Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe

The Ultimate Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe

Salted caramel chocolate chip cheesecake represents the ultimate dessert fantasy for serious sweet lovers.

Rich and decadent layers blend seamlessly into a symphony of contrasting flavors.

Silky cream cheese provides a luxurious backdrop for scattered chocolate morsels that promise delightful surprises.

The classic Oreo crust adds a delectable crunch that complements the smooth filling perfectly.

Each forkful delivers an intricate dance of salty and sweet notes that will make you swoon.

Homemade caramel redefines this dessert from ordinary to extraordinary with its golden, glistening drizzle.

Prepare to become the star baker among your friends and family.

Decadent Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

  • Indulge in Decadent Layers: This cheesecake combines rich cream cheese, buttery Oreo crust, gooey caramel, and chocolate chips, creating a symphony of luxurious flavors that dance across your taste buds.
  • Master Effortless Gourmet Baking: With straightforward steps and basic kitchen tools, even novice bakers can craft a stunning dessert that looks and tastes professionally made, boosting kitchen confidence.
  • Customize Your Sweet Experience: Drizzle extra caramel sauce, sprinkle sea salt, or add more chocolate chips to personalize each slice, making every serving a unique culinary adventure that reflects your taste preferences.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Delight: Perfect for gatherings, holidays, or special occasions, this cheesecake serves 12 people and offers a balanced nutrition profile with its mix of proteins, fats, and indulgent sweetness.

Key Ingredients for Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Crust Base:
  • Oreo Cookies: Classic chocolate sandwich cookies providing a rich, dark base for the cheesecake with sweet chocolate flavor.
  • Butter (Melted): Binds cookie crumbs together, creating a firm and cohesive crust foundation.
Cheesecake Filling:
  • Cream Cheese (Softened): Smooth, creamy base that gives cheesecake its signature rich texture and tangy flavor.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds sweetness and creates a silky, dense filling with smooth consistency.
  • Eggs: Provide structure and help bind the cheesecake filling together.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic notes.
  • Mini Chocolate Chips: Adds delightful chocolate bursts throughout the creamy filling.
Caramel and Topping:
  • Granulated Sugar: Primary ingredient for creating deep, golden caramel sauce.
  • Butter: Enriches caramel with smooth, rich flavor and glossy texture.
  • Heavy Cream: Provides luxurious creaminess and helps stabilize caramel sauce.
  • Salt (Sea Salt or Kosher): Balances sweetness and enhances caramels complex flavor profile.
  • Extra Mini Chocolate Chips: Decorative topping for added chocolate crunch.

How to Make Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Step 1: Prepare Caramel Sauce

Heat sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant spatula. Watch the sugar melt into brown clumps and continue mixing until fully dissolved.

Step 2: Add Butter to Caramel

Incorporate butter, stirring until completely dissolved for 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Mix in Cream

Gradually add heavy cream while stirring continuously to manage bubbling. Let it boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Step 4: Finish Caramel Sauce

Stir in salt and allow to cool completely. Transfer to a glass jar and refrigerate.

Step 5: Prepare Oven and Pan

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Thoroughly grease a 9-inch springform pan.

Step 6: Create Cookie Crust

Combine ingredients for crust:
  • Crushed Oreo cookies
  • Melted butter

Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Step 7: Whip Cream Cheese

Use a stand mixer or electric beater to whip softened cream cheese until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 8: Blend Cheesecake Filling

Slowly mix in:
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Eggs (add individually)
  • Vanilla extract

Ensure smooth consistency after each addition.

Step 9: Add Chocolate Chips

Gently fold mini chocolate chips into the mixture. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle extra chips on top.

Step 10: Bake Cheesecake

Bake for 40-50 minutes until mostly set with a slight jiggle in the center.

Step 11: Cool and Chill

Run a thin knife along the edges of the pan. Cool on a wire rack completely, then refrigerate overnight in the springform pan.

Step 12: Warm Caramel Sauce

Briefly warm caramel sauce in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving.

Step 13: Serve and Decorate

Remove cheesecake from the pan. Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the top. Optionally sprinkle additional mini chocolate chips and sea salt. Slice and serve immediately.

Tips for Perfecting Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

  • Control Sugar Melting: Watch sugar closely during caramel sauce preparation to prevent burning, stirring constantly and maintaining medium heat for smooth, golden results.
  • Cream Cheese Temperature: Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature before mixing to ensure ultra-smooth, lump-free cheesecake filling with perfect texture.
  • Prevent Cracks: Bake cheesecake in a water bath or place a shallow pan of water beneath to create humidity, reducing chances of surface cracking during baking.
  • Chocolate Chip Distribution: Gently fold chocolate chips to avoid overmixing, ensuring even spread throughout the cheesecake without sinking to the bottom.
  • Caramel Drizzling Technique: Warm caramel sauce briefly and use a spoon or squeeze bottle for precise, elegant drizzling right before serving to maintain sauce's perfect consistency.

Storing and Reheating Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

  • Refrigeration: Wrap the cheesecake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before storing in the refrigerator. Keep it fresh for up to 5 days, ensuring the delicate flavors remain intact and the texture stays creamy and smooth.
  • Freezing: Carefully place individual slices or the entire cheesecake in a freezer-safe container. Seal completely to prevent freezer burn, storing up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best taste and texture restoration.
  • Reheating: Gently warm individual slices at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. Avoid using the microwave, which can make the cheesecake tough or soggy. Drizzle fresh caramel sauce just before enjoying to revive its decadent flavor and creamy consistency.

