Cranberry White Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

This attractive and scrumptious cranberry white chocolate mousse cheesecake is an absolute showstopper of a vacation dessert!

And simply take a look at these sugared cranberries! 😍 (You gained’t consider how simple they’re to make!) All of the totally different layers and parts may be made forward of time for fast meeting and baking. I’m strolling you thru every little thing beneath!

Quick Cranberry Jam

Absolutely integral to the recipe, this fast and straightforward cranberry jam is simply:

• contemporary cranberries
• granulated sugar
• water + a contact of contemporary lemon juice + a tiny little bit of vanilla extract

Simmer all of these elements till the cranberries pop and break down and the jam is tremendous thick. It will thicken even a bit extra because it cools.

Let it cool to room temperature. The jam may be made a number of days upfront.

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

I’ve all the time thought sugared cranberries to be probably the most stunning garnishes ever. But I believed they had been sophisticated to make.

Boy was I ever mistaken! These sugared cranberries are easy as may be.

1. Simmer sugar and water till the sugar dissolves making a easy syrup.
2. Pour the easy syrup over contemporary cranberries and allow them to sit on this combination for five to 10 minutes.
3. Use a slotted spoon to take away the cranberries from the easy syrup and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet (with out touching or they’ll stick collectively).
4. Let the cranberries dry for just a few hours till they’re sticky to the contact.
5. Roll in granulated sugar.

That’s it! The sugared cranberries may be made a number of days upfront and maintain greatest uncovered at room temperature (in a cool, dry spot).

Cheesecake Batter

The cheesecake batter on this recipe is egg-free and bakes as much as the lightest, creamiest baked cheesecake you’ll ever meet.

It is superb. And it comes with an ancestry that’s loaded with rave critiques (started with this white chocolate mousse cheesecake which has now been made right into a peppermint bark model, a pumpkin model, and now this epic cranberry cheesecake).

A little bit of cornstarch within the batter helps thicken, in addition to soften, the cheesecake batter for a luscious, ethereal consequence.

Also, as a result of there aren’t any eggs within the recipe, this cheesecake isn’t liable to cracking like so many different baked cheesecake recipes.

Assembling Cranberry Cheesecake

The crust for this cheesecake bakes for a couple of minutes by itself earlier than assembling the remainder of the layers.

• First: crust
• Second: half of the cheesecake batter
• Third: half of the cooled cranberry jam
• Fourth: remaining cheesecake batter

At this level, the cheesecake is baked till the sides are set and the middle remains to be a bit jiggly wiggly.

Once the cheesecake is generally cooled, proceed with the layers.

• Fifth: remaining cranberry jam
• Sixth: white chocolate mousse layer

Choosing the Right Springform Pan Size

The pictures on this submit present the cheesecake assembled and baked in a 9-inch springform pan {aff. hyperlink}.

You can see that it’s very full. And that’s with out the sweetened whipped cream layer. If utilizing a 9-inch springform pan, be certain the perimeters are at the very least 3 inches tall.

A 10-inch springform pan {aff. hyperlink} may also work nice for this recipe.

Either method, I favor to both pipe the sweetened whipped cream across the edges or dollop on particular person servings vs spreading excessive of the white chocolate mousse (irrespective of the dimensions of pan).

Optional Layers

While undoubtedly stunning, the sugared cranberries are utterly non-compulsory for this cheesecake. They are solely used for garnish (and for eating if folks need to – I feel they’re yummy!), however they aren’t integral to the recipe just like the crust, cranberry jam, cheesecake batter or white chocolate mousse.

The sweetened whipped cream additionally makes a fairly and yummy garnish and helps reduce by means of the richness of the cheesecake, however it additionally isn’t 100% mandatory, and the cheesecake is scrumptious with or with out.

If this recipe appears a bit a lot (I get it! It’s sort of intense!), you may simply ditch these two parts for a extra approachable, however nonetheless show-stopping, dessert.

Best Holiday Cheesecake

However, in case you select to just accept this mission, I can assure that inside just a few hours (and after washing a bowl or two), you’ll be looking at probably the most scrumptious vacation cheesecakes within the historical past of ever.

The rivers of candy and tart cranberry jam run by means of the smooth and creamy cheesecake batter for an extremely tasty distinction of flavors.

And the white chocolate mousse layer? It brings all of the consolation of a weighted blanket throughout a nap after a demanding day. It settles in on high of the cheesecake with the arrogance of the singular element wanted to convey every little thing collectively into one astonishingly fantastic cheesecake.

There is a lot to like about this cranberry white chocolate mousse cheesecake.

It’s attractive.

The vacation flavors are high notch.

It’s distinctive however not bizarre.

And it’s actually probably the greatest cheesecakes I’ve ever had.

If you’re in search of the proper vacation dessert, that is the one. Read by means of the recipe solely, as a result of I feel you’ll discover that whereas it’s prolonged and there are a number of parts, it actually does come collectively faster and extra simply than you may suppose.

Grab that apron and get going! I promise it’ll be price it.

