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Samoa Cheesecake

🥥🍫❤️ Samoa Cheesecake is a smooth, creamy cheesecake with an Oreo crust and topped with chewy toasted coconut, caramel, and chocolate! If you’re a fan of Girl Scout Samoas Cookies, this homemade, rich, and decadent cheesecake with the same flavors is PURE PERFECTION! There are clear and easy directions, even if you’ve never made a cheesecake, so yours turns out amazing.

A slice of Samoa Cheesecake on a plate. - 3

Thin Mints and Samoas are my two favorite Girl Scout cookies. I could eat a sleeve of Thin Mints or half a box of Samoas in one sitting as a kid. So naturally, the ultimate indulgence for me is this Samoa Cheesecake. It’s everything I love in dessert form: a smooth, creamy, tangy cheesecake on an Oreo crust, topped with chewy coconut, gooey caramel, and a drizzle of chocolate that looks just like the beloved cookie.

It might seem intimidating to make cheesecake from scratch, but trust me, the water bath and cooling time are simple steps, and the first bite makes it all worth it. This is the kind of special dessert that fits right in at the holidays, for birthdays, or anytime you want to bring a little Girl Scout Cookie magic into your kitchen.

A caramel-drizzled chocolate cake on a cake stand with a slice being served. - 4

Ingredients in Samoas Cheesecake

Everything you need for your showstopping Samoas cheesecake is common and easy to find ingredients, including the following:

Oreo Crust – Oreos and butter (preferably unsalted). Not an Oreo lover? You can use graham crackers instead for a more traditional crust. Use the Graham Cracker Crust portion of the recipe from my Best No-Bake Cheesecake

For the Cheesecake:

Cream cheese – Use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese, NOT cream cheese from a tub. I use the Philadelphia brand. Do not use anything type of “cream cheese” product labeled lite, fat free, spreadable, or whipped. Your cheesecake will not turn out since most are made with lots of water and fillers
Sweetener – Both granulated sugar and light brown sugar. I use half white and half brown sugar in my cheesecake batter. After lots of trial and error, I find this to be just perfect, but you can use all granulated sugar
Heavy cream – Use heavy cream and not half-and-half
Sour cream – Use full-fat sour cream. This is key to the best cheesecake, adding a delicious tang and moisture. Plain Greek yogurt can be used in place of the sour cream. Just note that there will simply be l ess acidity to enhance the cheesecake flavor
Vanilla extract – I almost always have homemade vanilla extract on hand, but pure high-quality store-bought vanilla also works
Lime juice – Lime juice enhances the flavor of the cream cheese, helping to bring out that classic cheesecake flavor. Lemon juice adds to the tartness of the cream cheese, however, it is more prominent or detectable in the final overall flavor of the cheesecake than lime juice. Lime juice enhances, and lemon juice adds flavor. That’s why I choose lime
Salt
Egg yolks – Make sure to use large eggs and not another size. Save the whites for another use, like this show-stopping White Layer Cake . Or just make scrambled eggs with the whites
Cornstarch – All-purpose flour can be used instead. Simply increase the amount used to 3 tablespoons rather than the 2 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch that I call for
Toppings – Sweetened shredded coconut , caramel sauce , and chocolate chips. I use Baker’s Sweetened Shredded Coconut . It’s my gold standard in baking. Coconut can vary a ton from brand to brand in terms of the size, thickness it’s cut, coarseness, softness, sweetness, moisture, and on it goes. Use Baker’s or a very similar type of coconut for the best results. Make sure the coconut is sweetened because unsweetened coconut isn’t what you want

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

Ingredients to make Samoa Cheesecake. - 5

How to Make Samoa Cheesecake with Oreo Crust

Every step of this process is straightforward and my goal is to keep the directions easy to follow despite it looking like a lot of words. Cheesecakes just are.

Remember to scroll all the way down to the actual recipe card for full details!

You’re going to appreciate how simple this impressive recipe really is, so let’s get started!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, spray with cooking spray, and set aside.

Step 2: Blend Oreos into crumbs, mix with melted butter, and press into the pan. Bake for 15 minutes, let cool, then preheat the oven to 400°F.

Eggs being added to a cheesecake filling in a mixing bowl. - 7

Step 3: In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat cream cheese, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Mix in heavy cream, sour cream, vanilla, lime juice, and salt, then add egg yolks (15 seconds only) and finish with cornstarch. Only mix the eggs into the batter per the amount of time indicated. Overmixing will add too much air, which will cause the cheesecake to crack while baking. Not good!

Batter Tip

Scrape the sides of the bowl down while beating the cream cheese with the sugar. The smoother it is at the beginning of the process, the better the final result will be.

If cream cheese lumps do remain at the end of making the batter, simply press them against the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula to disperse them as best as possible.

An unbaked cheesecake on top of a wire rack in a baking pan. - 8

Step 4: Pour the batter over the crust. Wrap the pan in heavy-duty foil, set it inside a larger baking pan, and add 1 inch of warm water.

Step 5: Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 250°F and bake for another 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool in the oven (with the door closed) for 30 minutes. Then, cool with the door open for 30 minutes, and transfer the cheesecake to a cooling rack to cool completely before transferring it to the fridge to set. Add the toppings, slice, and serve!

Water Bath Tips

Using the water bath is extremely important! The water bath helps to prevent the cheesecake from cracking. Do NOT skip or omit this.

I like to use a deep 9-13-inch roasting pan which is just big enough to encase the cheesecake. I also prop it up on the wire rack that comes with the pan, but this is optional if you don’t have a wire rack – because remember – you wrapped your springform pan very well already with foi,l so water doesn’t leak in.

Another option is a 9×13-inch baking pa,n depending on the exact measurements of both the baking pan and the springform pan.

If you do not have a deep enough pan to fill with 1-inch of water, simply use a pan with enough depth or lip to hold a little bit of water.

Partway through baking, add more water to the pan so that there is always water to steam.

A cheesecake with a chocolate base, topped with caramel and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. - 10

Storage Instructions

This cheesecake makes a large amount. As long as you’re going through the work of making a cheesecake, leftovers aren’t a bad idea!

The cheesecake will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Freezing Tip

For quick serving and thawing purposes, I like to slice the cheesecake, wrap each slice very well in Saran Wrap, and then freeze the slices. It’s less bulky to store slices wrapped in plastic wrap in my freezer than in containers, but you can use containers instead if you can make that work.

When I’m ready for a slice, I take one out of the freezer, let it set on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes to thaw, and enjoy.

Tips for the Best Samoa Cheesecake

When considering making this homemade Samoa cheesecake recipe, there is plenty to take into account!

Here are some of my tips and highlights at the top of my list that I want to be sure to share with you :

Oreos – The recipe calls for 3 cup of Oreo cookie crumbs. You have two options:

Buy and use premade Oreo Cookie Crumbs
Blend whole Oreo cookies in a food processor until you have 3 cups of crumbs. If you’re using this method, just toss the cookies in whole (no need to pick out the white filling) and pulse. You’ll probably need about 11 Oreos for each 1 cup of crumbs, or about 33 cookies total. This is what I do and recommend. It takes literally 15 seconds in a food processor.

A slice of Samoa Cheesecake on a plate with a fork holding a bite above it. - 11

No, you cannot because a normal cake pan isn’t deep enough. That’s one reason why you need a 9-inch springform pan . The other reason is for easy releasing of your Samoa cheesecake when you’re ready to slice and serve it.

I use Reynold’s Nonstick Heavy Duty Foil . Make sure it’s a good foil that doesn’t rip and isn’t flimsy because it’s instrumental acting as a barrier to keep water out of your springform pan.

In theory, you certainly can. In reality, I would not want the meticulous work of assembly and trying to figure out a water bath situation for mini pans, and experiment with baking times until you get it just right. But it is theoretically possibly for the right person!

By all means yes! If you’re making this for a big event like Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or birthday, or a holiday party, feel free to make the cheesecake in advance, keep it in your fridge very well covered and just chilling for 2 to 3 days. About 2 to 12 hours before service, make the toasted coconut and caramel topping, add, drizzle, and chill again until serving.

Read the Recipe First

This seems so basic, but you’d be surprised how many readers do not do this, which can lead to preventable errors. That is, please read over the recipe at least once in its entirety before beginning so you know what the overall roadmap is!

Pay special attention to the baking process , including lowering the oven temp from 400°F to 250°F after 15 minutes, and then allowing the cheesecake to stay in the water bath in a powered-off oven with the door shut for 30 minutes, and then out of the water bath but in the oven with the door open for 30 more minutes.

A delectable samoa cheesecake with a drizzled chocolate and caramel topping. - 12

Equipment

1 (9-inch) Springform Pan
1 Medium Bowl
1 food processor
1 Stand Mixer
1 Roasting Pan
1 Wire Rack

Ingredients

Crust

▢ 3 cups crushed Oreo cookie crumbs , about 33 whole Oreo cookies, whites and all, blended in a food processor
▢ 8 tablespoons 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake

▢ 24 ounces cream cheese , softened very well to room temp (brick-style, full-fat)
▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
▢ ¼ cup light brown sugar , packed
▢ ⅔ cup heavy cream
▢ ½ cup sour cream , or plain Greek yogurt, do not use regular yogurt it’s too thin
▢ 2 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
▢ 2 teaspoons lime juice* , lemon juice may be substituted
▢ 1 teaspoon salt
▢ 4 large egg yolks , save the whites for another use
▢ 2 ½ tablespoons cornstarch , 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour may be substituted

Topping

▢ 2 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
▢ 1 ¾ cups caramel sauce , divided
▢ ½ cup milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips , melted

