Description
Indulge in this vibrant Frosted Animal Cookie Cheesecake, a delightful dessert featuring a buttery cookie crust, creamy vanilla cheesecake studded with frosted animal cookies, and a luscious whipped cream topping with playful sprinkles. Perfect for celebrations or a fun treat!
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 2 cups frosted animal cookies, crushed (plus extra for garnish)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake Filling
- 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup frosted animal cookies, roughly chopped
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- Pink food coloring (optional)
- Rainbow sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). In a bowl, combine the crushed frosted animal cookies with the melted butter until the mixture is well combined. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan to form an even crust. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow it to cool while you prepare the filling.
- Make the cheesecake filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add sour cream and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating on low speed and scraping down the bowl sides as needed to ensure even mixing. Gently fold in the roughly chopped frosted animal cookies to add sweet crunch.
- Bake the cheesecake: Pour the cheesecake filling evenly over the cooled crust and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the center is slightly jiggly but mostly set. Once done, turn off the oven, crack the oven door open, and let the cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour to prevent cracking.
- Chill the cheesecake: After cooling in the oven, remove the cheesecake from the oven and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to ensure it sets perfectly and develops rich flavor.
- Prepare the topping: In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and a few drops of pink food coloring until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe this whipped cream evenly over the chilled cheesecake.
- Garnish and serve: Decorate the top of the cheesecake with extra frosted animal cookies and rainbow sprinkles for a fun, colorful finish. Slice and serve chilled for a delightful dessert experience.
Notes
- You can use store-bought whipped topping instead of homemade whipped cream for convenience.
- Be sure not to overbake the cheesecake to maintain a creamy texture and prevent cracking.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool gradually as instructed to achieve a smooth finish.
- Adding the chopped animal cookies inside the batter provides texture and surprise bites of sweetness.
- The pink food coloring and sprinkles are optional but add a festive look.
