This maple cheesecake is a nice departure from the pumpkin cheesecake that graces most Thanksgiving tables. No doubt, pumpkin cheesecake is delicious, but this maple version is truly something special. I made it for a party that I had at my house, and everyone raved about this cheesecake. They could not exactly put their finger on what the flavoring was, which is good, because sometimes maple can be incredibly overpowering. This is delicate, creamy, and rich. I found these cool dehydrated maple flakes at Williams-Sonoma, and they were the perfect garnish for this cheesecake.
Cheesecake is the perfect make-ahead dessert. You can make it a month ahead of time and freeze it until you are ready to use it. Defrost the cake in the refrigerator for 24 hours and then you are good to go. Cheesecakes are also really easy to make. The hardest part is getting the cooking time right. I always have to fight with myself to not overbake a cheesecake. It will look like the center is not cooked, but it is. You just have to trust. If you overbake it, it will lose its creaminess, and that is what cheesecake is all about. No matter when you make a cheesecake, you need to make sure that you give it enough time to chill in the fridge. It is a very important step and unless you start baking it in the morning, it needs to be made the day before you want to serve it.
For the crust:
3/4 cup flour
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans
For the cheesecake:
3 (8-ounce) packages room temperature cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) container room temperature mascarpone cheese
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup half-and-half
2 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs at room temperature
Maple Whipped Cream:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 packets Whip-It (optional)
maple flakes (optional)
Combine the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter and add the pecans.
Press the mixture into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely.
Combine the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a stand mixer. Beat until smooth.
Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, half-and-half, flour, and vanilla. Mix well.
Add the eggs, and beat until just combined.
Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until about a 3-inch area around the cheesecake is set and the middle still jiggles. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Gently run a knife around the edges, and remove the ring. Cool for 2 hours, and then cover and chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Mine cracked a little. So I made a maple flavored whipped cream to cover it up. No one was the wiser.
Whip the heavy cream and Whip-It until soft peaks form. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and continue to whip until it is thick. I put mine in a piping bag and piped it over the top. Sprinkle with maple flakes.
You can make the cheesecake a few days ahead, or even freeze it for up to one month, but I would add the whipped cream the day that I was serving it.
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PinIngredients
- For the crust:
- 3/4 cup flour
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup toasted chopped pecans
- For the cheesecake:
- 3 (8-ounce) packages room temperature cream cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) container room temperature mascarpone cheese
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 eggs at room temperature
- Maple Whipped Cream:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 packets Whip-It (optional)
- maple flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter and add the pecans.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely.
- Combine the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a stand mixer. Beat until smooth.
- Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, half-and-half, flour, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Add the eggs, and beat until just combined.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled crust.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until about 3-inch area around the cheesecake is set and the middle still jiggles. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Gently run a knife around the edges, and remove the ring. Cool for 2 hours, and then cover and chill for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Whip the heavy cream and Whip-It until soft peaks form. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and continue to whip until it is thick. I put mine in a piping bag and piped it over the top. Sprinkle with maple flakes.
- You can make the cheesecake a few days ahead, or even freeze it for up to one month, but I would add the whipped cream the day that I was serving it.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:46 am
This looks AWESOME! I love maple, it is easily my favorite fall flavor. Might have to be on my thanksgiving list.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:03 pm
This was such a hit when I made it, and a nice change from the pumpkin that everyone serves.
May 22nd, 2016 at 4:29 pm
How was this for sweetness? Was it too sweet with the brown sugar and maple syrup?
May 26th, 2016 at 11:45 am
It depends on your taste, but I don’t think so.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:55 am
Nice fix on the cracking, they crack so easily!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:03 pm
yes, they really do. I have sort of given up on caring about if they do or not. Life is too short, right?
November 21st, 2011 at 9:56 am
I recently made my frist cheesecake and it was delicious! Now I want to make this maple cheesecake because I love anything maple and cheesecakes are starting to grow on me 🙂
November 21st, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Cheesecakes are great because they have to be made ahead of time. And they are really easy and you can flavor them a million ways.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:04 am
This looks incredible!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:00 pm
It was amazeballs. I made it for a party and it was gone before I really got to have a real taste.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:23 am
SO pretty! AND sounds divine!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:00 pm
thank you Sara!
