After slacking off the last couple of months, there was no way I was going to miss this months’ #baketogether project. Abby posted a simple cheesecake recipe leaving it completely open for us personalize it.
I love cheesecake. Cheesecake could be my Valentine. It is the rare dessert I’m the first one to eat after baking it. The options are endless and it took some time before I decided on a very traditional Cookies and Cream Cheesecake.
Changes in the recipe:
For the base: Instead of making a graham cracker crust, I used Oreo cookies for the base
For the filling: I added 1 cup of roughly chopped Oreos and didn’t use any flour
For the topping: I melted dark chocolate and drizzled it over the cheesecake.
Creamy, rich and soft; a cheesecake with chunks of Oreo in every other bite.
If you missed it, not so long ago I did a step-by-step post (with pictures!) on how to bake a cheesecake to simplify the process for people who’re intimidated by the idea of it. Try it, it’s as easy as apple pie.
- 2 cups (9 ounces) finely crushed oreos
- 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature
- Good pinch of table salt
- 1⅓ cups (9 3/8 ounces) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup sour cream, at room temperature
- Seeds scraped from 3 large vanilla beans or 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or paste
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup roughly chopped oreos
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Wrap the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with a piece of aluminum foil and clasp the outer ring over the foil so the edges hang outside the ring. In a medium bowl, stir together the crushed oreos and melted butter and mix until well blended.
- Dump the crumbs into the springform pan and cover with large piece of plastic wrap. Place your hands on the plastic wrap and press the crumbs about 2½ inches up the sides of the pan.(The plastic wrap will keep the crumbs from sticking to your hands.) With the plastic wrap still in place, redistribute the remaining crumbs evenly over the bottom of the pan and firmly press down to make a compact layer. Bake until the crumbs are fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes and set on a rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, salt until very smooth and no lumps remain. It’s very important for the cream cheese to be lump free at this point so stop and scrape the beater and sides of the bowl frequently.
- Add the sugar, sour cream and vanilla seeds or extract and beat until well blended and smooth, stopping to scrape beater and bowl several times. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until just blended, stopping to scrape beater and bowl before each addition. (Don’t over beat the filling once the eggs have been added or the cheesecake will puff too much.)
- Gently fold in the crushed oreos. Tap the bowl several times on the counter to release some of the air bubbles. Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Using the tip of a small knife or a toothpick, pop any air bubbles on the surface.
- Bake at 300°F until the center jiggles like jello when nudged, 63 to 68 minutes. The cake will be slightly puffed around the edges and the center will still look moist. Set on a rack and cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 8 hours or overnight or up to 3 days. The cake can also be frozen up to 1 month.
- Have a flat serving plate ready and close by. Unclasp the pan’s ring, remove it, and using the excess foil, gently nudge and lift the cake to be sure it’s released.
- Using the foil, carefully lift the cheesecake and slide it onto the serving plate and center it.. Tear off one side of the foil close to the cheese cake. On the opposite side of the cake, gently pull the remaining foil out from the cheesecake. Run a thin knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and cut the cake into slices, heating and wiping the knife after every slice.
Happy Baking!
Cheesecake is definitely my favourite as well – especially when it is as perfect as yours :D
My kingdom for an Oreo right now…
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This cheesecake looks lovely. And I think you are a genius for making an Oreo crust instead of the traditional graham cracker crust.
Well done!
Thanks Chung- Ah!
What a beautiful cheesecake! It’s been a while since I’ve baked one, but I know my family would adore this recipe! I love the way you decorated the top.
Thanks Beth. Abby’s recipe is flawless. You should give it a try.
I love cookies and cream and I love the look of your cookies and cream cheesecake! It looks so creamy and delicious.
I could feel my sense looking forward in trying this cheesecake.
I love the perfect drizzle on this! It’s simple but done well so it makes it really shine. And I love Oreo cheesecake; it’s one of my favorites!
Your family must be in heaven with all the luscious desserts you bake. I know I am and I haven’t even tasted them. Another beautiful dessert!
Heh. The one thing my kitchen never runs out off is Dessert! :)
This cake is oozing with glitz and glamour. If a cheesecake could be called sexy, this would be it. You deserve a cazillion buzzes for this one!
