Decadent, creamy and perfectly luscious, this sweet potato cheesecake recipe is the best of sweet potato pie but even richer and more delicious! If you love all things fall, check out these Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Bars, Classic Sweet Potato Pie, Sweet Potato Coffee Cake and this Sweet Potato Chess Pie. If you want a classic cheesecake, try my New York style right here.
The Best Fall Dessert: Spiced Sweet Potato Cheesecake Recipe
If you know anything about Grandbaby Cakes, you definitely know that family traditions are super important to me. They are the main ingredient in all of my recipes. As much as heritage is the backbone of everything I do, I am so excited to adopt new rituals that mean just as much to me.
My friends have always been such an important part of my life. That’s why Friendsgiving is becoming so integral to my holiday celebrations each year.
This year, I’m having a couple of Friendsgiving celebration potlucks that I just can’t wait for. With a name like Grandbaby Cakes, it goes without saying that I’m usually in charge of dessert. I love dessert on holidays because I truly believe it is about saving the best for last. I can’t think of a better way for a holiday to end than with a slice of something decadent and sweet served with a side of laughter and love from family and friends.
Why Bake this Sweet Potato Cheesecake Recipe?
This Sweet Potato Cheesecake is the best of all things old and new. In my family, sweet potato pie is the magical mainstay for the dessert table. It is epic in every possible way and is one of the most important last courses of our meal. While most wouldn’t play around with the classics, I believe messing with tradition is something I excel at.
I love playing with new flavors in traditional recipes that my family and friends know and love. This cheesecake combines the vintage elements of sweet potato pie with cheesecake in a fresh and modern way. The end result is smooth, creamy, and luscious. When you taste it, you are reminded of pie but with a much richer and indulgent experience.
How to Make Sweet Potato Cheesecake
To really amp up the flavor in this cheesecake, I added McCormick vanilla extract because the flavor is so pure and adds such a wonderful essence to sweet potatoes.
I also added McCormick ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg for a lovely spice kick perfect for the holiday season. Each of these McCormick flavors enhances the unique character of sweet potatoes in a wonderfully distinctive way.
Trust me when I say you need this beautiful Sweet Potato Cheesecake on your Friendsgiving dessert table. I’d love to see photos of this cheesecake served right in your home at your own wonderful celebrations.
Disclosure: I partnered with McCormick for this Spiced Sweet Potato Cheesecake recipe post, but all opinions expressed here are my own. I am grateful for authentic partnerships like this.
Spiced Sweet Potato Cheesecake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnaps
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons melted butter
For the Cheesecake:
- 24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 3 blocks
- 1/4 cup sour cream room temperature
- 1/4 cup heavy cream room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1/3-2/3 cup granulated sugar See note below!
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes See note below!
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon McCormick pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon McCormick ground nutmeg
Instructions
For the Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 inch spring form pan with non-stick baking spray. Make sure it is completely secure.
- Whisk together gingersnaps, sugar, and butter.
- Press gingersnap crust into the bottom of the pan and bake for 10 minutes then set aside.
For the Cheesecake:
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, brown sugar and granulated sugar to the mixing bowl and mix for about 4-5 minutes on high speed until well mixed.
- Mix in four eggs in one at a time until well incorporated then add in sweet potatoes and blend well.
- Slow mixer down to medium low and add flour, vanilla, ground cinnamon and nutmeg then add mixture into the springform pan.
- Bake for 1 hour then turn off oven and leave cheesecake in the oven with door closed for 4 hours. Remove cheesecake from oven and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve with caramel sauce, nuts and whipped cream if desired.
Very tasty and smooth recipe. I used half and half and buttermilk instead of sour cream and heavy cream and omitted the nutmeg for Amanda Freitag’s baking spice – still delish and smooth
Do I need to make a water bath for this cheesecake.
Do I need to make a water bath for this cheesecake recipe?
The taste of the cheesecake is AMAZING. But I’ve made it twice and each time, it cracks in the middle. Maybe it needs the waterbath?
First time making a sweet potato cheesecake and it was heavenly. I dare say that sweet potatoes are better than pumpkin too. The gingersnap crust is delicious and a perfect pairing with the sweet potato. Also don’t skip the homemade whip cream and caramel sauce—it brings it altogether! Great recipe!!
I made the cheesecake and slightly modified the crust. I did not add the walnuts but caramel and some extra creamy whipped topping (can). It was delicious not overly sweet and even had a compliment that it tasted so decadent and rich that it could have been served at The Cheesecake Factory. The crust was delicious and I added 2 graham cracker bars to cut the ginger snaps strength a bit. A personal preference. I will be making this again for Thanksgiving. Thank you for this recipe. You deserve 10 ⭐