November 21st, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Oh my gosh, you might have just changed my pumpkin cheesecake plans. I love the pecan crust!
November 21st, 2011 at 12:59 pm
this is a really special cheesecake. I was surprised at how amazing it was.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:31 pm
This looks heavenly! What a lovely winter take on a classic dessert! I’m adding this to my ‘must-bake’ list right away! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers,
Christi
November 22nd, 2011 at 3:20 am
Looks terrific!
November 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 am
thank you so much!
November 23rd, 2011 at 5:37 pm
I have mine baking right now…taking to dessert for post Thanksgiving dinner get together…
🙂 Thanks Bree!!!
November 23rd, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Ok… so I did use a shortbread pre-made shell… with that…I had enough to make 2 cheesecakes… I only have 1 left… they were not even chilled yet and my husband, and 2 oldest kiddos LOVED this. Thank you again Bree… Happy Thanksgiving!!!
November 24th, 2011 at 11:49 am
I am so glad! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
November 24th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
You are welcome! This is a really good cheesecake. It was gone in minutes when I made it.
November 29th, 2011 at 10:11 am
I made this for Thanksgiving – just a hint of maple flavor. Everyone loved it.
I love you site!
Thanks!
November 29th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
I am so glad Vera!
November 17th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Hi Bree,
The cheesecake looks so delicious! My son is allergic to nuts, can i substitute the crust to a regular graham cracker crust?
November 18th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Of course! Or just leave the nuts out.
December 6th, 2012 at 12:23 am
I just found this recipe on pinterest. It sounds so yummy.
I didn’t know that cheesecakes could be frozen. I can’t wait to try it.
December 8th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
They freeze really well.
July 19th, 2013 at 7:51 am
This was the first cheesecake I ever made and it was AMAZING! Thank you! I used gluten free flour and no one could tell the difference.
July 22nd, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Congratulations! This a really good cheesecake recipe, love it.
December 28th, 2013 at 7:51 pm
As always Bree your recipes are amazing, I know that if I want to try something new, I can trust your recipes to deliver, so thank you. I loved this cheesecake, as did everyone who tasted it. I’ve been making cheesecakes for a bit now and they never crack due to the water bath I bake them in, and this one didn’t either. Can I just ask what tip you used for the piping?
December 31st, 2013 at 11:42 am
How sweet are you? Thanks so much. I am so glad that you liked this cheesecake, this one is amazing.
November 25th, 2014 at 11:31 am
This is delicious! I made it last year and am just going to the market now to get all the stuff to make it again!
November 27th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
This one is good! Glad that you liked it enough to make it again!
July 24th, 2015 at 4:52 am
Hi Bree, I made this cheesecake a couple of times, it was amazing, everyone loved it, so thank you!
I’d like to make it for a party this weekend but I bought a bigger tin, I originally made it in a 10″ tin but this new one is 11″, any idea how I can change the recipe to fit the new tin? Thanks again
July 24th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
It shouldn’t change it too much, the baking time might be different. I wouldn’t play with the recipe at all.
September 11th, 2015 at 8:00 pm
Your instructions say to bake for 35-40 minutes. But, at what temperature?
September 15th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
350.
October 6th, 2015 at 11:52 pm
The nuts go in the crust, right? I didnt see them in the directions.
October 15th, 2015 at 11:56 am
“Combine the flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter and add the pecans.”
February 16th, 2016 at 1:20 pm
I thought Heather was dairy free. I don’t understand why all the recipes with dairy. Anyone know of a site that is completely dairy, gluten and nut free?
February 22nd, 2016 at 4:18 pm
I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never, ever advertised as dairy, gluten, and nut free.
July 9th, 2017 at 10:02 pm
I made his today, and added fine ground coffee beans to the cheesecake batter for some coffee flavor. The cheesecake batter tasted so good! For the crust, I used chocolate graham crackers, a little ground coffee beans, butter and a little brown sugar. It just came out of the oven! I hope it’s as good as it smells in my kitchen!
July 10th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Oh – I also used 4 packages of cream cheese because I didn’t have mascarpone. I just tried the cheesecake I made last night and it came out amazing! The dark chocolate flavor of the crust is perfect with the creaminess of the cheesecake. It’s overall not too sweet. I used 1/2 cup of brown sugar instead of 3/4 cup. I can’t even tell that i used less.