Cranberry White Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

Yield: 12 servings (9- or 10-inch cheesecake)

Prep Time: 2 hours hrs

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Chilling/Cooling: 2 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 45 minutes minutes

Sugared Cranberries:

• 1 cup contemporary cranberries (4 oz/113 g)
• ¾ cup water
• ¾ cup (159 g) granulated sugar

Quick Cranberry Jam:

• 4 cups contemporary cranberries (16 oz/454 g)
• 1 cup (212 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon contemporary lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust:

• 1 ½ cups (150 g) finely crushed graham crackers, about 9 to 10 rectangle graham crackers
• ¼ cup (53 g) granulated sugar
• 1 giant egg yolk (see observe)
• 6 tablespoons (85 g) butter, melted

Cheesecake Batter:

• 24 ounces (680 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (212 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup (227 g) bitter cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

White Chocolate Mousse:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (see observe)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 ounces white chocolate (NOT almond bark, sweet wafers or white chocolate chips), melted (see observe)

Sweetened Whipped Cream:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• For the sugared cranberries, place the cranberries in a medium bowl. Heat the water and sugar in a saucepan till simmering and the sugar is absolutely dissolved, 2 to three minutes. Pour the combination over the cranberries and stir them to coat. Let the cranberries sit within the easy syrup for five to 10 minutes.

• Remove the cranberries with a slotted spoon, draining extra syrup, and place on a parchment lined baking sheet with out touching (or they’ll stick collectively). Let them dry for one to 2 hours (it’s okay in the event that they’re nonetheless a bit moist on the underside however the high and sides ought to be sticky to the contact). Roll the cranberries in granulated sugar to coat and place in a bowl or on a tray. Set apart. The sugared cranberries may be made a number of days upfront. Cover and maintain at room temperature.

• For the cranberry jam, mix all of the elements besides the vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium warmth and cook dinner, stirring typically, for 10-12 minutes till thick. Moderate warmth so the jam does not burn. Stir within the vanilla. Scrape right into a bowl and let cool to room temperature. The jam may be made a number of days upfront.

• For the crust, preheat the oven to 350 levels F. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add the egg yolk and melted butter and blend till evenly mixed.

• Press the graham cracker combination into the underside and simply barely up the perimeters of a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan (shall be very full if utilizing 9-inch pan, be certain sides are at the very least 3 inches tall). If your pan is liable to leaking, place foil across the backside and up the aspect on the skin of the pan earlier than baking.

• Bake the crust for 8 minutes. Remove and let cool utterly. Keep the oven on at 350 levels F for the cheesecake.

• For the cheesecake layer, in a medium bowl with a handheld electrical mixer or within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the cream cheese till tremendous smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and cornstarch and blend till well-combined, scraping down the perimeters of the bowl as wanted. Add the bitter cream and vanilla and blend till clean and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.

• Spread HALF of the cheesecake batter over the crust. Dollop HALF of the cooled cranberry jam over the cheesecake batter and gently unfold round. If it has been chilled, it is going to be a bit more durable to unfold over the smooth cheesecake batter, however it does not need to be excellent. Spread the remaining cheesecake batter excessive.

• Bake for 45 to 60 minutes (extra time for a full 9-inch pan, probably a bit much less time for a 10-inch pan), till the sides are set however the heart nonetheless jiggles barely. Remove from the oven and let cool utterly.

• When cool, dollop the remainder of the cranberry jam excessive and unfold evenly. It might not absolutely cowl the cheesecake – it is okay if it’s a bit patchy right here and there.

• For the white chocolate mousse, in a medium bowl, beat the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla with an electrical mixer (handheld or stand mixer) till peaks type.

• In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese till fluffy. Add the melted white chocolate and blend till clean and creamy. Fold within the whipped cream mixing gently with a rubber spatula till evenly mixed (see observe). Spread the white chocolate mousse over the cranberry jam. Chill for 1 to 2 hours so the mousse layer can arrange a bit.

• For the sweetened whipped cream, beat the whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla collectively till peaks type. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the white chocolate mousse OR pipe across the edges.

• Garnish cheesecake or particular person servings with sugared and/or contemporary cranberries.

• The cheesecake may be made 1 to 2 days upfront. Add the sweetened whipped cream inside 2 to three hours of serving and add sugared cranberries proper earlier than serving as each of these parts can get liquidy (and the cranberries will lose their crackly sugar coating) if added to the cheesecake too far upfront.

Optional: whereas stunning, the sugared cranberries are utterly non-compulsory for this cheesecake. They are solely used for garnish (and for eating if folks need to), however they aren’t integral to the recipe. The sweetened whipped cream additionally makes a tasty garnish and praise to the wealthy cheesecake, however it isn’t mandatory, and the cheesecake is scrumptious with or with out.
Heavy Whipping Cream: the recipe states to whip the heavy cream individually when making the white chocolate mousse layer. I exploit 40% fats heavy cream (Darigold model from Costco), and skip this step. Instead, I soften the white chocolate, add the softened cream cheese and whip till creamy. Then I add the heavy cream and vanilla and blend till tremendous thick and creamy. The cause the recipe isn’t written this fashion is as a result of not everybody makes use of the identical heavy cream as I do, and if you’re utilizing a heavy cream with much less fats (totally different manufacturers will range in fats proportion), it might not thicken added as liquid to the white chocolate/cream cheese with out whipping it to peaks first. 
White Chocolate: it’s actually vital to make use of *actual* white chocolate for the mousse layer and never almond bark or melting wafers. White chocolate chips usually don’t soften effectively, both, so they don’t seem to be really helpful for the reason that white chocolate must be melted alone earlier than being combined with the cream cheese. I exploit the Ghirardelli white chocolate bars (often discovered within the baking aisle by the chocolate chips). 
Egg Yolk: for the reason that cheesecake batter is egg-free, this can be a widespread recipe for those who want an egg-free dessert. For that cause (and others), the egg yolk may be eradicated from the crust, if wanted. 

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 601kcal, Carbohydrates: 72g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Cholesterol: 106mg, Sodium: 381mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 59g

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Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe