White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
Peppermint cheesecake swirled with peppermint bark pieces, topped off with a layer of white chocolate mousse, bits of chocolate and crushed peppermint candies.
You might think I love cheesecake. I don’t. I love making it though and my family loves eating it. Really, I’ll make just about anything even if I don’t personally like eating it. I know *ugh* I don’t like cheesecake. I’m sorry! I save that portion of my belly for things like apple crisp and apple pie.
I’ve had this cheesecake on my mind since Thanksgiving when my brother mentioned it. I couldn’t get it out of my head! I’ve stared at the image of The Cheesecake Factory’s peppermint bark cheesecake a ton while contemplating how to make this. I had my fingers crossed tight that this experiment would work out.
And since I’m sharing it… that means it worked! A total success. A white chocolate peppermint cheesecake sits on top of a chocolate cookie crust. It’s swirled with peppermint bark pieces, topped off with a layer of white chocolate mousse, chocolate shavings and crushed peppermint candies.
I’ll give you a minute.
Go ahead and wipe the drool away.
This takes more time to make than the average cheesecake but it’s absolutely worth it for something extra special.
White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
- 2 C chocolate cookie crumbs, or 22 regular oreos with filling
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling Ingredients:
- 24 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 C granulated sugar
- 4 oz white chocolate, melted
- 1 1/2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 Tbsp heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp peppermint extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 batch peppermint bark, made thin (peppermint bark recipe) or roughly 1 1/2C chunks
Mousse Ingredients:
- 1/2 C cool whip, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 oz white chocolate, melted
- 1 1/2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Plus chocolate shavings, peppermint pieces and whipped cream for topping
Instructions
Peppermint bark
- Prepare peppermint bark at least 1 day ahead. Melt 4oz dark chocolate with 1/2 tsp vegetable oil. Mix in 1/8 tsp peppermint extract. Spread thin over a sheet of wax paper on a baking sheet. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Melt 4oz white chocolate with 1/2 tsp vegetable oil. Mix in 1/8 tsp peppermint extract. Spread over chilled dark chocolate. Sprinkle immediately with crushed peppermint candies. Chill for at least 15 minutes. (*when melting chocolate, if using a microwave be sure to use the 30 second 50% power method stirring well after each 30 seconds).
Cheesecake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Prepare a 9" spring-form pan by wrapping the outside with two sheets of heavy duty tin foil around the bottom and up the sides. In a food processor, blend cookies until only fine crumbs remain. Add melted butter. Give a quick blend. Transfer crumb mixture to spring-form pan. Shake to disperse crumbs. Using a flat bottom cup, press down to create an even crust. Bake crust for 10 minutes. Set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325°F degrees.
- Chop peppermint bark into small pieces. Set aside.
- Begin melting 4oz white chocolate. Using a double boiler or heat safe bowl, melt over simmering water. Stir until fully melted. Using the microwave, in a heat safe bowl microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power until fully melted. Stir well after each interval.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar. Mix well. Scrape bowl well prior to each new addition and as needed. Add melted chocolate, flour, heavy cream, salt and peppermint extract. Mix well. On medium/low speed, add one egg at a time. Mix until smooth and blended well.
- Add peppermint bark pieces, stir by hand.
- Transfer spring-form pan and cooked crust to a larger pan, such as a large roasting pan. Pour filling into crust. Add enough hot water to reach half way up the sides of your spring-form pan. Carefully place in center of oven. Bake at 325°F degrees for 1 hour. Turn off the oven. Keeping the door shut, leave the cheesecake in the oven for an additional 45 minutes. Remove cheesecake and allow to sit for at least 1 hour before chilling.
- Chill 4 hours or overnight before adding the mousse.
- In a medium bowl beat softened cream cheese, melted white chocolate, cool whip, sugar and vanilla until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Carefully remove side of spring-form pan. Spread mousse mixture evenly over cheesecake. Chill for 4 hours or overnight before serving.
- Serve slices with chocolate shavings, crushed peppermint candies and whipped cream.
- Store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
***Giveaway is closed***
One reader will win one Calphalon non-stick springform pan.
The nitty gritty: You must have a US shipping address to enter. Giveaway will run from Dec 14, 2011 – Dec 17, 2011. One winner will be randomly chosen and contacted via e-mail Dec 18, 2011. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Main entry must be done or bonus entries will not count. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
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Wow this cheesecake looks absolutely fabulous! I love peppermint bark. I def have to try this!
Ooh that cheesecake and peppermint bark look marvelous! My family has a tradition that every year we watch Miracle on 42nd Street :)
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I love “The Holiday”! no favorite scenes or anything… I find i’m watching more and more TV shows, they’re just longer lasting. happy holidays!!
My favorite movie is A Christmas Story. It’s hard to narrow the movie down to one favorite scene. I love the whole movie. I have it on DVD and I watch it whenever I see it on cable.
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I have a question, why do you have 3-8 oz of cream cheese written down? How much do you actually use?
This requires 3 8oz containers or blocks (24oz total). I’ve updated it to read as such. Sorry for any confusion. :)
A Christmas Story! I look forward to catching it every Christmas Eve. I love the scene in the Chinese Restaurant, it always cracks me up!
WOW, that is one killer cheesecake! So impressive.
Wow! This is pretty amazing. I’m not a cheesecake fanatic but I love chocolate and peppermint and your cake is just beautiful.
I really like It’s a Wonderful Life. I can watch it several times without getting sick of it. But only around Christmas. In May it would just be weird. :) I also like the original Miracle on 34th St.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – watch it OVER & OVER!
This cheesecake is so pretty. It would be gone in seconds at any holiday party.
My favorite Christmas movie is Elf. Will Ferrell got me good with this favorite. I will watch it endlessly. And this cheesecake looks yummy! I follow you on Twitter CarenBeth :-)
my favorite Christmas movie is “Love Actually”. my favorite scenes are the wedding scene in the beginning & any scene with Colin Firth. i am going to watch this this weekend with my 12 year old daughter. she has never seen it. your cheesecake looks incredible!
My favorite is the Charlie Brown Christmas movie.
Miss Rachel you are crazy good at baking. This bark cheesecake looks super professional. Am so impressed and btw I always wanted to make bark but never did!
I love A Christmas Story. Every part of it I love. I watch it about once a year
My favorite holiday movie is Elf!! I love it and how hilarious it is!
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I love peppermint bark and cheesecake!! :D
My favorite holiday movie is Christmas Vacation. The moment the house Christmas lights all come on tickles me everytime I see it.
My all time favorite holiday movie is “What a Wonderful Life”. I love the entire movie, but love when everyone is bringing in money at the end to help George save the bank and his family. I only watch it once during the holiday season, as to not drive my family crazy. LOL.
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Recipe looks fab. I love Charlie Brown Christmas, particularly when they all decorate the sad little tree and it turns beautiful.
My favorite is “It’s A Wonderful Life”. I watch it during the holiday season more than the other seasons. My favorite part is when George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) reunites with his family and friends at the end.
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Love this recipe and really want to make for Christmas!
Favorite Christmas movie…National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Love the whole scene of plugging in the lights.
I enjoy Year Without a Santa Claus – I love Snow Miser & Heat Miser. They crack me up.
This cheesecake looks delicious!
My favorite holiday movie is Love Actually… the scene I love best is the song at the end… and yes, I watch it over an over again! And, because the movie isn’t too holiday-y, I watch it all year long!
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That is such a gorgeous cheesecake, I can hardly believe you wouldn’t even be a tiny bit tempted!
Rachel- Your cheesecake is just gorgeous.:) I love the peppermint bark and the cookie crust. One favorite for all of us this time of year is Elf. And for me especially (any scene:) A Christmas Story:)
My favorite holiday movie has got to be ELF! I could watch it ALL night while baking and babysitting… Buddy always brings the Christmas cheer right into my heart.
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