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Easy Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake

Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake made with a cookie crumb crust and topped with chocolate ganache. This cheesecake is garnished with broken peppermint candies and chocolate curls.

Instant Pot Cheesecake

Cheesecake in the Instant Pot isn't only delicious but it's also incredibly easy to make! Instant Pot Cheesecakes are simple to make and essentially worry-free once you put them in the pot to pressure cook.

Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake garnished with peppermint candies and chocolate curls.

To make this peppermint cheesecake you will need a 7-inch springform pan, a silicone sling (or one made out of aluminum foil), and of course, a pressure cooker.

Ingredients in Peppermint Cheesecake

  • Cream Cheese
  • Eggs - room temp
  • Heavy cream - used in the cheesecake and the ganache
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Cornstarch - used as a binder and thickening agent
  • Peppermint extract
  • Chocolate sandwich cookies - crushed
  • Butter - to bind the crust
  • Salt
  • Semi-sweet chocolate - chips or squares
Peppermint Cheesecake with crushed candy canes.

Cheesecake Crust

I prefer to bake my crust before adding the cheesecake batter to the mix. Blind baking helps prevent soggy crusts and it's a must for me when making my cheesecakes.

To make this peppermint cheesecake crust I use a food processor to crush the chocolate sandwich cookies. I then add the salt and the melted butter and blend until the mixture is all wet. It's quick and simple when using a food processor to make cheesecakes!

Slice of peppermint cheesecake topped with chocolate and crushed peppermint candies.

I lightly grease the inside of my springform pan and add the crust to the inside of the pan. I then use a spoon to spread the cookie crumbs along the bottom of the pan as well as up the sides of the pan.

I then blind bake my crust at 325° for 12 minutes. This will create a nice crisp crust for your cheesecake filling.

After baking, remove it from the oven and allow it to sit out while making the peppermint cheesecake batter.

Peppermint cheesecake on serving plate with a slice cut out of it.

How to Make an Instant Pot Cheesecake

It's fairly easy to make cheesecake in a pressure cooker even if you're a beginner!

When making cheesecakes it's important to use room temperature ingredients and to not overbeat your cheesecake batter. This will result in a lumpy cheesecake and it's one of the biggest complaints when making cheesecake. It can easily be avoided by not overbeating.

I use my food processor when mixing my ingredients because it is fast and efficient.

The first step is to blend the room temperature cream cheese until it is broken down and smooth. The room temperature heavy cream, granulated sugar, cornstarch, salt, chopped peppermints, and peppermint extract are added next and blended until smooth.

The last step to making this peppermint cheesecake batter is so add the eggs and blend them in short pulses until just combined. Remember, overbeating the cheesecake batter results in a lumpy cheesecake.

Making an Instant Pot Cheesecake only takes 1 cup of water in the liner before lowering the springform pan down into the inside of the pot.

I use aluminum foil to cover my cheesecake so that it doesn't gather as much water on top of the cheesecake as it is pressure cooking. This step is completely optional when making this Peppermint Cheesecake or any Instant Pot cheesecake for that matter.

RELATED: Instant Pot Snickerdoodle Cheesecake

A 7 inch instant pot cheesecake topped with ganache, crushed peppermints, and chocolate curls.

Instant Pot Cheesecake Sizes

For a 6 qt Instant Pot, you will need to use a 7-inch springform (or push) pan to make this peppermint cheesecake. You need at least a half-inch of clearance for the pressure cooker to build up pressure.

If you have an 8 qt or larger pressure cooker you can use an 8-inch pan. Since the pan is larger then cheesecake batter will create a thinner cheesecake.

Alternately, you can make mini cheesecakes using 4" springform pans. Simply prepare the crusts by dividing the cookie crumbs among three 4" pans and blind baking.

The batter is made the same but divided equally between the pans.

Pressure cooking time is different however! The time will be reduced to just 11 minutes when making mini cheesecakes.

Mini Peppermint Cheesecakes are great to give away during the holiday season. In fact, having fun with different Instant Pot cheesecake flavors is a great way to personal baked goods as Christmas gifts!

Slice of Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake on a while plate and decorative fork.

Instant Pot Cheesecake Flavors

The Instant Pot is a great way to make cheesecakes. In fact, I personally prefer to use my Instant Pot to make my cheesecakes because I love the way they turn out!

For the chocoholics, this Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake is for them! It has a cookie crumb crust with a chocolate cheesecake filling and is tolled with chocolate ganache. Garnishing this cheesecake are chocolate curls.