I love cheesecake and oreos so i can only imagine how delicious this is. Also I’m intimidated by Apple Pie, lol…it looks challenging but i’m going to tackle it one day especially if its as simple as cheesecake.
I’m normally not a cheesecake person, but your cheesecake looks sinfully delicious!
WoW,I love cheesecake,looks yummy and beautifully decorated !!
Oh, yeah…I could go for a slice of this beauty…or two…or three! Just perfect!
That looks like a melt in your mouth amazing cheesecake…wow!
Gorgeous! #baketogether
Hey girlie, where have you been?? Ahhhhhhhhhh come back!! This cheesecake looks awesome. Also you know that cheesecames are one of my favorites!
Looks delicious! I’m going to check out your step by step how to make a cheese cake sometime. I’ve real cheese cake before. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of how much I’ll eat!
Simple and superb. I am drooling over this cheesecake bc just like you, its my fav too.
Oh my gosh, this cheesecake looks unbelieveable. It’s so gorgeous! You do such pretty work. I wish you could bake me one and send it to me. Just beautiful!!
I would love a big slice of this cheesecake!
This looks beautiful. I love cookies + cream!
this looks absolutely decadent. i love oreos!!! cookies and cream would hit the spot. hehe. who gets to eat all of your lovely baked goods? i need to learn how to drizzle chocolate like that btw.
A silky cheesecake with one of my favorite flavors-yum! The addition of the scraped vanilla bean seeds is an excellent addition to the oreo cookie flavor. That slice is something I could never turn down, very enticing! Great one for the baketogether challenge!
Alright. Whenever you visit Cleveland, I will kidnap you and make you back for a 48 hour period, minimum. Then I will eat everything. Yes. Yes I like this plan.
Love cookies and cream, and in a cheesecake it sounds amazing!! It’s beautiful with the chocolate drizzle on top, too
Great take on the #baketogether project! Your Cookies and Cream Cheesecake looks gorgeous and so delicious just like your other creations!
Oh.wow. This sounds and looks amazing! Your pics are just gorgeous. The Oreo crust & the dark choc topping…this type of dessert is dangerous around me. I don’t think I’d be able to control myself!
I rarely make cheesecake at home, but when I do it doesn’t last long! Cookies and cream is my husband’s favorite!
Um…yes please! This looks amazing. I want to eat it right now. Well done
Omgosh.. I made something very similar to this over the weekend. My dessert was not a cheesecake.. but full of oreos like your dessert. YUM! this looks fabulous!~ Ramona
OMG, this looks divine!!! I love cheesecake and oreos. In fact I can eat the whole box of oreos with my tea. Can you imagine what I would do with this cheese cake then. What a perfect treat.
Looks delicious!
Your cheesecakes always make me drool. Lovely!
This cheesecake sounds delicious! I would love a large slice! Cookies and cream ice cream was a childhood favorite but this would be way better!
Awesome cheesecake with Oreo cookies. The streaks on the cake look beautiful and nicely done.
I love that step-by-step you did a while back. This is perfect for Abby’s baketogether this month. The drizzle on top is so pretty:)
Thanks Lora. :)
“Creamy, rich and soft; a cheesecake with chunks of Oreo in every other bite.” – how can I resist with a description like that?!
Wow, this looks ahh-mazing! I mean, Oreo’s in every bite of your cheesecake—now that’s some crazy goodness right there! It looks beautiful, I love that chocolate drizzled on top :)
I just love the chocolate/cheesecake combo, and this looks like it would go GREAT with coffee!
I really love cheesecake – I must add though,that I am partial to the no-bake ones,rather than the baked ones.
What I really love about this recipe,is that it is so simple.:-) Not many ingredients required either!Perfect for a dinner party treat!
Thanks Fahad! You have to try the baked one. Trust me, you’ll never go back.
What a gorgeous cheesecake! Love oreo crust.
Oh…what a perfect cheesecake…!!!
Oreo’s make everything better! This looks amazing!
I agree. :)
There’s only one thing I love more than cheesecake…oreos…ok, and maybe heathbar. This looks incredible
That cheesecake is absolutely stunning–and I don’t even particularly like cheesecake! I think you have a great recipe here.
