Description
This delicious Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cheesecake combines creamy homemade vanilla cheesecake with chunks of festive Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes for a perfect holiday treat. Topped with smooth vanilla frosting, green sanding sugar, and classic red frosting stripes, this cheesecake is both visually stunning and decadently flavorful, making it a show-stopper dessert for any Christmas gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 cup of Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 3 tablespoons of Sugar
- 3 tablespoons of butter, melted
Cheesecake Filling
- 4 packages of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup of sour cream
- 4 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (crumbled)
Topping
- 1 16-ounce container of Vanilla Frosting (Pillsbury White recommended)
- Green Sanding Sugar
- Red frosting or Candy Melts for the red stripes
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F to prepare for baking the crust and cheesecake.
- Prepare Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Mix until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of a well-greased springform pan. Bake the crust at 325°F for 10 minutes, then remove and set aside to cool.
- Make Cheesecake Batter: In a stand mixer, beat softened cream cheese and sugar on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract and flour and mix until fully combined. Gradually add eggs two at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Finally, add the sour cream and mix on high until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble Cheesecake: Pour half of the cheesecake batter into the cooled crust in the springform pan. Evenly sprinkle the crumbled Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes over the batter. Pour the remaining batter on top carefully, then gently tap the pan on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
- Prepare Water Bath: Fill a sheet pan with about 2 inches of boiling water to create a water bath, which helps the cheesecake bake evenly and prevents cracking. Wrap the bottom of the springform pan tightly with aluminum foil to prevent water from leaking in.
- Bake Cheesecake: Place the springform pan in the center of the sheet pan with water and bake at 325°F for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Cool Down Slowly: After baking, turn off the oven and crack the oven door open halfway. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely inside the oven to avoid sudden temperature changes.
- Remove Cheesecake from Oven: Take the cheesecake out once cooled, run a knife around the edges to loosen it from the pan, and let it come to room temperature.
- Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight, or for at least 8 hours, to set properly.
- Add Frosting: Microwave the container of vanilla frosting for 1 minute to soften. Pour the warmed frosting evenly over the chilled cheesecake while still in the springform pan.
- Chill Frosting: Refrigerate the cheesecake again until the frosting sets, about 1 hour.
- Decorate: Carefully remove the cheesecake from the springform pan. Sprinkle with green sanding sugar and pipe curvy red stripes using red frosting, melted chocolate, or cookie icing to mimic the iconic Christmas tree decorations.
- Serve: Slice and serve the cheesecake. Enjoy this festive and rich holiday dessert!
Notes
- This cheesecake combines the creamy richness of homemade cheesecake with the nostalgic flavor and festive look of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.
- Wrapping the springform pan in foil and baking in a water bath ensures a smooth, crack-free cheesecake.
- Allowing the cheesecake to cool slowly in the oven and then refrigerating overnight helps set the texture perfectly.
- Microwaving the frosting before pouring allows it to spread easily and create a smooth finish.
- Decorate with green sanding sugar and red frosting stripes to emulate the Christmas Tree Cake design and add visual appeal.
- This dessert will be a standout festive centerpiece for holiday gatherings or parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cheesecake)
- Calories: 578
- Sugar: 46.6 g
- Sodium: 335.8 mg
- Fat: 36.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 19.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55.9 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 7.6 g
- Cholesterol: 131 mg
