Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake: 3 Different Varieties

This Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts. In fact, I love it so much that I have tried and succeeded in making a cake, cupcake, and cookie-like version.  Both the cake and cupcakes are great options for larger parties while the cheesecake squares are great for smaller parties or when short on time.

Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake Traditional Recipe

Ingredients:

·         ~3/4 of a bag of Oreo cookies (save remaining cookies to sprinkle on top)

·         6 tbsp butter, melted

·         24 oz. of cream cheese, room temperature (3 packages cream cheese)

·         1 cup sugar

·         3 eggs, room temperature

·         2/3 cup Baileys Irish Cream

·         1 tbsp vanilla

·         2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.      Place Oreos and melted butter in food processor. If you don’t have a food processor you can crush Oreos in plastic bag then mix in butter with electric mixer.

3.      Press Oreo mixture into bottom and up sides of 10 inch spring form pan.  

4.      Bake for 8 minutes.

5.      Cool.

6.      Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth.

7.      Gradually beat in sugar until smooth.

8.      Add eggs one at a time. Beat until smooth.

9.      Blend in Baileys and vanilla

10.  Pour batter over crust.

11.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips

12.  Place into 325° F oven.  I like to put a pan of hot water on bottom rack of oven to keep cheesecake moist.  Bake for 1 hour or until center has set and is springy.

13.  Cool completely then top with Espresso Whipped Cream and crushed Oreos (see recipe below).

14.  Refrigerate overnight before serving. 

Espresso Whipped Cream Recipe

This is also a delicious addition to your morning cup of coffee. I love making homemade whip cream. It is so easy and you can make all different flavors. Other good coffee flavors: Put a tbsp of baileys into whipping cream and beat. A tsp of raspberry extract, sugar and whipping cream is yummy too. Let your imagination run awhile.

Ingredients:

·         1 cup chilled whipping cream

·         2 tbsp sugar

·         1 tsp instant espresso powder (instant coffee will work well too)

·         ¼- 1/3 cup crushed Oreos

Directions:

1.    Using an electric mixer, beat whipping cream, sugar and espresso powder together until sharp peaks form. This usually takes about 5 minutes.TIP:  It helps to place bowl and beaters in refrigerator first to get them cold.

2.    Spread whip cream on cooled cake or cupcakes.

3.    Decorate with crushed Oreos.

Baileys Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients:

·         12-15  of a bag of Oreo cookies (save a few cookies to crush cookies and sprinkle on top).

·         ½ cup of mini chocolate chips

·         Pam for baking or butter for greasing

·         24 cupcake wrappers

·         24 oz. of cream cheese, room temperature (3 packages cream cheese)

·         1 cup sugar

·         3 eggs, room temperature

·         2/3 cup Baileys Irish Cream

·         1 tbsp vanilla

·         2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 325°F.

2.      Spray bottom of cupcake wrappers with Pam or grease with a little butter

3.      Crumble ½ an Oreo cookie into bottom of wrapper. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Make sure bottom of wrapper is covered.

4.      Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth.

5.      Gradually beat in sugar until smooth.

6.      Add eggs one at a time. Beat until smooth.

7.      Blend in Baileys and vanilla

8.      Spoon batter into each cupcake wrapper. About 2/3 of the way up.

9.      Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

10.  Place into 325° F oven.  I like to put a pan of hot water on bottom rack of oven to keep cheesecake moist.  Bake for 25 minutes or until center has set and is springy.

11.  Cool completely then top with Espresso Whipped Cream and crushed Oreos (see recipe below).

12.  Refrigerate overnight before serving. 

Baileys Cheesecake Squares Recipe

This is a simplified and smaller quantity version of this cheesecake. I like making this when having a smaller dinner party 4 – 8 people.  It is not as heavy and is very easy.  Yet still delicious. 

Ingredients:

·         2 cups mini Oreos

·         1/3 cup butter, melted

·         ½ cup sugar

·         1  8 oz package cream cheese, room temperature

·         1 egg, room temperature

·         3  ½ tbsp Baileys Irish Cream

·         1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

·         ¼ cup crushed mini Oreos

Directions:

1.      Place 2 cups mini Oreos and melted butter in food processor. If you don’t have a food processor you can crush Oreos in plastic bag then mix in butter with electric mixer.

2.      Press Oreo mixture into bottom of 8’ x 8’ pan. Chill for 1 hour.

3.      Preheat oven to 350°F.

4.      Blend sugar and cream with electric mixer until smooth.

5.      Blend in egg and Baileys.

6.      Pour over Oreo crust.

7.      Sprinkle with chocolate chips.

8.      Bake 25-30 minutes until center sets (it will be a little springy).

9.      Cool then chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.

10.  Cut into squares and serve.