Gluten-free Turtle Cheesecake

Gluten-free Turtle Cheesecake is cheesecake perfection.  There is simply nothing better than caramel, fudge, and pecans on a creamy cheesecake.

Making a cheesecake from scratch is probably not the easiest thing you could make.  It's a liiiitle bit of a process.  But when broken down into steps, I'm confident any home baker can master the task.  I made this turtle cheesecake, by request, for my son's 18th birthday! I think it's the best cheesecake I've ever made... and it's gluten-free!  It is a win-win!

For the cheesecake filling, I basically followed Alton Brown's Sour Cream Cheesecake recipe, because Alton very rarely disappoints and he didn't this time either.

The rest of this turtle cheesecake was my own creation!  Come along with me and I'll show you how to make it, step-by-step!

Prepping the Cheesecake Pan

First things first, prep the pan.  Use a 9-inch springform pan.  (The size of the pan is important for baking times.)

1. Cut a 9-inch circle of parchment paper to fit the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Spray the bottom of the pan with non-stick spray.
3. Lay the parchment in the pan.
4. Then spray non-stick spray on top of the parchment and on the sides of the pan.

P.S. See that bag around the pan? You'll see what we use it for later! Or... spoiler alert!

Making the Cheesecake Crust

You need one 7.5 ounce box of your favorite gluten-free graham cracker or crunchy cookie, or about 1 ¾ cup of crumbs. This time I used Annie's Gluten-free Cocoa & Vanilla Bunny Cookies and it worked perfectly!

The crust is super easy to make.  Crunch up the cookies into crumbs, combine with melted butter and sugar, then press into the pan.  Pre-bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool while you prepare the rest of the cake.

Making the Cheesecake Filling

Next, make the filling.  You'll need cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, whipping cream, eggs, and vanilla.  The key is making sure the cream cheese is completely softened to room temperature.  The other ingredients should also be at (or near) room temperature as well.  This helps everything mix together smoothly without lumps.  We don't want lumps.

1. First, cream together the cream cheese and sugar.
2. Then in a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, whipping cream and vanilla.
3. Then mix the egg mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
4. That's it for the filling!

Making a Water Bath & Baking the Cheesecake

Next, we are going to pour the filling on top of the crust and prep for a water bath.  A water bath involves baking the cake inside a larger pan that is filled with water.  The warm water surrounding the sides of the cake while it cooks helps it to bake more evenly.

See that bag surrounding the pan?  That's an oven bag!  We're going to use it to prevent the water bath from leaking!

Let me tell you, most people cover the base of the pan in foil to "prevent leaks" in your water bath.  Well, guess what?  The foil leaks.  The springform pan leaks.  It all leaks.  When it leaks, you get a soggy crust.  I will also tell you, there is nothing worse than a soggy crusted cheesecake.  Especially a soggy crusted cheesecake that you spent hours making!  So.... go get some oven bags.  Here's how to set up the water bath:

1. Put the springform pan in the oven bag.
2. Put it all in a large roasting pan or any pan a few inches larger than the springform pan.
3. Pour in boiling water about halfway up the sides of the springform pan, taking care not to get water in the bag or in the cheesecake.
4. Then slide it carefully into the oven to bake.

Removing the Cheesecake from the Pan

This is the part you absolutely can not rush.  You must allow the cheesecake to cool completely to allow it to set up.  Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 6 hours or overnight before removing it from the pan. To remove it from the pan:

1. Remove the side from the springform pan.
2. Place a piece of parchment paper to cover the top of the cake.  Then place a flat plate on top of the parchment.
3. Invert the cake.
4. Remove the bottom of the pan from the cake and also the parchment paper from the crust.
5. Place a serving plate on top of the inverted cake.  Flip it all back over.
6. The cake should now be right side up.  Remove the parchment paper... and voila!  You are now the proud owner of a beautiful plain cheesecake!

You could certainly serve it plain like this or top with your favorite topping from this point.  But as you know, I'm going Turtle...

The Turtle Cheesecake Topping

Now it gets really fun!  Drizzle the cheesecake with the caramel sauce and hot fudge sauce. If you want perfect drizzles, put each sauce into a plastic bag and snip the corner, making it into a little piping bag, then pipe the caramel and fudge on top of the cake.  Lastly, sprinkle with toasted pecan pieces on the top and sides.  Then back in the fridge, it goes!  Keep it refrigerated until serving.

*Please note: Since the time this recipe was originally posted, the ingredients list on Smuckers Caramel Sundae Sauce has changed.  It now lists Natural Flavors (from BARLEY), which is not gluten-free, so please be careful when buying products you see pictured.  It is a great reminder to always check labels because things can change!

Whew!  That was kind of a lot.  I know.  It may be a lengthy process but really, it's not that difficult and the results are absolutely phenomenal!  This turtle cheesecake is not only gorgeous, but it tastes great too!

Please let me know if you've liked this recipe by leaving a comment and a star rating below!

Want more turtle? Check out this Gluten-free Turtle Poke Cake!

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