Pairing Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake with Coffee

  • Pair with Sweet Sips: Complement the rich, decadent cheesecake with a glass of sweet dessert wine like moscato or a creamy Irish cream liqueur. These drinks mirror the cheesecake's luxurious caramel and chocolate notes, creating a delightful taste harmony.
  • Contrast with Bitter Brew: Balance the sweetness by serving alongside a dark roast coffee or an espresso. The coffee's robust, slightly bitter profile cuts through the dessert's richness, refreshing your palate between each delectable bite.
  • Elevate with Textural Crunch: Garnish with toasted chopped pecans or almonds around the plate's edge. These nuts add a delightful crunch that contrasts the smooth cheesecake texture while enhancing the caramel's nutty undertones.
  • Cool Down with Creamy Companion: Add a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side. Its cold, creamy nature provides a perfect temperature and flavor counterpoint to the warm caramel and dense cheesecake.

Variations of Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

  • Nutty Caramel Chocolate Cheesecake: Replace Oreo cookies with ground almonds or pecans in the crust for a rich, nutty foundation that complements the salted caramel perfectly.
  • Espresso Salted Caramel Edition: Add a tablespoon of instant espresso powder to the cheesecake filling to create a deep, coffee-enhanced flavor that pairs beautifully with the caramel's sweetness.
  • Dark Chocolate Intense Version: Swap mini chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks and incorporate cocoa powder into the filling for a more intense chocolate experience that balances the caramel's richness.
  • Raspberry Caramel Swirl Variation: Create a raspberry sauce and swirl it through the cheesecake filling before baking, adding a tart fruity layer that cuts through the creamy texture and caramel sweetness.
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Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Recipe


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4.7 from 24 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Sinful Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake promises pure indulgence with its rich chocolate base and silky caramel swirls. Rich layers of creamy cheesecake and chocolate chips invite passionate dessert lovers to savor each luxurious, irresistible bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 3 packages (8 ounces/226 grams each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (14 ounces/397 grams) sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (170 grams) mini chocolate chips

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (100 grams) Oreo cookies, finely crushed
  • 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) unsalted butter, melted

Flavoring Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) vanilla extract
  • Sea salt (optional, for topping)
  • Additional mini chocolate chips (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Create a luscious caramel sauce by melting granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heat-resistant spatula until it transforms into a rich amber liquid.
  2. Introduce unsalted butter and whisk vigorously until completely integrated, allowing the mixture to bubble and darken for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Stream in heavy cream (235 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces) while continuously stirring, managing potential splattering, and allow the mixture to simmer for one minute before removing from heat.
  4. Incorporate kosher salt, stir thoroughly, and let the caramel cool completely before transferring to a glass container for refrigeration.
  5. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and generously grease a 9-inch (23-centimeter) springform pan with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
  6. Crush Oreo cookies into fine crumbs and blend with melted unsalted butter, pressing the mixture firmly and evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan to form a compact crust.
  7. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, cream softened cream cheese until smooth and light, approximately 2-3 minutes.
  8. Gradually incorporate sweetened condensed milk, mixing until fully combined and creamy.
  9. Add eggs one at a time, ensuring complete integration after each addition, then mix in vanilla extract for enhanced flavor profile.
  10. Gently fold mini chocolate chips into the cream cheese mixture, reserving some for topping.
  11. Pour the cheesecake batter over the prepared crust, smoothing the surface and sprinkling remaining chocolate chips on top.
  12. Bake for 40-50 minutes, looking for a slightly jiggly center while the edges appear set.
  13. Once baked, run a thin knife around the pan’s edges to prevent cracking during cooling.
  14. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate overnight for optimal texture.
  15. Before serving, warm the prepared caramel sauce briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
  16. Carefully remove the cheesecake from the springform pan, drizzle with warm caramel sauce, and optionally sprinkle with flaky sea salt for a gourmet finishing touch.

Notes

  • Whip up a decadent caramel sauce by carefully melting sugar until it transforms into a rich, golden liquid.
  • Incorporate butter smoothly, creating a silky base that promises intense flavor and luxurious texture.
  • Gradually stream heavy cream while stirring, watching the mixture bubble and transform into a luscious caramel consistency.
  • Sprinkle in sea salt to elevate the sauce’s complexity, balancing sweetness with a subtle savory kick.
  • Refrigerate the cooled caramel in a glass jar, allowing flavors to meld and intensify before drizzling over your stunning cheesecake masterpiece.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 360 kcal
  • Sugar: 29 g
  • Sodium: 290 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg
Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen

Founder, Pastry Chef & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Artisanal Bread Making
  • Exquisite Pastry Craftsmanship
  • Creative Dessert Presentation
  • Flavor Profile Development
  • Menu Concept Innovation.

Education

Savannah Technical College

  • Program: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Baking & Pastry Arts
  • Focus: A specialized program focusing on baking and pastry fundamentals, including bread making, cake decorating, and advanced pastry techniques. Developed creative presentation skills and an understanding of ingredient functions through lab-based practice.

Mary Ellen is the heart and soul of thatsmyhome.com. As the founder, pastry chef, and recipe developer, she refined her skills at Savannah Technical College with an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Baking & Pastry Arts. 

Mary blends classic techniques with modern twists to make artisanal breads, beautifully crafted pastries, and desserts full of unique flavor. Her passion is evident in every recipe, and she enjoys sharing her expertise through hands-on pastry workshops and insightful articles in local culinary magazines.

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