Give your favorite cheesecake recipe a professional-looking finishing touch with gorgeous decoration. The secret? These swirled cheesecakes a snap to make. We'll show you five show-stopping techniques.
5 Ways to Make the Perfect Swirl Cheesecake
Updated on Apr. 21, 2022
When it comes to decadent homemade treats, you’ll have a hard time beating a cheesecake. Rich, creamy cheesecakes are always a hit at parties, potlucks and get-togethers—especially if they have a beautiful finish. Sometimes that means a classic cake topped with mounds of fresh fruit like this one or a delicate sprinkling of chopped nuts. But the most impressive cheesecake design, in my opinion, is a gorgeous swirl.
There are plenty of swirled cheesecake options out there. We’ll show you how you can add a swirl to your cheesecake recipe five different ways.
Method 1: Easy Spiral Cheesecake Swirl
If you’re working with a recipe that uses jam or fruit, try this simple method. Using a piping bag (or just a zip-top bag with the corner cut off) pipe a dots in a spiral pattern. Then, drag a clean toothpick or bamboo skewer through the jam to get a pretty swirl.
When you use a red fruit, like with this rhubarb cheesecake, you have a design that looks a bit like hearts. How perfect for a Valentine’s Day or anniversary treat! Just be sure to do the cheesecake wobble test first so your dessert comes out perfect.
Method 2: Marbled Cheesecake
For a more abstract effect, you can add a marble finish to your cheesecake. This works really well for cakes that use two flavors of batter, like this chocolate brownie swirl cheesecake.
Use your primary flavor as the base for this cheesecake and have most of it prepped in the springform pan. Then drizzle your second flavor over the top. Use a skewer to swirl and spiral the batter. Add on a few last dollops of your first flavor and marble one more time. The result is perfectly imperfect. We love this one because it really gives you a peek into the flavors of the dessert.
Method 3: Flower or Clover-Inspired Design
If you’re looking for a flower design (and you don’t have time to master cake decorating), look no further. Simply pipe caramel in a clover-shaped pattern (or a four-petaled flower). Repeat that shape over and over until you get to the outer edge of the springform pan. Then, use a toothpick or skewer and pull it through the center of each petal. Finish it off by piping a bit of extra caramel in the spaces between the petals and pull the toothpick through that as well. The result is pretty stunning.
Method 4: Two-Tone Cheesecake Swirl
If you have more than one flavor that you want to swirl into your cheesecake, this is the perfect method. Use a piping bag or a teaspoon, add small dollops of fruit filling or jam into your cheesecake batter (this is our favorite store-bought strawberry jam). Then use a toothpick to swirl this way and that until you get the look you want. Swirl a little, swirl a lot—it’ll look great no matter what!
Method 5: Herringbone Pattern Cheesecake
Give your cheesecake a bakery-style touch with this herringbone method. Just like the others, it’s incredibly easy—but it definitely has a bit of a polished touch.
Start by piping straight lines of either jam, caramel or even just some cheesecake filling that you’ve dyed a festive color. Then take a toothpick and drag it across the cake. First, go in one direction, then for the next pass, go in the opposite. The result is something the Golden Girls would surely love.
Find Inspiration from These Contest-Winning Cheesecakes
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Red Velvet Cheesecake
Festive and oh, so good, this cheesecake will become a fixture on your party dessert menu. The red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with cream cheese frosting and baked in a chocolate cookie crumb crust. —Karen Dively, Chapin, South Carolina
Dulce de Leche CheesecakeThis decadent dulce de leche cheesecake features rich cream cheese filling with swirls of dulce de leche atop a spiced gingersnap and walnut crust.
Ricotta CheesecakeIndulge in the rich, velvety texture of this classic ricotta cheesecake, featuring a crisp cinnamon-spiced crust and tangy sour cream topping.
Blueberry CheesecakeThe swirls in this blueberry cheesecake are made with a couple tablespoons of simple blueberry sauce. Save the rest of the homemade sauce for serving.
