| |

How to Make the Best Turtle Cheesecake Recipe

Many years ago, when my daughter was in high school, we made the best Turtle Cheesecake for Valentine’s Day that I have ever eaten! It was rich and delicious!

A decadent Turtle Cheesecake topped with chopped nuts, chocolate, and caramel drizzle sits on a glass cake stand. The background displays decorative text reading "Turtle Cheesecake" and the website "www.homewithgraceandjoy.com".

The creamy cheesecake had a combination of chocolate, caramel, and a nut topping that really put it over the top! I just recently found the recipe and thought it was worth sharing.

If this is your first time to have turtle cheesecake, you are in for a treat! This creamy and decadent cheesecake can be served at any special occasion or for your after dinner dessert. It is delicious any way you slice it!

I realize that you may not always have the time to make a homemade cheesecake. I can actually count on one hand the times I have made it for that reason. If that is you, you may be interested in my Turtle Cheesecake “Cheat” version.

Of course the homemade turtle cheesecake is better, but the quick version is still one of the best cheesecakes you can find – thanks to the toppings.

Homemade Turtle Cheesecake

Close-up of a Turtle Cheesecake topped with pecans and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce, with several sliced pieces visible in a foil pan.

Ingredients You Will Need

Ingredients

    Crust Ingredients

    Cheesecake Ingredients

    Topping Ingredients

    Instructions for Homemade Turtle Cheesecake

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Combine the crust ingredients in a medium bowl and press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform cake pan.
    3. Bake the buttery crust for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
    4. Beat the cream cheese until creamy and then add the sugar, cream, vanilla, and flour.
    5. Once the cheesecake batter is mixed well, add the eggs and incorporate well.
    6. Pour the cream cheese mixture onto the crust (in the spring form pan) and bake for 55 minutes.
    7. Let the cheesecake cool completely on a wire rack before removing the sides of the springform pan.
    8. Once the sides of the springform pan are removed, drizzle the chocolate ice cream topping in one direction and the caramel ice cream topping in the opposite direction, making a criss-cross pattern on top of the cheesecake.
    9. Add the pecans and mini chocolate chips to the top, and refrigerate.
    10. Chill at least 8 hours before slicing.
    A Turtle Cheesecake topped with chopped pecans and drizzled with chocolate is sliced into pieces and displayed on a glass cake stand, while greenery and candles decorate the table in the background.

    Different Options

    • Use other toppings besides chocolate and caramel.
    • Leave off the pecans.
    • Top the cheese cake with a chocolate ganache.
    • Make a homemade caramel sauce.
    • Melt peanut butter and drizzle it instead of caramel.
    • Use an Oreo cookie crust instead of graham crackers.
    • Use regular store-bought caramel and chocolate sauce instead of the Magic Shell.
    • Top with small candies such as chopped up turtle candies or mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
    • Keep it plain and top it with sour cream.
    • Use a food processor to grind graham crackers into fine crumbs to make your own graham cracker crust.

    My Quicker “Cheat” Version

    The homemade version of this Turtle Cheesecake is delicious! However, it does take quite a bit of time. Since that is not always an option, I came up with this “cheat” version.

    Collage showing a Turtle Cheesecake Easy Recipe. Top: ingredients—caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and cheesecake. Bottom: finished Cheat Version Turtle Cheesecake with pecans, drizzle; plain cheesecake; highlighted recipe text and website link.
    See the Easy cheat version here


    This recipe is very flexible. Add the toppings you want and leave off what you don’t want. As you see in the pictures above, I omitted the chocolate chips.

    A slice of Turtle Cheesecake topped with nuts and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce sits on a white decorative plate, placed on a table with a woven placemat and green leaves as part of the decor.

    Recommended Items

    disclosure

    1 – Springform Pan
    2 – Hand mixer
    3 – Stand mixer
    4 – Cooling Rack

    Join me each week as I share faith, food, and family recipes and ideas. Sign up below to receive them directly to your email. I would love to have you join me!

    Whether you make a homemade turtle cheesecake or turn a store bought cheesecake into an indulgent dessert, your guests are sure to love it! If you present it just right, no one may be able to tell which is which! If you try it, I would love to hear from you.

