I decided I wanted to make a little gory dessert moment this Halloween. 🕷
I think people tend to think cheesecake is very intimidating. I have made 3 cheesecake-related desserts and each time they come out great! Keep the tips in mind and you are in for a delicious cheesecake!
INGREDIENTS
Oreo Crust
- 36 Oreos, 14.3 oz container
- 5 tbs. Butter
Cheesecake Filling
- 24 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- ¾ cup Sour Cream
- 1 tbs. Vanilla Extract
- 4 Eggs
- 1 cup Heaving Whipping Cream
Strawberry "Blood" Topping
- 16 oz. Strawberries
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Cheesecake + Oreo Crust
Set out your cheesecake filling ingredients to reach room temperature. This will help prevent cracking later on.
Leave the filling in the Oreos and crush (or pulverize) until a fine dust.
Melt butter and add the oreo dust until a smooth mixture.
Using a springform pan, spray a thick layer of nonstick at the bottom of the pan and spread an even layer of oreo crust.
Let the crust chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
On low speed, beat together your cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Then add the sour cream and vanilla extract. Then add one egg at a time.
In a separate bowl, whip the heaving whipping cream to stiff peaks and fold into the cheesecake mixture.
Pour the cheesecake mixture over the crust and smooth.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
Strawberry "Blood" Topping
While the cheesecake is baking, slice the strawberries and combine them in a saucepan with granulated sugar. Now let the strawberry mixture reduce over low-medium heat.
Once fully reduced and a jam-like texture ( a little more liquid) let cool and set at room temperature until ready for assembly.
Assembly
Take the cheesecake out of the oven once it has firmed up but is still a bit jiggly. I let mine get a little browned but that's totally a personal preference.
Let the cheesecake cool for one hour and then set it in the fridge to completely cool for 6 hours or overnight.
Take the baking round off the cheesecake and move the cheesecake to your serving platter.
Add the "blood" over the top and get ready for a bloody good cheesecake!
Before we even get into it, I recommend you set out your cheesecake filling ingredients to reach room temperature. This will help prevent cracking later on.
You are actually going to use the entire oreo! (no waste 💪🏼). Leave the filling in the Oreos and crush (or pulverize) until a fine dust.
Melt butter and add the oreo dust until a smooth mixture.
Using a springform pan, spray a thick layer of nonstick at the bottom of the pan and spread an even layer of oreo crust.
Let the crust chill in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.
At this point, you can also preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
On low speed, beat together your cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Then add the sour cream and vanilla extract. Then add one egg at a time. This order is KEY.
In a separate bowl, whip the heaving whipping cream to stiff peaks and fold into the cheesecake mixture.
Pour the cheesecake mixture over the crust and smooth.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
You will know it’s ready when the top is set and firm but it is still jiggly.
I let the crust brown a tiny bit but honestly, we are covering it up with the “blood” anyways.
You are going to let that cool for one hour until it is room temperature. Then it needs to cool for at least 6 hours in the fridge.
Now for the strawberry “blood” topping!
While the cheesecake cools, slice the strawberries and combine them in a saucepan with granulated sugar. Now let the strawberry mixture reduce over low-medium heat.
Once fully reduced and a jam-like texture ( a little more liquid) let cool and set at room temperature until ready for assembly. You could also strain the jam for a super liquid consistency but that is your preference! A lot of people use corn syrup and red food coloring but I wanted the “blood” to taste moooore natural if you will.
It is time to assemble!
Truly a very easy process.
Release the cheesecake from the pan. I used a spatula to let the oreo lift a little. It came off super easily- the crust should firm up.
Place it on the dish you plan on serving it on.
Add the strawberry topping in a spooky way.
You can get creative here and add scratches into the actual cheesecake so it looks like flesh (spooky ah!) but I decided to keep it pretty PG and do a smooth layer of it on top and dripping from the sides.
You can also add different toppings to make it more spooky like fake spiderwebs or candy spiders! Whatever you want.
You are in for a bloody delicious cheesecake this Halloween! Tag me on social media @catchthewavewithsam if you plan on making this! 🕸🕷
KEY TIPS
1. Don’t overbeat the cheesecake batter: too much air causes cracking in your cheesecake
one egg at a time on low speed.
2. Crush your Oreos as finely as possible for the crust.
3. Let your strawberry filling cool completely to let it set up.
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