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Baileys Cheesecake has a delicious chocolate cookie crust topped with Irish cream-spiked cheesecake filling and ganache layers.
Back in my college days, I managed a small Mediterranean restaurant near campus. It was both a place for the local neighborhood to grab a quick bite to eat and for college kids to hang out and pretend to study while sipping cappuccinos.
And since I worked a lot, and free food was a perk of the job, I pretty much lived on hummus and pita bread for over 4 years.
There was a super friendly older couple that were weekly regulars. Every week, they’d split a tawook dinner with extra steamed veggies. The husband would finish his meal with a piece of cheesecake, and the wife would order Baileys and coffee with just a smidgen of whipped cream and chocolate sauce (similar to an Irish coffee cocktail).
It’s funny the things I remember from more than 15 years ago. The names of any of my undergrad professors? Not a chance. But a meal a couple ordered every week? Yep, right down to the extra veggies.
Now, I’ve never been much of a drinker, but I developed quite an affinity for Baileys and coffee with just a smidgen of whipped cream and chocolate sauce. It’s just one of those drinks that reminds me of being in my 20s, and makes me all warm and fuzzy for so many reasons.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream to make Simple Homemade Truffles…and perhaps whip up a Baileys and coffee or two. And then on a whim one night, I decided to try making a Baileys Cheesecake.
WHAT IS BAILEYS CHEESECAKE?
Baileys Cheesecake really isn’t that different from my vanilla cheesecake recipe.
But instead of a graham cracker crust, I use an Oreo cookie crust for a nice chocolatey base. I also swapped out the cream in the filling for Baileys Irish Cream and topped the whole thing with a Baileys-spiked chocolate ganache.
The result is a creamy cheesecake with just the right amount of chocolate and Baileys flavor.
I’d like to think this would have been the perfect cheesecake to finally tempt the wife of that sweet couple into joining her husband in a slice of cheesecake. But then, I happen to think life is not worth living without cheesecake. Are you with me?
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE
There are three main parts to this Baileys Irish cream cheesecake:
- Oreo cookie crust
- Baileys-infused cheesecake filling
- Baileys-spiked chocolate ganache topping
I have made many, many cheesecake recipes through the years, so I have a few tips I’ve learned along the way that can help you as you make this recipe:
- Use room-temperature cream cheese and eggs. If you forget to set these ingredients out ahead of time, you’re in luck. I have tutorials for how to soften cream cheese and how to bring butter and eggs to room temperature.
- Bake the cheesecake in a water bath. Don’t be intimidated by this step – it’s easier than you think and will help make sure your cheesecake is absolutely perfect. Check out my post on how to bake cheesecake in a water bath.
- Give yourself plenty of time. Even though getting the cheesecake in the oven doesn’t take a ton of time, it needs about an hour to bake, a couple of hours to cool, and 8 hours to chill in the refrigerator. Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts here.
Could you use a store-bought crust instead of making your own? Yes.
Could you skip the chocolate ganache on top? Sure.
Would the final cheesecake be as good? Well, I know what my opinion is, but I’ll let you decide that on your own.
CAN BAILEYS CHEESECAKE BE FROZEN?
This Baileys Cheesecake is the perfect candidate for freezing! Since cheesecake is a bit time intensive to make, it is sometimes nice to make it ahead of time and freeze it.
I recommend freezing this cheesecake without the ganache on top and adding the ganache before serving.
Once the cheesecake has chilled thoroughly in the refrigerator, place it on a cardboard round and wrap it in plastic wrap, then in foil. If you have a large zip-top freezer bag, you could even store it inside that for an extra layer of protection.
The idea is to have at least 2 layers of protection around the cheesecake to keep it from getting freezer burn.
Let the Baileys Cheesecake thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours before topping with the ganache and serving.
Let’s all make this Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake and toast sweet couples who are married for decades, with the sweetest of weekly traditions. What a way to live, right?
Baileys Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 24 whole Oreo cookies crushed into crumbs
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
For the Cheesecake:
- 32 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- ⅓ cup Baileys Irish Cream
For the Ganache:
- 6 ounces quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Tightly wrap a 9-inch springform pan in heavy duty foil. This step prevents leaks when using a water bath. I also take the extra step by placing the foil wrapped spring form pan inside an oven bag while baking, but this is optional.
- Mix together the crust ingredients and press into the bottom of your pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Begin to boil a pot or kettle of water for the water bath.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and mix until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg. Add Baileys Irish Cream and mix until smooth.
- Pour batter into prepared crust. Place pan into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the side of the cheesecake pan.
- Bake 55-60 minutes, the edges will appear to be set, but the center will still have some jiggle to it. At this point, turn off the oven, but leave the door cracked and allow the cheesecake to rest in the cooling oven for one hour.
- After one hour has passed, carefully remove the cheesecake from the water bath and place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Once the cake is completely cooled, place it into the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- Before serving, prepare the ganache.
For the Ganache
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the heavy cream until very hot, but not boiling.
- Place chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl.
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes.
- Whisk the cream and chocolate until smooth and thoroughly combined.
- Stir in Baileys Irish Cream until incorporated allow the ganache to sit for an additional 5 minutes.
- Pour ganache over chilled cheesecake and spread into an even layer before cutting, or or spoon over each individual slice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was delicious! I only had the salted caramel Baileys and it tasted great. I will definitely be making this again.
Must bake it looks beautifully decadent!j
It was delicious! I put some strawberries on top and it was amazing. The only problems I had with it were issues on my end and even then it was still delicious.
Marking BAILEY’S CHEESECAKE
Oreos Crust
My Daughter’s Birthday
Can’t Wait.
This is a really great cheesecake, I’ve made it many times, it’s highly requested at family gatherings. I do make one change however, I add 1 cup of full fat sour cream to the mixture , room temp. And I fold it in when I add the baileys.. it doesn’t change the flavor but does make it creamy
Third time I have made this. So, so delicious. As far as cheesecakes, this one is pretty easy to make. Always successful. My son always requests it for his birthday. I use an ovenbag to put around the pan instead of foil which never worked.
This came out AMAZING. I followed a comment that said they left it in the oven for 20 minutes after shutting it off, then opened the door for an hour. It was perfectly flat and even.
It came out great once I omitted the water bath. Even after wrapping my springform pan, the crust almost got ruined from water getting into it the way this recipe is written.
Instead, I filled a baking dish halfway with water and put it on the rack below my cheesecake. It came out absolutely perfect this way.
Thank you! For all the great Recipes.
I have made this cake for 3 or 4 years and never tasted it. I have made it for our Rotary Club’s dessert auction and it has been a real favorite. Last year I paired it with a bottle of Baily’s and it sold for more than double.
So glad to hear the recipe was a hit, Sherie!
I have made this several times, and it always gets raves. I did change up up the recipe just a tad. First I used choc. iced shortbread cookies, and to that I add about a cup of ground almonds. It makes the crust really crunchy. I also add about 1/2 cup sour cream which I fold in at the end. I also turn off the oven after one hour but leave the cake inside without opening the door for about 20 min. Thanks for the great recipe!
So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback.
-Jamie
There seem to be a lot of concerns about the water bath. I like to put a pan of water on the rack below the rack that my cheesecake is on. As it evaporates, it keeps the oven nice and humid but won’t risk leaking and ruining your cheesecake. And it’ll cook faster than using a water bath.