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The Ultimate Decadent S’mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake

A beautiful slice of S'mores Sweet Potato Cheesecake being served as dessert at a festive Thanksgiving dinner.

A decadent, multi-layered dessert that combines the flavors of sweet potato pie, cheesecake, and s’mores into one showstopping dish. The recipe starts with a from-scratch chocolate graham cracker crust. The filling is a rich and creamy sweet potato cheesecake, which is baked in a water bath to ensure a smooth, crack-free texture. After being chilled overnight, the cheesecake is topped with a layer of miniature marshmallows that are toasted under the broiler, and then finished with a drizzle of homemade chocolate ganache.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Crust:
  • 18 whole chocolate graham crackers
  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • For the Filling:
  • Four 8-ounce packages (32 oz total) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • One 15-ounce can pure sweet potato puree
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • For the S’more Topping:
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups miniature marshmallows
  • Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Make the Crust: Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers into fine crumbs. Combine the crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Press the mixture into the bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
  2. Wrap the outside of the cooled pan in a large sheet of foil and place it in a roasting pan.
  3. Make the Filling: Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the water bath. In a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the sweet potato puree, sour cream, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt; beat until just combined. Pour the filling into the cooled crust.
  4. Bake the Cheesecake: Carefully pour the boiling water into the roasting pan to create a water bath that comes halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake for about 2 hours, until the edges are set but the center still jiggles.
  5. Turn off the oven, prop the door open for 1 minute, then close the door and let the cheesecake cool in the oven for 1 more hour. Remove from the water bath, let it cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
  6. Make the Topping and Finish: Once chilled, make the chocolate ganache. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat the heavy cream until it simmers, then pour it over the chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
  7. Preheat the broiler. Pile the miniature marshmallows on top of the chilled cheesecake. Place on a baking sheet and broil for about 1 minute, watching closely, until the marshmallows are golden brown.
  8. Unlock and remove the springform ring. Drizzle each slice of cheesecake with the cooled chocolate sauce and serve.

Notes

  • This is a complex, multi-component recipe perfect for a special occasion.
  • Baking the cheesecake in a water bath (bain-marie) is a crucial step that ensures a creamy, crack-free texture.
  • The slow cooling process—in the oven, then at room temperature, then in the refrigerator—is essential for the cheesecake to set properly.
  • Watch the marshmallows very carefully under the broiler as they can burn in seconds.

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