Irish Cream Chocolate Mint Cheesecake (video)
The best mint cheesecake! This decadent cheesecake is made with a rich chocolate cake base that’s soaked with loads Irish cream. It’s topped with a minty green cheesecake layer made with even more Irish cream and dotted with Andy’s chocolate mint candy. And, to top it all off, I added some minty Irish cream whipped cream, drizzled melted chocolate and some chocolate mint macarons. Perfect for the holidays!
Watch My Cheesecake Video Tutorial!
Watch my YouTube video recipe for my step-by-step instructions and see how I put together this Christmas cheesecake! Want to receive new recipe updates? Make sure to subscribe to my website emailing list and my YouTube channel to get email notifications!
Ingredients for Irish Cream Chocolate Mint Cheesecake
Here are the main ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious and rich cheesecake:
- Butter, Sugar, Eggs, Milk & Flour: for making the chocolate cake, the base of this cheesecake. You can also make a chocolate graham cracker crust using 10 graham crackers and 1/3 cup melted butter.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: for making the chocolate cake. Melted chocolate makes the cake layers extra rich!
- Cream Cheese: soften the cheese at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to making the cheesecake batter. This will make it much easier to mix the cheese.
- Irish Cream: this creamy and delicious liqueur adds loads of great flavor to the cake recipe! I have a substitute recipe listed below.
- Peppermint Oil: for the peppermint flavor. You can also use peppermint extract but you’ll need more of it since the oil is much stronger.
- Heavy Cream: use well chilled heavy cream for making the Irish Cream whipped cream topping.
- Green Food Coloring: adding food coloring is optional but it makes this cake extra festive for the holidays!
Making the Chocolate Cake Base
I used my ‘Best Chocolate Cake’ recipe for the base for this cake. It’s chocolate-y, fudge-y and rich; the perfect complement for the creamy mint cheesecake. I have a separate, in-depth tutorial for this cake recipe! I made half of the original recipe and to make it easy for you, I included those measurements below (and the video)! Soak the cake layer with extra Irish cream for even more flavor!
How to Make an Irish Cream Mint Cheesecake
Here’s how to put together this incredible cheesecake!
- Prepare the chocolate cake base first in a spring form pan. Once the cake is done and cooling, begin preparing the mint Irish cream cheesecake batter.
- For the cheesecake, I use a classic cheesecake recipe with eggs, sugar, and cream cheese. I flavor the cheesecake with Irish cream and mint oil for maximum flavor.
- Add the cheesecake batter over the prepared chocolate cake, then bake the cake for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes at 325F, until the cheesecake is set. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely.
- Once the cheesecake has cooled, you can prepare the Irish cream whipped cream topping! This pairs so well with the cheesecake. The topping is made with heavy cream, cream cheese and more Irish cream.
- Add the whipped cream topping, then garnish the Irish cream mint cheesecake with dollops of cream, chocolate drizzle, sprinkles and, if desired, my Chocolate Mint Macarons!
- Allow the cheesecake to set overnight before enjoying!
The Mint Chocolate Macarons!
And to garnish this decadent holiday cheesecake, I added more Irish whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, sprinkles and my Mint Chocolate Macarons! I LOVE these minty macarons on top of the cheesecake! They’re the perfect finish to this holiday cake, making it extra festive! I dip the macarons into chocolate to add even more chocolate. This macaron recipe makes about 18 to 20 cookies so you can serve extras on the side!
- Watch my video recipe to see how these mint cookies are made!
Substitutions & Tips
Here are a few suggestions for popular substitution questions that I receive regarding this recipe:
- Need a non-alcoholic version of this cake? You can replace the Irish cream with an Irish cream-flavored coffee creamer, or use heavy cream with Irish cream extract.
- If you don’t have time to bake the chocolate cake base, try this recipe with chocolate graham crackers. You’ll need 1 1/2 cups (about 10 crackers) and 1/3 cup melted butter. Pulse the crackers in a food processor until the cookies are broken into fine crumbs, then pour in the melted butter. Press the cookies firmly into the bottom of the pan and proceed with the recipe!
More Recipes!
Enjoyed this minty cheesecake recipe? Check out some of my other recipes you’re sure to enjoy!
- Mint Chocolate Cake – rich and luscious chocolate mint cake frosted with vanilla mint buttercream, then garnished with chocolate ganache!
- Peppermint Mocha Cake – this rich, chocolate-y and mint cake is perfect for the holidays!
- Red Velvet Cheesecake – with a brownie base and chocolate covered strawberries!
- Triple Coffee Cheesecake – one of my personal favorites! Coffee cheesecake, coffee mousse and whipped cream!
- Tiramisu Cheesecake – light and fluffy, almond and coffee-flavored cheesecake!
