We recently drove up to Fargo to visit my folks and family. Since it was just one week after Mothers Day, I decided to make my mom something special.
I wasnt going to bore you with how to make another rose cake, but I think we can all agree that the best part of this dessert is the DOUBLE layer of cheesecake!
Let me tell you how this dessert came to fruition.
My moms favorite flower is the yellow rose and one of her favorite desserts is cheesecake. We all know I sorta have a thing for roses, so you can see where this is going.
Since I was away from home I went to a bakery and bought a cheesecake. When I realized how short it was (just about 2 inches tall) I knew I would never be able to fit a full rosette on the side, so I decided to buy another cheesecake and just stack it on top.
I then stopped at the store, bought two 16oz containers of Cool Whip, some yellow food coloring, and some 1M tips.
Voila.
I then posted a picture of the cake on Instagram. People asked for the recipe. And now here we are.
For the record, you do not need to buy cheesecakes from a store. You can totally make one from scratch. In fact, I recommend doing so! Nothing beats a truly exceptional homemade cheesecake.
Well, a truly exceptional cheesecake covered in homemade whipped cream… yeah, that is better.
The Perfect Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar (Extra Fine Bakers Sugar is my fav)
- 3/4 cup skim milk
- 4 extra large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp good quality vanilla
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 8in springform pan. (make crust and press into pan; see crust recipe)
- In a large bown or stand mixer, combine room temperature cream cheese and sugar until smooth. (about three minutes on medium speed) Lower speed and slowly add in milk.
- Once milk is incorporated, add in sour cream and vanilla. Then add in eggs, one at a time. Finally add in flour, mixing only long enough to incorporate.
- Pour filling into prepared 8in springform pan.
- Bake for one hour at 350, then turn the oven off and do not open the door. You will be letting the cheesecake cool to room temperature for about six hours, and this helps to eliminate cracks.
- Place cheesecake in fridge until ready to serve.
- For the double decker cheesecake, place cheesecake in freezer for 15-30 minutes just prior to assembly.
- I make sure the the cream cheese and sour cream are full fat. It probably goes without saying that that yields the most tasty cheesecake!
You will want to double this recipe and make TWO complete cheesecakes. Then simply stack them on top of one another. To make that easier, just pop the cheesecake in the freezer for 15-30 prior to assembly.
I use this crust recipe and it is perfection. Amazing. That secret ingredient really puts it over the top!
And this is my go-to whipping cream recipe. I think it might even be on the container for the heavy whipping cream I use.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powder sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Fill up your mixing bowl with ice water and let chill for five minutes. Dump out water and wipe dry. Add whipping cream and powder sugar to cold mixer bowl and beat until you reach soft peaks. Start low and work up to med-hi. (usually about 3 minutes)
- Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Using a 1M tip and this technique, (video tutorial) cover the cake in whipped cream roses. (I tinted mine slightly yellow, but pink or even white would be so lovely!)
Chill cheesecake until ready to serve.
Tips for success:
Make sure your whipped cream is very chilled and that you have whipped it long enough. The roses will just slide down the sides if they are too soft.
This feeds a LOT of people (around 24), so making it for a big crowd is the ideal scenario!
If you want you can use chocolate whipped cream, or strawberry, or even blueberry. You could also use some homemade caramel…try drizzling a little on each piece right before serving.
I have a very special version of this recipe for July 4th… cant wait to share it with you!
All I have to say is that you are AMAZING and AWESOME!!! Can’t wait to try!
Love you,
Maria
Well thank you sweet Maria!! What a wonderfully sweet comment!
I want to be your mom in the worst way.
And that picture of the cake sitting on the chair is just beautiful!
Oh, thank you girl!! You are so sweet!
Oh. My. Lord. A double decker cheesecake. Oh Lord. I’m speechless. It’s beautiful…and I’ll bet it’s DIVINE!
Yes yes yes yes yes
I LIKE!
How did I miss that on IG?! Super cute Amanda.
Thanks girl!
So just to be sure I’m reading this right, once you turn off the oven, you leave the cheesecake in there and let it sit in there that whole time correct? Can’t wait to try it. I’ve never had much luck with cheesecake previously, maybe this will be the answer to my “crack” problem.
Yes! That is correct. This is the only method that has cured me of my “crack” problem!
Perfection right here!!
Holy moly! And your photos are gorgeous!
What a wonderful idea. I love homemade cheesecake but what a way to make a store-bought cheesecake look so elegant. I love this, and gorgeous photos!
I’m hosting a giveaway over at my blog and would love for you to stop by and participate.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
What a wonderful invention you genius you! Gorgeous!
