There are few things in life that epitomize decadence more than a slice of homemade Red Velvet Cheesecake. The vibrant red color and the dreamy texture of this cheesecake are guaranteed to turn any occasion into something special.

Easy Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe

Red velvet desserts are almost a religion in the South. Whether it’s a cream cheese frosted red velvet layer cake, red velvet brownies, red velvet ice box pie or a stunning red velvet trifle, it’s always met with genuine appreciation. While the red hue makes it a flavor that’s typically associated with Valentine’s Day and Christmas, it’s far too delicious to limit to just those times of year. It is a spectacular way to say, “I love you” year-round. How to make bakery style Red Velvet Cheesecake from scratch:

Crust – Finely ground chocolate graham crackers crumbs, melted butter and granulated sugar.
Cheesecake – Plain cream cheese.
Sugar – Granulated sugar.
Eggs – Six large eggs.
Flavorings – Vanilla extract.
Cocoa – Dutch process or Special Dark unsweetened cocoa powder.
Stabilizer – Cornstarch.
Food coloring – Liquid red food coloring.
Dairy – Sour cream and buttermilk.
Topping – Plain cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, vanilla extract, powdered sugar.
Garnish – Grated white baking chocolate.

How to Make the Best Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe

This cheesecake takes several steps to make but none are difficult and the ingredients are easy to find.

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Red Velvet Cheesecake: For the crust you’ll need crushed graham crackers, granulated sugar and melted butter. For the red velvet filling you’ll need plain cream cheese, large eggs, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, red food coloring, sour cream, cornstarch and buttermilk.
For the cheesecake topping you’ll need: Plain cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract and grated white chocolate for garnishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need: A 9 inch springform pan, a stand mixer or a hand mixer, a large bowl, a medium bowl, a citrus grater, measuring cups and spoons, a separate 8 x 8 in pan filled with boiling water,
To be successful, a 9 inch springform pan with a removeable bottom is a must to make this cheesecake.
For the creamiest filling, take time to allow the cream cheese to fully soften so that, it will blend more evenly with the sugar. Likewise, the eggs should be room temperature.
For the sour cream and buttermilk, 30 minutes on the counter prior to making the filling should be ample time.
Some cheesecake recipes use flour to stabilize the filling. I prefer using cornstarch which lends a soft and delicate texture to the cheesecake.
If you have an aversion to using liquid food coloring, you may use red gel food coloring which is available wherever cake decorating supplies are sold. Dip a toothpick into the gel and swirl through the batter. Repeat until you reach the desired color. Should you choose to do so, increase the buttermilk to 1/2 cup.

Red Velvet Cheesecake ingredients in a mixing bowl

How to Store and Serve Red Velvet Cheesecake

After baking, the cheesecake needs to chill thoroughly before attempting to cut. At least 12 hours, but, 24 is ideal.
To cut clean slices, use a sharp knife dipped in warm water, drying thoroughly, and cleaning the blade between each cut.
This cheesecake will keep up to one week in an airtight container in the fridge. It must be stored chilled.

Why Use a Bain-Marie when Making Red Velvet Cheesecake

A bain-marie is a fancy name for a hot water bath. It provides a gentle and moist cooking environment for slow cooking custards and cheesecakes and helps prevent cracking. They work wonderfully but, I choose to utilize a pan of hot water on the bottom rack of the oven instead. This gives me flexibility in using whatever pan size I need. A classic hot water bath, you would place the springform pan into a deeper pan then fill it halfway with boiling water. It works like a dream if you have a deeper pan that will fit any size pan. Otherwise, pan on the bottom rack works.

More Cheesecake Recipes to Make

Double Chocolate Cheesecake is the perfect way to say “I love you”.
Island inspired Key Lime Cheesecake.
Butter Pecan Cheesecake Bars are rich and decadent.
Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle is a stunning dessert to make.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake is for all of the Reese’s cups fans.
Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake from The Food Charlatan.

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