Description
A luxurious amaretto cheesecake with a crisp vanilla wafer crust, rich almond-scented cheesecake filling, and a light, fluffy amaretto mousse finished with crunchy sliced almonds.
Ingredients
Vanilla Wafer Crust
2¼ cups vanilla wafer crumbs
10 tbsp salted butter, melted
3 tbsp granulated sugar
Amaretto Cheesecake Filling
24 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp almond extract
5 tbsp amaretto liqueur
4 large eggs, room temperature
Amaretto Mousse
1 cup + 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream, cold
5 tbsp powdered sugar
3 tbsp amaretto liqueur
¼ tsp almond extract
6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
Sliced almonds, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides.
- Mix vanilla wafer crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then cool. Wrap pan exterior in foil.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and flour on low speed until smooth.
- Add sour cream, almond extract, and amaretto. Mix until combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing gently after each addition.
- Pour filling into crust. Place pan in a larger pan and add warm water halfway up the sides.
- Bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until edges are set and center slightly jiggles.
- Turn oven off and let cheesecake sit for 30 minutes with door closed, then crack door for another 20–30 minutes.
- Refrigerate cheesecake for at least 5–6 hours or overnight.
- For the mousse, whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, amaretto, and almond extract to stiff peaks.
- Beat cream cheese until smooth, then gently fold in whipped cream.
- Remove cheesecake from pan, spread mousse on top, pipe around edges, and garnish with sliced almonds.
Notes
Always mix cheesecake batter on low speed to avoid air bubbles.
A water bath prevents cracks and ensures a creamy texture.
Chill thoroughly before slicing for clean cuts.
Serve well-chilled for best flavor and structure.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
