather over the cooled cranberry layer.
Finish It Off:
Once chilled, spread on the last bit of cranberry jam. Pop it in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Bake the Cheesecake Layer:
Beat the cream cheese and sugar til creamy. Toss in the eggs, vanilla, cornstarch, sour cream, and heavy cream. Add the scraped vanilla bean seeds. Pour it onto the cranberry layer. Set your pan in a water bath and bake at 325°F for just over an hour.
Make the Cranberry Jam:
Stir together your cranberries, sugar, and vanilla. Simmer over medium heat until nice and thick, about 15 minutes. Let it cool down, then swipe half over your chilled crust.
Prep and Bake the Crust:
Blend melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, and brown sugar. Press this into your 9-inch springform. Bake for 10 mins at 325°F. Cool it totally before moving on.

Serving and Storage Tips

  • Chill before digging in—it tastes best that way.
  • Keep leftovers in the fridge in a well-sealed container, up to 5 days.
  • Want clean slices? Use a warm knife and wipe it between each cut.
  • Take it out of the fridge 10 to 15 minutes before serving to let it soften a bit.

VARIATIONS

  • Swap in gingersnaps or chocolate cookies instead of graham crackers for the crust.
  • Add in a bit of orange peel to the cranberry mix for extra zing.
  • Skip the sugared cranberries and try white chocolate curls or cheerful sprinkles on top.
  • Go lighter by using reduced-fat cream cheese and whipped topping.

Cranberry Cheesecake Mousse

Whip up a holiday delight featuring tangy cranberry jam, rich cheesecake layers, and airy white chocolate mousse in every bite.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
60 Minutes
Total Time
80 Minutes
By: Maria

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (1 cheesecake)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1½ cups crushed graham crackers.
02 ¼ cup packed brown sugar.
03 5 tablespoons melted butter.
04 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
05 16 ounces of cranberries, fresh.
06 1 cup plain white sugar.
07 ½ tablespoon vanilla extract.
08 24 ounces cream cheese, let it soften a bit.
09 2 large eggs.
10 2 tablespoons sour cream.
11 ¾ cup heavy cream, whipped.
12 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
13 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.
14 ½ cup granulated sugar.
15 1 vanilla bean, scrape the insides.
16 8 ounces of white chocolate bars for baking (2-4 ounce pieces).
17 8 ounces softened cream cheese.
18 8 ounces whipped topping, like store-bought COOL WHIP.

Instructions

Step 01

Blend together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Stir till it all sticks together. Flatten this evenly into the bottom of the pan, pressing it up halfway on the sides.

Step 02

Put the fresh cranberries, plain sugar, and a small amount of vanilla extract into a pot. Cook it till the berries burst, and the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency.

Step 03

Spoon half the cranberry jam across the prepared crust base.

Step 04

Whip your softened cream cheese with sugar till smooth and creamy. Blend in eggs, sour cream, cornstarch, whipped cream, and a bit of vanilla extract. Scrape out the seeds from the vanilla bean and throw them into the mix. Stir well till totally combined.

Step 05

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the jam layer on the crust. Bake at about 325°F for 50-60 minutes. The edges should be firm, but the center will still jiggle a bit.

Step 06

Let your cheesecake cool completely. Then spread the leftover cranberry jam on top. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for no less than 4 hours.

Step 07

Break the white chocolate into chunks and gently melt it. Use a mixer to beat the cream cheese till it's creamy. Gradually mix in the melted chocolate, and when that's done, fold in the whipped topping until smooth.

Step 08

Spread the mousse across the chilled cheesecake. If you'd like, keep some mousse aside to decorate using a piping tool.

Step 09

Candied cranberries make a great garnish for the chocolate mousse layer if you decide to use them.

Step 10

Want to make candied cranberries? It takes a little time, but they're worth it for a special touch—and extra ones make a great snack.

Notes

  1. To serve, chill the cheesecake for at least 4 hours.
  2. You can get fancy with a piping bag to decorate the mousse on top.
  3. Candied cranberries can add a fun look but aren’t required if you don’t have time.

Tools You'll Need

  • Baking pan.
  • Mixer.
  • Plastic wrap.
  • Flexible spatula.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 28 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 6 g