Amaretto Cheesecake is rich, creamy and full of almond flavor. It has amaretto (almond flavored liqueur) in the batter and sugared sliced almonds on top. The whole thing is drizzled with an Amaretto Cream Sauce for even more almond flavor.
What Is Amaretto?
Amaretto is a delicious almond-flavored liqueur that is great for cocktails and desserts. It originated in Italy and is typically made from apricot kernels or a combination of apricots and almonds. It has a sweet, nutty flavor.
Almond is one of my favorite flavorings for desserts, especially during the Christmas season.
Almond desserts, like this cheesecake and this Almond Cake with Amaretto Filling, seem formal and fancy to me.
This rich and decadent Amaretto Cheesecake is perfect for serving during the holidays when most people are willing to consume a few extra calories.
What’s Amaretto Cheesecake Made Of?
Amaretto Cheesecake starts with a Vanilla wafer crust, which I usually prefer to a graham cracker crust. A blend of cream cheese and sour cream in the filling creates a creamy, dense filling that has a little tang. The flavor of almond is a little on the light side. If you like a heavy almond flavor, add a few drops of almond extract.
A topping of sugared almonds gives some crunch and a luscious Amaretto Cream Sauce really rounds out the almond flavor.
If you wanted to cut down on the steps, this cheesecake is perfectly delicious without the sauce.
Recommended Equipment
- Electric Mixer– either a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer will do.
- Springform Pan– this recipe makes quite a bit of batter. You will need either a 9-inch springform pan with high sides or a 10-inch springform pan.
Tips For Success
Use room temperature ingredients and avoid overmixing.
Try not to overcook or undercook your cheesecake. When you turn the oven off, it should still wobble slightly in the middle. It will set more as it cools.
Storage
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
More Cheesecake Recipes
- Bananas Foster Cheesecake
- Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake
- Butterfinger Cheesecake
- Banana Pudding Cheesecake
- English Toffee Cheesecake
Amaretto Cheesecake
Equipment
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 3/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
Filling
- 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 6 large eggs
- 3 (8-ounce) containers sour cream
- 1/3 cup amaretto liqueur
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Amaretto Cream Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons Amaretto
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- To make crust, combine vanilla wafer crumbs, finely chopped almonds, brown sugar, and melted butter in a medium bowl. Transfer to a springform pan and press firmly on bottom and 1 inch up sides.Refrigerate until needed.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Make the filling. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until creamy and smooth. Gradually add sugar and cornstarch. Beat well to combine. (After this point you want to beat as little as possible.)
- Add eggs one at a time, beating just long enough to get most of egg incorporated into batter before adding the next one.
- Add sour cream, amaretto, and vanilla extract and beat on low speed just until evenly mixed.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan. Place pan on baking sheet and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Turn oven off but leave cheesecake in oven for another 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. Cheesecake should still have some jiggle in the middle when you shake the pan.
- Place on counter and let cool to room temperature.
- To make topping, melt butter in a small skillet. Add almonds and sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until almonds are light brown. Let cool partially (you don’t want to put it on the cheesecake while it is hot, but if they cool too much the almonds will all stick together.) and sprinkle on top of cheesecake.
- Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
- For Amaretto Cream Sauce, heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until simmering. In a small bowl, whisk together amaretto and cornstarch. Add to cream and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in sugar and let cool. Refrigerate.
- Drizzle with Amaretto Cream Sauce just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Originally published November 24, 2014.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
do you pour the cream sauce over the cooled cheesecake?
Yes. Sorry I forgot to add that part Sue!
Made this recipe for Father’s Day. It was great! Not too sweet or heavy to enjoy after a prime rib dinner, either. Thank you for helping make the day special.
Just found this recipe on Pinterest. It looks absolutely insane! Oh man, I am bookmarking this one for the near future. Exactly what I’m craving right now!
Recipe looks absolutely amazing and I plan on making two of these beauties. What size springform pan is to be used? I’m assuming a 10″ would be best judging by the amount of all ingredients. Please correct me if I am wrong. Cheers. 🙂
Either a 9 or 10 inch will be fine. Hope you enjoy!
I am crazy about amaretto at the moment.. so this delicious cheesecake is perfect for me! Definitely can see myself making the recipe for the upcoming Christmas…
Oh this looks delicious!
Beautiful cheesecake girl!
This looks so creamy and dreamy! I would love a great big slice — pinned!
This cheesecake looks so creamy…and dreamy! I’d love a great big slice! Pinned.
Wow, this cheesecake!!! Amaretto liqueur and an Amaretto Cream Sauce?! oh my gawd, please ship me three slices! and love the vanilla wafer crust, brilliant!!
Fancy! The addition of amaretto definitely makes a dessert more formal! Love this cheesecake! It sounds phenomenal! And your photos are gorgeous…especially those plates.Pinned
Well this is certainly one gorgeous looking cheesecake! I loveeee amaretto. This sounds so so good!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wow! How fluffy and delicious does this look?! I think its needs to go on my holiday baking list!
Oh Christin, you make the most mouthwatering cheesecakes! This one has got to be my favorite so far though because I love almond desserts too! Love the amaretto in here and wishing that piece of cheesecake was really in front of me! Looks incredible, hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
This looks sensational!! Save me a slice will ya??!! 🙂
Oh boy – I share your love of almond desserts. We just bought a new bottle of amaretto so I’m ready! And when we were eating our little choc pudding pie, we were saying how the Nilla wafer crust would be better for cheesecake. I’ve never seen or had amaretto cheesecake. It is totally the kind I’d love to try! Have a great Thanksgiving!
This looks insanely decadent and amazing in the best way possible – pinned!
Amaretto cheesecake?! Sign me up! This sounds amazing, Christin! Pinned!
Christen, you seriously are the queen of all the cheesecakes! You never cease to impress me with your newest cheesecake creations. And today’s one? I am in awe. Amaretto belongs in a cheesecake forever more. Amen. 🙂 Pinning!
Oh. My. Word. I want this so badly. That’s all. I’m basically speechless…all my favorite tastes on a plate. I need to order some new stretchy pants, because we need to make this. And eat the entire cheesecake, with no regrets.