WOAH. This dessert is calling (screaming) my name. I’ll be dreaming of Cookie & Cream Cheesecake tonight. Cheers, Baker Street!! :)
That looks lusciously good! Oh to have a slice of this beauty with my dinner tonight! :D
Hi… Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and entering the giveaway! Wow… how have I not visited your blog before? LOVE it… you have some amazing recipes here! This cheesecake is so stunningly beautiful! Just subscribed via email! So glad to have met you :)
Thanks Marsha. Glad you liked the cheesecake.
thank you for sharing your knowledge on food photography.
HOORAY for your top 9!!!
Thanks Liz!
Gorgeous cheesecake and with Oreo in every bite, I want it right now :)
What a gorgeous cheesecake! I love any kind of cheesecake, honestly I do. But I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a cookies and cream cheesecake look so elegant! It is so simply beautiful! Lovely job! : )
What a beautiful cheesecake :) I can’t eat that whole cake… it sounds so creamy and delicious :)
I can’t stop drooling over here… It’s fabulous!
“Happy Cooking”
This looks like such an amazing cheesecake. I love the simple presentation. The vanilla bean is visible which I love!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com/
WOW! Gorgeous, delicious, tempting! Congrats on top 9!
Thanks Anna!
There is nothing better than a creamy cheesecake! Yours looks perfect :)
Oh yes! I could eat one for breakfast.
Wow this chesecake looks so pretty! I love your decoration.
Whoa, that is one heck of a cheesecake! I could just dive right into your pictures and never leave! :) Thanks for sharing. You have a very nice blog and I’m glad to have found you!
Hey Georgia! Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the cheesecake.
Oreos and cheesecake….swoon!! Congrats on the Top 9!!
Thanks Kelli!
This cheesecake looks lighter than most which is exactly the type of cheesecake that I love! Of course putting oreos in the filling and as the crust is irresistible! What a perfect cheesecake! Congrats on making the Top 9!
Thanks MJ! The oreo crust really does make a difference.
Oh MY!!! What a treat you have here!! Congrats on the Top 9!!!
Oreos make any dish, a happy dish
ratedkb.blogspot.com
This is a fantastic recipe ~ I love love love CHEESECAKES! Even better that you’ve put Oreos in them hehe Thanks for sharing and congrats for being Top 9 on Foodbuzz~
I’m making this tomorrow! :)
I’m a cheesecake lover, and this one looks absolutely stunning and delicious!!
What a work of art! Here’s a secret: I’ve never liked cheesecake, but I would eat taste this cheesecake in a heartbeat (the power of food styling at work here). Wonderful. I LOVE visiting to see what you’re baking next. Congrats on Top 9.
I want…wait..no..NEED this right now!! It looks amazing!
Oreos are my guilty pleasure, and they indeed make cheesecakes much more indulging! Yours is so so inviting, would love a piece!
This is my brother’s fav dessert combo! I’ll have to make this for him!!!!!!! :D
How did I only just discover this post?! Love love LOVE cookies and cream cheesecake. Nom nom!
I totally thought I made a comment on this gorgeous cheesecake. It seriously looks fantastic, I always choose cookies and cream ice cream, so would love this lovely cake! Beautiful, Hugs, Terra
Cheesecake sure would be my valentine too! This looks absolutely gorgeous. I’m drooling already
Oh, terrific! I love cheesecake.
Cheers,
Rosa
wow, your pictures look insaneeeeeeeeeee.. that first one with all the chocolate drizzle. holy moly! NICE
Oreo cheesecake might just be one of my all time favorites. Love the drizzle!
Heaven in cheesecake form – this looks delicious!
Ummmmm….YES Please!!!! LOL:-) Love the oreo cookie in the cheesecake filling:-) Hugs, Terra
Come over. I’ll save you a slice.
This looks so amazing! I love a good cheesecake and cookies and cream is a heavenly combination. Gorgeous too! I love it!
This cheesecake looks amazing!!! I love everything Oreo! I want a slice.
This is amazing, especially that Oreo base. Love it!
This is one gorgeous cheesecake. I adore cheesecake but so rarely make it. I have a sudden urge to whip one up.
Thanks Kim!