Description
This Salted Caramel Cheesecake is decadently creamy and rich, made with a buttery graham cracker crust and smooth cream cheese filling. A drizzle of salted caramel sauce balances sweet and salty flavors, and a slow bake ensures a velvety texture with no cracks. Ideal for make-ahead entertaining, it slices beautifully once fully chilled and stays luscious for days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted
- 16 oz Cream Cheese, very soft at room temperature
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Heavy Cream
- 4 tablespoons Sour Cream
- 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup Homemade or Store-bought Salted Caramel
- 3 Large Eggs, at room temperature
- 1 Large Egg Yolk, at room temperature
- 1 cup Whipped Cream (Homemade or Store-bought)
- 1/4 cup Homemade or Store-bought Salted Caramel (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (162°C). Grease a 6-inch springform pan and set aside.
- In a food processor, crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. In a large bowl, mix the crumbs with sugar and melted butter, then press the mixture into the bottom and slightly up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake for 5 minutes and let cool.
- In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy for 2 minutes. Add sugar and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
- Gradually add heavy cream, sour cream, and salted caramel, mixing until smooth. Add vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the cheesecake batter over the cooled crust. Add a few spoonfuls of salted caramel and swirl using a butter knife for a marbled effect.
- Create a water bath by placing the 6-inch springform pan in a 9-inch cake pan, then place that pan in a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with hot water halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 60-75 minutes, until the center jiggles slightly.
- Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for 1 hour. Then, let it cool on the counter for 45 minutes to an hour. Wrap it in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Once chilled, remove the cheesecake from the springform pan and transfer it to a serving platter. Top with whipped cream and salted caramel before serving.
Notes
- For a gluten-free crust, substitute the graham cracker crumbs with gluten-free crackers.
- To avoid cracks, do not overmix the cheesecake batter and bake in a water bath.
- For an extra touch, drizzle more salted caramel on top just before serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg