Silky Creme Brulee Cheesecake Recipe

Dreamy Silky Creme Brulee Cheesecake Recipe to Wow Guests

Creamy desserts reach new heights with this delectable creme brulee cheesecake that blends classic french custard techniques with rich American cheesecake traditions.

Smooth cream cheese meets caramelized sugar in a delightful dance of textures and flavors.

Each slice promises a luxurious experience that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

The crisp caramelized top cracks beautifully beneath a spoon, revealing a velvety interior that whispers pure indulgence.

Perfectly balanced between elegance and comfort, this dessert transforms an ordinary evening into a gourmet celebration.

Layers of decadent ingredients come together to create a showstopping treat that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Your dinner guests won’t be able to resist this elegant and irresistible dessert masterpiece.

Serve Creme Brulee Cheesecake with Elegance

  • Elegant Dessert Plating: Garnish each slice with a delicate sprinkle of fresh raspberries or strawberries to add bright color and complementary tartness.
  • Creamy Companion Pairing: Serve alongside a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream to enhance the creme brulee cheesecake's rich texture.
  • Sophisticated Beverage Match: Complement the dessert with a sweet dessert wine like Sauternes or a smooth espresso to balance the creamy, caramelized flavors and provide a refined finishing touch.
  • Presentation Perfection: Use a clean, sharp knife dipped in hot water between each slice to create perfectly smooth cuts that showcase the dessert's beautiful layers and caramelized sugar topping.

Store This Cheesecake with Care to Maintain Flavor

  • Store your creme brulee cheesecake tightly wrapped in plastic film or sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep away from strong-smelling foods to maintain its delicate flavor profile.
  • Carefully wrap individual slices or whole cheesecake in multiple layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving to maintain texture and taste quality.
  • Prepare the entire cheesecake up to 2 days before your event. Keep unblemished in refrigerator, adding caramelized sugar topping just before serving to ensure perfect crispy texture and fresh presentation.
  • Remove cheesecake from refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving. This slight warming allows flavors to bloom and creates a smoother, more luxurious eating experience. Slice with a clean, hot knife for perfect, clean cuts.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 9

What’s Inside Creme Brulee Cheesecake

For Crust:
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs: Provides a classic, crunchy foundation with rich buttery undertones perfect for cheesecake base.
  • Sugar: Enhances sweetness and helps bind the crust ingredients together.
  • Melted Butter: Creates a cohesive texture and adds rich flavor to the crust.
For Filling:
  • Cream Cheese: The primary creamy component that gives cheesecake its signature smooth and rich texture.
  • Sugar: Balances and sweetens the tangy cream cheese base.
  • Sour Cream: Adds moisture, tang, and helps create a silky, luxurious filling.
  • Vanilla: Provides warm, aromatic depth and enhances overall flavor profile.
  • Eggs: Bind the filling, provide structure, and contribute to the creamy consistency.
For Caramelized Topping:
  • Granulated Sugar: Creates the signature crisp, golden caramel layer that defines creme brulee's classic crackable top.

Tools to Craft the Layers in Creme Brulee Cheesecake

  • Stand mixer or hand mixer: Essential for beating cream cheese smooth and mixing ingredients thoroughly.
  • 9-inch springform pan: Crucial for creating and removing the cheesecake easily.
  • Roasting pan: Needed for creating water bath during baking.
  • Kitchen torch: Perfect for caramelizing sugar topping and creating crisp brulee layer.
  • Aluminum foil: Used to wrap springform pan exterior for water bath protection.
  • Large mixing bowl: Necessary for combining cheesecake filling ingredients.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Important for accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Whisk or spatula: Helpful for mixing and scraping ingredients evenly.

How to Bake Creme Brulee Cheesecake Without Fuss

  • Craft the Crispy Base

Create a delectable foundation by crushing graham crackers and blending with melted butter. Press the mixture firmly into a springform pan, then quickly bake until lightly golden.

  • Whip the Creamy Filling

Beat cream cheese until silky smooth, gradually incorporating sugar, sour cream, and vanilla. Gently fold in eggs one by one, ensuring a luxurious, velvety texture.

  • Prepare the Water Bath

Place the cheesecake pan inside a larger roasting dish, surrounding it with hot water to ensure even, gentle baking. This technique prevents cracking and maintains a perfect, custardy consistency.

  • Bake with Precision

Slide the pan into a preheated oven at 325F. Allow the cheesecake to bake until the center is just set but still slightly wobbly, approximately 50-60 minutes.

  • Create the Signature Crunch

After chilling completely, sprinkle a thin, even layer of sugar across the top. Use a kitchen torch to transform the sugar into a beautiful, crackling golden crust that shatters with each spoonful.

  • Serve and Savor

Carefully slice the cheesecake and present this elegant dessert. The contrast between the creamy interior and crisp caramel topping will delight your guests with every bite.

Topping Ideas and Texture Tweaks to Try

  • Use slow, sweeping motions with kitchen torch to create an even golden-brown caramel crust without burning the sugar, keeping the surface uniformly crisp and beautifully glazed.
  • Prepare cheesecake up to 3 days in advance and store covered in refrigerator, adding caramelized sugar topping just before serving to maintain perfect crunch and texture.
  • Replace graham cracker crumbs with gluten-free cookie crumbs or almond flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same delicious buttery base.
  • If kitchen torch isn't available, place cheesecake under broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning, to achieve that classic caramelized sugar crust.
  • Experiment with infusing vanilla extract with bourbon or adding orange zest to filling for subtle, sophisticated flavor variations that complement the rich, creamy cheesecake base.
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Silky Creme Brulee Cheesecake Recipe

Silky Creme Brulee Cheesecake Recipe


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4.7 from 22 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1x

Description

Silky creme brulee cheesecake blends French elegance with classic American dessert charm. Caramelized sugar crust and creamy filling create a luxurious finale that delights palates with sophisticated sweetness.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (for topping)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 (8 oz / 226 g) packages cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 ½ cups (180 g) graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Crust Preparation: Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, pressing the mixture firmly into the bottom of a foil-wrapped 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325F (163C) for 10 minutes, then allow to cool completely.
  2. Filling Creation: In a large mixing bowl, whip cream cheese until silky smooth. Gradually incorporate sugar, sour cream, and vanilla, blending thoroughly. Gently fold in eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed until just integrated.
  3. Water Bath Technique: Transfer the prepared filling over the cooled crust. Position the springform pan inside a larger roasting pan, carefully pouring hot water halfway up the cheesecake’s sides.
  4. Precision Baking: Slide the water bath into the preheated oven, baking for 50-60 minutes until the center appears slightly wobbly but set. Turn off the oven, crack the door, and allow the cheesecake to rest for one hour.
  5. Chilling and Caramelizing: Refrigerate the cheesecake for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight. Before serving, generously dust the surface with sugar and use a kitchen torch to create a golden, crisp caramel layer. Allow the caramelized top to set for a few minutes.
  6. Serving: Slice and present the luxurious creme brulee cheesecake, revealing its creamy interior and crackling caramel topping.

Notes

  • Bake cheesecake in a water bath to create gentle, even heat that prevents surface cracks and maintains smooth, creamy texture.
  • Allow cream cheese and eggs to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure silky, lump-free filling and consistent blending.
  • Use fine granulated sugar for brûlée top and torch slowly in circular motion to achieve even, golden-brown caramel without burning.
  • Cheesecake can be prepared 2-3 days in advance and stored covered in refrigerator, making it perfect for advance party planning or special occasions.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 9
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 25 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 80 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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