Chocolate Chip Cookie CheesecakeThis chocolate chip cookie cheesecake recipe ticks all the right boxes. It's easy to make and definitely grown-up, but still taps into your childhood cookie nostalgia.
Layered Mocha CheesecakeIn my search for the perfect mocha cheesecake, I ended up combining a few of my favorite recipes to create this delicious version. It’s as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Cinnamon Apple CheesecakeAn attractive topping of cinnamon-spiced apple slices and a homemade oat-and-walnut crust make this creamy dessert a definite showstopper. —Emily Ann Young, Edmond, Oklahoma
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough CheesecakeIf you love to nibble the cookie dough while you’re baking, this cookie dough cheesecake is for you. It’s studded with (eggless) cookie dough in every slice!
S’more CheesecakeThis luscious dessert is just as wonderfully tasty as the campfire snack that inspired it. It's a great way to savor a summer classic anytime of year. Our 4-year-old daughter likes it so much that she's requested it for her next birthday! —Robin Andrews, Cary, North Carolina
Pineapple Pie with Coconut CreamYou’ll find pineapples and coconuts everywhere in the South Pacific, so we play them up in this creamy cool pineapple pie, dolloped with coconut cream. Divine! —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, Hawaii
Honey Pecan CheesecakeBirthdays and holidays are great times for cheesecake. In our annual church bake-off, it won first place! —Tish Frish, Hampden, Maine
Tiramisu Cheesecake DessertLayers of vanilla wafers soaked in coffee-infused syrup, creamy cheesecake filling, and a finishing touch of whipped topping and cocoa—this tiramisu cheesecake combines simplicity and sophistication in every bite.
Pistachio Cardamom CheesecakeCardamom has a sweet and warm taste that makes you think of clove, allspice and pepper all wrapped in one spice. Mix it with pistachios and add to cheesecake for a dessert that suggests the exotic flavors of India. —Carolyn Harkonnen, Loomis, California
Turtle CheesecakeWith rich layers of chocolate and caramel cheesecake, crunchy pecans and a silky chocolate ganache topping, this turtle cheesecake is a showstopping dessert that's a labor of love. But they'll love you for it!
Cannoli CheesecakeWith all the key elements of a classic cannoli, this creamy, chocolatey, cannoli cheesecake will please any dinner crowd.
Banana CheesecakeChilled, creamy banana cheesecake is the perfect summer treat. It's a classic dessert that is bursting with banana flavor and topped with tangy sour cream. For a beautiful presentation, garnish with fresh cherries, raspberries, or citrus slices.
Coconut Cheesecake & Rhubarb CompoteI took my daughter’s love of cheesecake plus my mom’s love of coconut and rhubarb and ran with it. Try it with a smidge of chocolate sauce, too. —Wendy Rusch, Trego, Wisconsin
Salted Caramel Cappuccino CheesecakeAfter spending years living in Seattle, I’ve become a coffee junkie! I had to relocate across the country for a time, so I created this cheesecake with the flavors of salted caramel, coffee and espresso. It lifted me up on days when I felt blue about leaving one of the world’s amazing coffee destinations. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Spiced Apple CheesecakeWhen you live in apple country, you get the privilege of selecting the apples and recipes you want for year-round enjoyment. Granny Smith apples are tart and crisp. Combined with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg, they make a delightful topping for a cheesecake of the Pacific Northwest. —Grace Hughes, Oroville, Washington
Almond CheesecakeThis rich and creamy almond cheesecake is accented with sweet almond flavor and finished with a tangy sour cream topping.
Caramel Fudge CheesecakeIt's hard to resist this chocolaty cheesecake with its fudgy crust, crunchy pecans and gooey layer of caramel. I combined several recipes to create this version that satisfies both the chocolate lovers and the cheesecake lovers in my family. —Brenda Ruse, Truro, Nova Scotia