This past weekend I decided that Monday I would begin eating only healthy stuff. All yummy, sweet, thigh-landing foods (i.e. your cakes and such) will be written down on a “Want-To-Eat-But-Won’t-List” tacked to my fridge. One day a week—I haven’t decided if it’ll be Saturday or Sunday—I will permit myself to indulge in whatever I want.
*munching on a homemade Greek Salad with avocados & chicken slices*
I read once that Sandra Bullock does that, so she’s inspired me. She said that when it comes time to pick from the list, she ends up eating a few things.
So for whatever day I choose, I think I’ll make your Double-decker-Chessecake. My mouth is seriously watering!
Good for you!! That is awesome!
Absolutely outstanding! As a cheesecake aficionado, I must try this recipe. You are an amazing and creative baker. Thanks for sharing with us.
Oh my word….this is so pretty!
So creative! I am with ya on the stacking idea. Two inches tall is not impressive or tall enough for a birthday cheesecake.
You have one lucky mama!
Using this for my wedding. Thanks!
you brilliant woman! This is not only mouthwatering, but very, very pretty.
What a fantastic idea – double layer cheesecake – amazing!!!! In fact pure genius as what could be better than cheesecake. Oh yes two,layers of it !! Yeh!
This is totally brilliant! And beautiful!! And really impressive for an on-the-road, no-kitchen scenario… just like I’ll have this summer! Can’t wait to do this for my friends in July – thanks for the great idea!
This looks yummy! We had a tiered Cheesecake for our wedding (3 tiers) and our 5th anniversary is coming up. I think I’ll add this to the dinner plans!
I have only recently discovered your blog and am already excited for you post new creations! This looks amazing, and is something i’ll definitely have to try for my partner who is a complete cheesecake fiend!
I love this idea and I am totally going to try it! What could be better than twice the cheesecake deliciousness??!!
I truly love your website. I can’t tell you enough what an inspiration you are, you baking goddess you!
I’ve tried baking and decorating my cakes like you do and, although they never come out as pretty as yours, they always get oohs and ahhs. And happily I refer fellow cake enthusiasts to this website. Love your work and love your generosity in sharing. Thanks and thanks again!
Thank you so much sweety! You just made my day.
Does the store bought cool whip hold its form well or do you need to whip it more??
It did hold its form but the key is to have it be as fresh as possible (kinda an oxy moron) and as cold as possible but still workable.
Your cakes are always so beautiful!
OMG, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an iced cheesecake before. Or a double decker one. And certainly not one as beautifully iced as this. Gorgeous!
Wow. How creative you are. Glad to read this is a “crack free” cheesecake. Can’t wait to bake it. Thanks for sharing your brilliance with us.
Double decker?? Oh my word, this looks amazing!
I am speechless. Wow!
That is so fabulously decadent! Such a great treat for Mom!
oh, me. i think my heart just stopped a little bit. this is gluttony at its finest, amanda.
I love comments from you. You always make me smile!!!
Amazing and so pretty!
I’m confused though, you said you purchased 2 Cool-Whips, then you said it’s covered in homemade whipped cream and gave the recipe?
Yes, I purchased 2 cool whips for the cake I made my mom in Fargo. This is the cheesecake that I made when I got home!
Got it…
Thanks for clarifying!
Your mom is one lucky lady! This looks incredible and is so pretty! Perfect for Mom!
How sweet of you to make this beauty for your mom
This is dangerous, dangerous, deadly stuff right here. Absolutely gorgeous. But deadly, nonetheless.
What a beautiful cake! So festive and elegant. Sounds delicious too!
Stunningly delicious
OH. MY. GOSH. I could die. Your mom must be a wonderful woman!
I’m kind of speechless. This is incredible.
Beautiful cake and your photos are gorgeous
Can you tell me the name of the font/typography you use on your photos?
Oh my GOODness!! I think my heart just skipped a beat! My hubs loves cheesecake – but he would doubly love this one!
It looks very delicious!
Thanks for the receipe
See you
I just made this in a 9 inch pan and it has risen over the top. I don’t know how to tell if it’s done? I’ll just turn oven off and hope for best. Is it really supposed to be 8 inch?!?
Thats what I used! Is it not turning out? Funny, that is one of my most reliable recipes! (at least, for me!)
First….double-decker CHEESECAKE?!? That alone is amazing!
Second…I would have had no clue that your could pipe roses with whipped cream. I would have thought they would collapse.
Third…my mom’s favorite flowers were yellow roses, too. ♥
So, so pretty, Amanda!
Going to make this for my girl friend’s bdaya s she loves cheesecake!!!