The Ultimate Decadent S’mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake

What happens when you take the cozy, warmly spiced comfort of a classic sweet potato pie, give it the rich and tangy body of a New York-style cheesecake, and then top it all with the fun, nostalgic, and completely irresistible flavors of a gooey, toasty s’more? You get this incredible, show-stopping S’mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake—the ultimate holiday dessert mash-up.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to creating a truly unforgettable, multi-layered dessert experience that will be the absolute star of your Thanksgiving table. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a flawless, crack-free, creamy sweet potato cheesecake, all baked on a crisp chocolate graham cracker crust. The grand finale is a thick layer of gooey, toasted marshmallows and a rich, dark chocolate drizzle. While it looks like a masterpiece from a high-end bakery, our simple make-ahead plan makes this project completely stress-free and achievable.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Holiday Dessert Mash-Up

What makes this S’mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake so spectacular is its brilliant and fun combination of three beloved desserts. The classic, foolproof water-bath baking method guarantees a perfectly dense, creamy, and crack-free cheesecake every time. The sweet potato and cinnamon filling is the perfect taste of autumn, while the chocolate graham cracker crust, toasted marshmallow topping, and rich chocolate ganache deliver on that beloved, campfire s’mores experience. It’s the ultimate make-ahead centerpiece for a truly epic dessert table.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	12 hours (includes overnight chilling)
Active Prep Time	45 minutes
Difficulty Level	Intermediate
Servings	10-12

Your Holiday Baking Game Plan (Make-Ahead Schedule)

The secret to this seemingly complex dessert is to make it in easy, manageable stages.

• Up to 2 Days Ahead: Bake the cheesecake completely and let it chill, covered, in the refrigerator. Make the chocolate ganache sauce, let it cool, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
• On Serving Day: Let the ganache come to room temperature to soften. Just before you’re ready to serve dessert, top the chilled cheesecake with the marshmallows, toast them under the broiler, drizzle with the ganache, and serve immediately!

The Essential Ingredients for This Showstopper

This recipe is built from three perfect, from-scratch components.

• The Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust: The perfect, crunchy, and chocolatey foundation for our s’mores theme. It’s a simple, press-in crust made from chocolate graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter.
• The Sweet Potato Cheesecake Filling: A rich, dense, and tangy New York-style cheesecake with a fall twist.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: This is the non-negotiable secret to a smooth, lump-free cheesecake. Your full-fat, block-style cream cheese, your large eggs, and your sour cream must all be at room temperature before you begin mixing.
  • Pure Sweet Potato Purée: For the best, most authentic flavor, use 100% pure sweet potato purée, either from a can or homemade. Do not use sweet potato pie filling.
• The S’mores Topping: This is what takes the cheesecake over the top!
  • Miniature Marshmallows: A thick layer of mini marshmallows is piled on top and toasted under the broiler to create a gooey, sweet, and perfectly browned topping.
  • The Chocolate Ganache: A simple, two-ingredient, and luxuriously rich chocolate sauce made from semi-sweet chocolate chips and heavy cream.

Step-by-Step to a Show-Stopping Cheesecake

Let’s break this incredible project down into simple, manageable parts.

Part 1: The Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust

Step 1: First, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

Step 2: In a food processor, pulse the 18 whole chocolate graham crackers until they are fine crumbs.

Step 3: Brush a 10-inch springform pan with some of the melted butter. In a medium bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, the remaining melted butter, the 1/4 cup of sugar, and the pinch of salt.

Step 4: Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of your prepared springform pan. Use the flat bottom of a measuring cup to get a nice, compact, and even crust.

Step 5: Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until it is lightly crisp and set. Let the crust cool completely on a wire rack.

Part 2: The Creamy Sweet Potato Cheesecake Filling

Step 1: In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the 4 packages of room temperature cream cheese until it is completely smooth. Add the 2 cups of sugar and beat for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 2: Add the sweet potato purée, the sour cream, the eggs, the vanilla, the ground cinnamon, and the salt. Beat on a low speed until the ingredients are just combined and the batter is smooth.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to over-mix the batter after you add the eggs. This is a key secret to a crack-free cheesecake.

Part 3: The Water Bath Bake and Slow Cool-Down

Step 1: Prepare your pan for a water bath. Tightly wrap the outside of your springform pan with a large, double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil to make it waterproof. Pour the cheesecake batter over your cooled crust. Place the wrapped pan inside a larger roasting pan.

Step 2: Carefully pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of your cheesecake pan.

Step 3: Bake for about 2 hours. The cheesecake is perfectly baked when the outer edges of the cake are set, but the very center still has a slight jiggle to it when you gently nudge the pan.

Step 4 (The Secret to No Cracks!): Turn the oven off, and prop the oven door open for 1 minute to let out some of the initial heat. Then, close the oven door and let the cheesecake cool slowly in the turned-off oven for 1 hour more.

Step 5 (The Final, Crucial Chill!): Carefully remove the cheesecake from the roasting pan and the water bath. Remove the foil and let the cheesecake cool completely on a wire rack. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan. Cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill and set completely for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight.

Part 4: The S’mores Topping and Final Assembly

Step 1: Once the cheesecake has chilled completely, you can make the chocolate sauce. Place the 3/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the 1/2 cup of heavy cream until it just comes to a simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips, let it stand for 1 minute, and then stir until the ganache is completely smooth. Set it aside to cool.

Step 2: Just before you are ready to serve, position an oven rack in the center of your oven and preheat the broiler to high.

Step 3: Pile the 3 cups of miniature marshmallows on top of the chilled cheesecake in an even layer. Place the cheesecake on a baking sheet.

Step 4: Broil until the tops of the marshmallows are lightly golden brown and toasty, which will only take about 1 minute. Keep the oven door slightly open and rotate the pan as needed to get an even browning. Watch it like a hawk, as the marshmallows can burn in an instant!

Step 5: Carefully run a thin knife around the pan once more to release the cheesecake and the gooey marshmallows. Unlock and remove the springform ring.

Slice the cheesecake into even slices. For the cleanest cuts through the gooey marshmallows, spray a sharp knife with non-stick cooking spray between each slice. Drizzle each piece of cheesecake with the cooled chocolate sauce and serve immediately.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Make-Ahead: As outlined in our “Game Plan” above, this is the perfect dessert to make in stages. The cheesecake itself is best made a day or two in advance.
• Storage: Store the finished cheesecake (before the marshmallow topping is added) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. After the marshmallows have been toasted, it is best enjoyed within a few hours.

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Enjoy Your Ultimate Holiday Dessert!

You’ve just created a truly epic, show-stopping dessert that is the very definition of a holiday indulgence. This S’mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake is a perfect symphony of creamy, tangy, spiced, and toasty flavors that is guaranteed to be the most memorable finale to any holiday feast.

We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who is ready for a holiday baking adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)