No-Bake White Chocolate Cheesecakes with Mulled Wine Fruit
As one large cheesecake or individual portions, this simple, no-bake recipe featuring Walkers Shortbread is great for holiday gatherings.
By Bree Hester | bakedbree.com
- ● Prep time: 2 hrs. 30 min.
- ● Cook time: n/a
- ● Total time: 2 hrs. 30 min.
- ● Servings: 8
Ingredients
Cheesecake:
- 2 4.4 oz packages Walker's Shortbread Gingerbread Men
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 8 oz white chocolate
- 2 8 oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
- Zest from one orange
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 2 cups heavy cream
Mulled Fruit:
- 2 1/2 cups mixed berries: blackberries, raspberries, cherries
- 1/4 cup red wine or cranberry juice
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- Pinch salt
- Zest from one orange
- Juice from one orange
Garnish:
- Whipped Cream (optional)
- Sugared Cranberries (optional)
- Thyme or rosemary sprigs (optional)
Directions
Step 1
Set aside 8 gingerbread men. Add the rest to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs. Pour into a bowl and add melted butter. Mix until combined and resembling wet sand. Set aside.
Step 2
Melt white chocolate in a double boiler over gently simmering water. Set aside to cool.
Step 3
Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, orange zest and orange juice to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until smooth, scraping bowl occasionally, about 3 minutes. Gradually add cooled white chocolate. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Step 4
Add heavy cream to the same bowl and whip with the cream until stiff peaks form.
Step 5
Fold half of the cream into cream cheese mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining cream until well combined.
Step 6
To make mulled wine fruit, add fruit, wine or juice, spices, salt, orange zest and orange juice to a small saucepan. Cover with a lid and cook on medium-low heat until the juices release from the fruit and begin to soften, about 5–10 minutes, depending on the fruit. Remove from heat and let cool.
Step 7
To assemble the cheesecakes, spoon 2–3 tablespoons of the gingerbread men mixture into the bottom of a glass. Spoon or pipe cheesecake filling over the crust. Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight, covered loosely with plastic wrap.
Step 8
When ready to serve, top with mulled fruit. Garnish with whipped cream, a whole Walker's Shortbread Gingerbread Man and sugared cranberries.
Notes:
- Can be made in any size: individual portions or one 9-inch cheesecake.
- Cheesecake can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.
- Mulled fruit can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
- It is very important that cream cheese be at room temperature or it will not get that smooth and creamy texture.
- Use high-quality white chocolate, not chips.