    Recipe Card

    You can print this recipe card to keep it handy, or pin the recipe on Pinterest for later use.

    Turtle Cheesecake

    Turtle Cheesecake

    This turtle cheesecake is very creamy and decadent. It is topped with chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and chocolate and caramel topping. It is a great dessert to serve at parties or to have for an after dinner dessert.

    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
    Additional Time 8 hours
    Total Time 9 hours 25 minutes

    Ingredients

    Graham Cracker Crust

    • 1 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs (You could also use an Oreo Crust.)
    • 1/4 Cup Melted Butter
    • 1/4 Cup Sugar

    Cheesecake

    • 3 (8 oz.) Pkgs. Cream Cheese at Room Temperature
    • 1 1/2 Cups Sugar
    • 1 Cup Light Cream
    • 1 T. Vanilla Extract
    • 5 T. Flour
    • 2 Eggs

    Topping

    • 1 Bottle of Chocolate Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
    • 1 Bottle of Caramel Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
    • 1 Package of Chopped Pecans
    • 1 Pkg. Mini Chocolate Chips

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Combine all the ingredients for the crust and press into the bottom of a buttered 9 inch springform cake pan.
    3. Bake the buttery crust for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
    4. Beat the cream cheese until creamy, then add the sugar, cream, vanilla, and flour.
    5. Once the cheesecake batter is mixed well, add the eggs and incorporate well.
    6. Pour the cream cheese mixture onto the crust (in the spring form pan), and bake for 55 minutes.
    7. Once it is finished, let it cool completely on a wire rack before removing the sides of the springform pan.
    8. Once the sides of the springform pan are removed, drizzle the chocolate ice cream topping in one direction and the caramel ice cream topping in the opposite direction, making a criss-cross pattern on top of the cheesecake.
    9. Add the pecans and mini chocolate chips to the top, and refrigerate.
    10. Chill at least 8 hours before slicing.

    Notes

    Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep refrigerated.

    © Susan Sikes
    Category: Desserts
    Turtle Cheesecake

    Related Posts

    Friends and Pound Cake
    How to Preserve Family Recipes with Sentiment
    The Best Bread Pudding Recipe: Easy and Delicious
    Easy Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

    Until next time,

    Closing Signature
    I disclose

    disclosure: Amazon affiliate advertising program (affiliate links) are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website. 

    “Let the whole earth shout to the Lord; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.” Psalms 98:4

    Similar Posts

    21 Comments

    1. Oh my word, Susan, had I known about this cheesecake I would have picked it for my birthday cake. It looks amazing! I love that there’s a cheat version too because most everyone asks me to bring a dessert and sometimes I’m so pressed for time I need something delicious but also quick and easy. I’m so excited to try this! Big hugs, CoCo

      Reply

      1. I love the cheat version. I made it for a church event last night, and it was great. However, after having the caramel and the peanut butter, the caramel is definitely better. You couldn’t really taste the peanut buttery flavor. I will just have to try a few other stores to find the caramel.

        Reply

    2. Oh wow, Susan, cheesecake, and nuts, this is perfect.
      I visited you via Miz Helen’s Cottage: Full Plate Thursday, 677
      My links: 51+52. It would be awesome if you would share your links with us M-S at SeniorSalonPitStop. You will find it under BLOGGING

      Reply

      1. We really like it. After trying both the caramel and the peanut butter, I have to say that we will stick with the caramel from now on.

        Reply

      2. Thank you so much! I am sorry, but I will share them in the future! 😊

        Reply
    3. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says:

      Holy Moly that looks good!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Hope your week is wonderful and warm!

      Reply

      1. My husband just finished off the last of the one I just made. He loves them!

        Reply

      1. I hope you love it! You have some really great recipes on your site. I want to try the cheeseburger soup – it looks delicious!

        Reply

    5. This looks amazingly tasty! I never tried cheesecake with pecan nuts, but I guess it’s time to try it out 😊

      Reply
    6. Estelle Forrest says:

      What a great next-level cheesecake! Thanks for sharing on SSPS, I hope to see you again next week.

      Reply

      1. I hope you love it! The homemade cheesecake is amazing, but I usually find myself using the cheat method.😁

        Reply

    9. Oh that looks amazing.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.