Instructions

Please read over the recipe at least once in entirety before beginning so you know what the overall roadmap is. Pay special attention to the baking process , including lowering the oven temp from 400F to 250F after 15 minutes, and then allowing the cheesecake to stay in the water bath in a powered-off oven with the door shut for 30 minutes, and then out of the water bath but in the oven with the door open for 30 more minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F and line the base of a 9-inch springform pan (do not use a regular 9-inch round cake pan, it’s not deep enough) with a circle of parchment paper cut to fit it, and spray very well with cooking spray; set aside.
Crust – To a medium bowl, add the Oreos, melted butter, and whisk the mixture together until it resembles wet sand. Tip – I recommend just blending the Oreos in a food processor until you have 3 cups. There are about 11 cookies per 1 cup of cookie crumbs, so you’ll need about 33 cookies, give or take. Add them to your food processor whole – no need to separate or pick out the white filling – blend, and use the crumbs as directed. The other option is to purchase store bought Oreo crumbs but they’re tricky to find.
Press the mixture firmly into the base of the springform pan in an even flat layer with your hands and fingertips or a fork.
Bake crust for 15 minutes and after baking, place the springform pan on a cooling rack to cool while you move onto making the filling.
Cheesecake Filling – Increase the oven temp to 400F and to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the cream cheese, both sugars, and beat on high speed for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl down intermittently. Tips – The smoother the batter is at the beginning of the process, the better the final result will be. If cream cheese lumps do remain at the end of making the batter, simply press them against the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula to disperse and flatten them as best as possible.
Add the heavy cream, sour cream, vanilla, lemon or lime juice, salt, and beat together until combined, about 30 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the egg yolks and mix just for 15 seconds to incorporate. Tip – Do not mix for extra time because this will add air which will cause the cheesecake to crack while it bakes.
Add the cornstarch and beat for a couple seconds to incorporate.
Pour the batter into the crust.
Tightly wrap the outside and sides of the springform pan with foil. Tips – It needs to be tightly and very well wrapped so that in the next steps water doesn’t seep in. I suggest heavy duty foil .
Water Bath – Place the springform pan into a larger pan (such as a larger roasting pan or bigger baking pan) and slowly add warm tap water so that the springform pan is resting in 1-inch of water. My roasting pan has a wire rack so I prop the springform pan on that, but a wire rack isn’t necessary. Tips – Do not skip the water bath. It’s essential to prevent the cheesecake from cracking during baking. While baking, add a bit more water so there’s a steady supply of steam.
Baking – Place the pans into the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 400F.
Reduce the temp to 250F and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.
Once baked (after the 90 minutes total) turn the oven off. Let the cheesecake rest with the door closed for 30 minutes inside the water bath, inside the oven with the door closed.
After 30 minutes, crack the over door open a few inches and allow the cheesecake to rest in the water bath, in the oven, with the door open slightly.
Cooling – Remove the pans from the oven, take the springform pan out of the water bath, and unwrap the foil from around the springform pan.
Place cheesecake on a wire rack to cool completely. Tip – Don’t shortcut this step, make sure it’s fully cooled to room temp before moving on.
After it’s completely cooled, cover the top tightly with foil, and place it into the fridge to chill for 8 hours, or overnight.
Topping – Toast the shredded coconut in a skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until golden brown; stir very frequently. Tip – Keep a close eye on the coconut because it’s prone to burning due to the high sugar content so don’t turn your back on it.
Add the toasted coconut to a large bowl, add 1 1/2 cups caramel sauce* (about 12 ounces), and stir to combine.
Assembly – Turn the coconut and caramel mixture out over the top of the cheesecake in an even, flat layer. Smooth it very gently with a spatula as necessary.
You can add the remaining 1 cup (about 8 ounces) caramel sauce to a small ziptop baggie with a tiny corner snipped off for a more precise drizzle and then drizzle it over the top of the cheesecake. Or, you can just drizzle it ‘freehand’ from a small spoon very lightly and carefully and skip the baggie. Tip – This is my vote as to not waste caramel that gets stuck to the baggie and just go with an easier and more ‘artsy’ approach to drizzling.
Melt the chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl by heating on high power in 15 second increments, stopping after each burst to stir, and heat again only until the chocolate can be stirred smooth; don’t overheat or the chocolate will seize and you’ll have to start over.
The same as was the case with the caramel drizzle, you can either add it to a plastic baggie and drizzle, or drizzle it freehand with the back of a spoon. At this point you can slice and serve. Or, return to the fridge and continue to chill until you’re ready to serve it.
Cheesecake will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freezing Tips – The cheesecake freezes really well! For quick serving and thawing purposes, I like to slice the cheesecake, wrap each slice very well in saran wrap, then freeze the slices. It’s less bulky to store slices wrapped in plastic wrap in my freezer than in containers. When I’m ready for a slice, I take one out of the freezer, let it set on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes to thaw, and enjoy.

Notes

You can use homemade caramel sauce such as my Best and Easiest Homemade Caramel Sauce .
Or use store bought. There are approximately 8 ounces in 1 cup caramel sauce. Therefore, you need about 20 ounces. Most jars are sold in 8 to 12 ounce sizes so you’ll need 2 or 3 jars , depending on size.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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