How to Make the Perfect Red Velvet Cheesecake
American · Easy · 90 min · 12 servings
This stunning Red Velvet Cheesecake is a showstopper dessert that is secretly one of the easiest kid friendly recipes you can make for a celebration. Children are dazzled by the brilliant crimson color and love the mild cocoa flavor paired with the tangy cream cheese filling.
Why this recipe works
This Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 90 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 480 calories with 8g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 7 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 24 whole Oreo cookies crushed
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 680 g cream cheese softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 whole large eggs
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp red food coloring
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Oreo Crust
Preheat oven to 175C or 350F. Mix crushed Oreos with melted butter until well combined and press into the base of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes then cool while preparing the filling.
Step 2: Make the Red Velvet Filling
Beat cream cheese and sugar until completely smooth. Add cocoa powder and red food coloring and mix until the batter is a vivid deep red. Add eggs one at a time on low speed mixing just until each is incorporated to avoid overbeating.
Step 3: Bake the Cheesecake
Pour the red velvet filling over the cooled crust and smooth the surface. Bake at 160C or 325F for 60 to 65 minutes until the edges are set and the center still has a slight wobble. Cool in the oven with the door cracked for one hour then refrigerate overnight.
Step 4: Frost and Decorate
Whip together four ounces of softened cream cheese, one cup powdered sugar, and half cup heavy cream until fluffy. Spread or pipe over the chilled cheesecake and decorate with red velvet cake crumbles or red sprinkles for an eye-catching kid friendly finish.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- red food coloring → beet powder for a natural red color with no artificial dyes
- Oreo cookie crust → chocolate graham cracker crumbs mixed with butter for a simpler base
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Adding too little red food coloring resulting in a dull brownish color instead of a vibrant red
- Skipping the overnight refrigeration step which means the cheesecake will not slice cleanly
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 480 calories, 8g protein, 44g carbs, 31g fat, 1g fiber.
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