Swirled Caramel Fudge Cheesecake Recipe

You’ve got the best of all the delicious worlds in this cheesecake that is swirled both in the middle and on top with caramel and hot fudge. Everything from the graham cracker crust all the way up to the very top is irresistible!

I have this son. His name is Elijah Daniel. He is one of my favorite people in the world because he is such a dynamic, never-boring, charismatic human. But when it comes to food? He’s just plain picky. His favorite food in all the world is and has always been CHEESE.

A few years ago he caught me perusing a list of national food days and he found his dream: national cheese lover’s day (January 20th)! So every single year since, and this boy literally never misses a year, he requests that I make him a cheesecake.

This year we decided on caramel and chocolate as a theme because you just can’t go wrong with that, am I right? It is possibly my favorite homemade cheesecake yet, but I may or may not say that every time. Regardless, you’ve gotta give this one a try!

How To Make Caramel Fudge Cheesecake

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Mix well and press into the bottom of a springform pan and 2/3 of the way up the sides. Bake crust in the preheated oven for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

STEP 2

While the crust is baking, combine the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream and vanilla in a large bowl. Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer using paddle attachment on medium-high speed until creamy, light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add eggs one at a time and beat on low speed until just combined. Pour half of the batter over the crust. Drizzle half of the toppings over the top and swirl using a fork or the edge of a knife. Pour the remaining cheesecake batter over the top. Drizzle the remaining toppings over the top and swirl again.

STEP 3

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-70 minutes, or until the cheesecake jiggles uniformly with a gentle shake.

Turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to cool for 15 minutes while sitting in the oven to avoid cracking. Transfer to the counter and let cool to room temperature. Chill for a minimum of one hour before serving. Drizzle extra toppings over the top just before serving.

Recipe Notes

• Remove side of the pan by running a butter knife down and around the entire cake.
• If you’ve removed the pan from the oven and realize the center is almost set but not quite cooked all the way through, do not fret! Throw it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes and test again.
• If the top is starting to brown too quickly, place a tented piece of foil over the top for the remainder of the cooking time.

How To Know When Cheesecake Is Done

There are three simple methods for being able to tell when a cheesecake is cooked through in the center. Perform either or all of these tests!

1. If you give the pan a gentle shake, the cheesecake filling should all jiggly uniformly. The center of the cheesecake should jiggle at the same rate as the outer edges. You can also try to lightly touch to top in a few different spots. The center should feel as firm as the outer edges do. If the center is visibly uncooked, it will need to go back into the oven for 5-10 minutes.
2. Insert a toothpick into the cheesecake near the edge and note how easily it enters. Now insert a toothpick into the center and take note of how that feels. They should feel very similar and the toothpick should be nearly clean when removed. If it doesn’t feel the same and the toothpick has batter stuck to it after being inserted into the center, put it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
3. If you have a ThermaPen (<– affiliate link), stick it into the center of the cheesecake. You’ll want to see an internal temperature of 150 degrees F (66 deg C).

How To Store and Freeze Cheesecake

Cover the cheesecake with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze cheesecake (minus toppings) for up to 4 months, after tightly wrapping it with foil and placing inside a resealable freezer bag.

Delicious Cheesecake Recipes

• Cherry Almond Cheesecake – Saturated with almond flavoring and delicious tart cherries, this is the yummiest cherry cheesecake you’ll ever make! Layers of tart cherries below and above the cheesecake, you’ll have an incredible flavorful bite no matter what you do.
• Creamy Butterfinger Cheesecake – As if cheesecake couldn’t get more delicious, add Butterfinger candy bars to send it over the top! 
• Peach Topped Blueberry Cheesecake – The combination of blueberries and peaches is to-die-for in this cheesecake! Great dessert for summer.
• Banana Cheesecake – This creamy cheesecake is the perfect way to use up ripe bananas!
• Instant Pot Cheesecake – Avoid cracking and hassle by making creamy, flavorful cheesecake in your Instant Pot! Cooks perfectly every time and tastes delicious served solo or with fruit, chocolate or caramel as a topping.