For fruit lovers, this Meyer Lemon Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Cheesecake, or Key Lime Cheesecake are the cheesecakes to make.

If you're looking for the classic cheesecake flavors, this simple Instant Pot Cheesecake recipe is great.

When baking during the holidays, you may be thinking festive! Either this Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake or this Snickerdoodle Cheesecake will definitely do the trick! Both cheesecakes have the flavors found in holiday and Christmas desserts.

Another note-worthy Christmas cheesecake is this Gingerbread cheesecake - it's perfect for the holidays and has the classic flavors of gingerbread.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 8 Slices

Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake

Slice of peppermint cheesecake

Instant Pot Peppermint Cheesecake made with a cookie crumb crust and topped with chocolate ganache. This cheesecake is garnished with broken peppermint candies and chocolate curls.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup heavy cream, room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • ¼ cup of crushed peppermint or candy canes
  • 1 cup water

Cheesecake Crust

  • 15 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
  • 4 tablespoon butter, melted
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Chocolate Ganache

  • 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup crushed peppermint or candy canes for garnish.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°
  2. Using a food processor or bag with a rolling pin, crush the chocolate sandwich cookies until ground finely.
  3. Mix in the melted butter and the salt.
  4. Combine until all of the cookies are moist.
  5. Lightly spray a 7-inch springform or push pan and add the crust mixture to the pan.
  6. Using a spoon, spread out the cookies evenly along the bottom and press the cookie crumbs up on the sides of the pan.
  7. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. (Keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn.)
  8. Remove pan from the oven once baked and set aside.
  9. Meanwhile, beat the room temperature cream cheese until it is creamy. (I use a food processor but you can use a hand mixer.)
  10. Add the heavy cream and blend well.
  11. Next, mix in the cornstarch, salt, sugar, crushed peppermint, and peppermint extract.
  12. Once everything is combined well add in the eggs one at a time.
  13. This step is important - do not overbeat the eggs. Add the eggs one at a time and stir (or pulse) until just combined.
  14. Spoon the cheesecake batter into the baked crust and lightly tap the pan on the counter to release any bubbles.
  15. Place aluminum foil on top of the cheesecake (optional)
  16. Add 1 cup of water to the inner liner of the Instant Pot.
  17. Carefully lower the cheesecake down into the inner liner using a silicone sling or a homemade one.
  18. Close the lid and the vent on the Instant Pot and set it to 40 minutes.
  19. Allow the cheesecake to naturally release pressure for 18 minutes before opening the lid.
  20. Remove the cheesecake from the Instant Pot and allow the cheesecake to cool for 10 minutes before placing it in the refrigerator to chill completely.
  21. Allow the cheesecake to chill for 24 hours before removing from the springform pan.


To Make the ganache,

  1. Place 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl.
  2. Add ½ cup of heavy cream to a small saucepan.
  3. Heat the heavy cream on medium heat until it is bubbly.
  4. Carefully pour the heated heavy cream on top of the chocolate chips.
  5. Wait a minute or two before stirring together.
  6. Allow cooling before pouring over the chilled cheesecake.


To Remove Cheesecake From the Springform Pan.

  1. Using a knife, carefully run the knife along the cheesecake to separate the cake from the pan.
  2. Remove the cheesecake from the pan and set it on a serving platter.
  3. Pour the cooled ganache over the cheesecake and allow the ganache to set before serving.
  4. If desired, add the crushed peppermint on top of the ganache.
  5. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Notes

This cheesecake is pressure-cooked under high pressure.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 643Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 420mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 2gSugar: 40gProtein: 9g

Nutrition calculation is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the cooking technique and the exact ingredients used. For informational purposes only.

Did you make this recipe?

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Rita

Friday 2nd of December 2022

Can you use an egg substitute for those allergic to eggs?

Dana

Friday 2nd of December 2022

I haven't personally done it but it should be fine! Plain Greek yogurt or sweetened condensed milk might do the trick.

Kaylah

Wednesday 30th of November 2022

What kind of heavy cream do you use ? Like table cream or whipping cream?

Dana

Thursday 1st of December 2022

Heavy whipping cream :)

Nadea

Thursday 23rd of December 2021

Nevermind. Used a different recipe that’s actually organized.

Dana

Thursday 23rd of December 2021

Okay, hope you like the recipe you picked! It's high pressure. Cheesecake is always cooked under high pressure in the pressure cooker. Have a great holiday!

Nadea

Thursday 23rd of December 2021

What pressure level?????????

Gail Montero

Friday 22nd of October 2021

What a show-stopping holiday dessert! What a huge hit this would be this Christmas!

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