- German Chocolate Cheesecake – rich and velvety smooth chocolate cheesecake with coconut!
Share it on Pinterest!
Supplies/Tools
Need some supplies for this recipe? You can get the products I used in my video here (Amazon affiliate links)
- This 9-inch aluminum spring form pan is perfect for cheesecakes!
- Use my favorite decorating tip, Ateco tip #847 for garnishing the cake!
- Looking for the gold star sprinkles? These are great for decorating cakes and cupcakes!
Irish Cream Chocolate Mint Cheesecake (video)
Rich chocolate and mint cheesecake recipe with Irish cream, whipped cream and chocolate mint macarons!
Ingredients
For Chocolate Cake:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, melted
For Cheesecake:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Irish cream
- 1/4 tsp peppermint oil
- 1 cup chopped chocolate mint candy
- green food color
For Topping:
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 8 oz cream, 226 g cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup Irish cream
- few drops peppermint oil
- 1/4 cup melted chocolate, for garnish
- 1/2 cup Irish cream, for soaking cake
- green and gold sparkles, for garnish
- chocolate mint macarons, for garnish
Instructions
Chocolate Cake Base:
- Prepare the chocolate cake base first. Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking pan one, 8-inch spring form pan with parchment paper and spray sides with baking spray. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix again until creamy, then add the warmed milk.
- In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Mix together, then sift into the cake batter to get rid of any clumps. Using a hand whisk, mix the flour into the batter just until combined. Be careful not to over-mix the batter! Gently fold in melted chocolate at the very end. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake and let it cool on a wire rack.
Irish Cream Mint Cheesecake:
- While the chocolate cake is cooling, reset the oven to 325F and prepare the cheesecake filling. Place the softened cream cheese into a mixing bowl and whisk on high speed for 5 to 6 minutes, until the cream cheese is fluffy; scrap down the sides of the bowl often. Next, add the eggs, sugar and Irish cream. Mix again for a few minutes until creamy. Add the peppermint oil and a few drops of green food coloring last. Fold in the chopped chocolate mint candies.
- Before pouring the cheesecake batter over the cake layer, soak the chocolate cake layer generously with the 1/2 cup Irish cream using a pastry brush; this will moisten the layer and make it more fudgy. Pour the batter over the top and level it with an offset spatula. Bake the cheesecake at 325F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the center is set. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool first on a wire rack, then place into the fridge or freezer to cool completely.
Irish Cream Whipped Cream:
- When the cheesecake is cooled, prepare the final whipped cream topping. Pour the chilled heavy cream into a large mixing bowl and add the sugar. Whisk on medium-high speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream cheese for a few minutes until smooth, then pour in the Irish cream and add a few drops of peppermint oil. Whisk again until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the cream cheese mixture to the whipped cream and whisk again on high speed for about a minute, until stiff peaks form. Transfer the cheesecake from the spring form pan onto a cake stand. Spread about half of the whipped cream frosting over the top of the cake and use a spatula to level it off. Transfer the remaining frosting into a pastry bag; I used Ateco tip #847.
- Drizzle the top of the cheesecake with melted chocolate: pour the melted chocolate into a ziplock bag, cut off the tip and then drizzle. Pipe generous dollops of cream along the edge of the cake, then garnish with sprinkles and macarons. Keep cake refrigerated if not serving right away. Serve any remaining cream on the side.
Nutrition
Calories: 777kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 199mg | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 1701IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 1mg
I am planning on making this but I was wondering how deep springform pan needs to be? Also, is it necessary to have exactly 8 inch wide? Thanks!
Hi! My springform pan is about 3 inches tall. You can use any size pan, a 9-inch will also work well 🙂
Sorry for the multiple questions. If I half the recipe, now do i change the baking time/temperature?
Do I have to add the chocolates? also I cant find peppermint oil – can I use essence instead? If not, can I add pistachio flavouring instead? thanks!
Hi! I recommend reducing the cooking time down to about 1 hr plus 10-15 minutes. The chocolate are optional; you don’t have to add them if you don’t want to. And the essence will work great, too! 🙂
Hi Tatyana,
My question is the chocolate cake is already bake and if I add the cheesecake and bake the whole cake for another hour and 15 minutes, won’t the chocolate cake get dry or burnt?
Thanks
Hi Christina! I was concerned about the exact same thing but it turns out amazing! The cheesecake batter adds tons of moisture to the cake and it turns the chocolate cake into a rich fudge! So good 🙂
Is it okay to use” Irish cream ” coffee creamer?
Absolutely! That’s a great option, too 🙂
Hi I am just now making the cake and am on the frosting and I accidental did granulate sager in stud
of confectioner sugar is that okay your should i restart the frosting?
Hi Phoebe! Sorry for the late reply! Yes, the frosting should still have worked out, even with the granulated sugar 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the recipe!