Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake

Red White and Blue Swirl cheesecake is a sweet graham cracker crust filled with creamy red, white and blue swirled cheesecake. This 4th of July dessert is not only fun but also tasty. This 4th of July of Cheesecake will liven up your holiday table. 

It’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is almost here. I’m getting ready for your annual family pool party by working on my menu plan for the meal. This Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake is definitely making an appearance at our family gathering. I love using a cold dessert for the summer holidays because it’s a great way to beat the heat.

Do I need a water bath for this Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake

Yes, this Red White and Blue cheesecake needs a water bath. Did you know that the formal term for a water bath is bain-marie? You use a water bath for cooking your cheesecake all the way through and to help prevent cracking.

A water bath allows your cheesecake to cook gently because the temperature of the water stays the same once it heats up. Water baths also prevent your cheesecake from browning too much and drying out. 

A water bath is not as complicated as it seems, and you will enjoy the soft and moist cheesecake that you get as a result from using a water bath. 

What kind of food coloring should I use 

I used liquid red and blue food coloring for this recipe. I already had the liquid on hand. The difference between using a liquid food coloring and a concentrated food coloring gel is the color difference.

As you can see by the images, the liquid food coloring gave me a lighter shade of blue and red. I like this lighter shade because then I don’t have to worry about colored teeth on the little ones that are enjoying the 4th of July cheesecake.

If you want darker colors for your cheesecake, use food coloring gel instead. Sometimes, colored teeth are fun and worth it.

How do I know my cheesecake is done

Are you trying to figure out when your cheesecake is done? I have two different ways for you to test the doneness of your cheesecake.  

First, you can use the most accurate form, which is checking the internal temperature of the Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake.

To test the temperature, insert a candy thermometer into the center of your cheesecake. When the temperature reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit in the center, your cheesecake is ready to remove from the oven.  

The second method to check your cheesecake is to perform the wobble test. What is a wobble test, you ask? Wobble test is testing to see if the cheesecake jiggles and how much it jiggles.

When your 4th of July cheesecake is completely cooked, it will still jiggle slightly but only in the center in a tiny circle. You are looking for a very slight jiggle. Not a ripple or large wiggle.

If you see a ripple then keep your cheesecake in the oven. 

I prefer to do the wobble test with a small wooden spoon instead of removing the cheesecake from the oven and jiggling the pan. Just be gentle when you pat your cheesecake so that your spoon does not dent the top of your Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake. 

How do I bake a cheesecake without cracks 

I have a few tips to help you prevent cracks from forming on the top of your cheesecake while it backs. The most important tip is using a water bath.

The water bath will keep your cheesecake moist and prevent it from drying out. The second tip is to make sure that your cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing your cheesecake batter.

Mix your cheesecake batter well before you add in your eggs. Once you add in the eggs to your Red White and Blue Cheesecake batter, you will want to mix your batter until the ingredients combine. 

Over mixing your cheesecake batter once you add your eggs will add more air to your cheesecake batter. Air is one of the causes of cracks in your cheesecake when it is baking, so you want to keep as much air out of your batter as possible.

What kind of crust do I need for this 4th of July cheesecake

For this 4th of July cheesecake, you will be making a graham cracker crust. Graham cracker crusts are my personal favorite. They are delicious and easy to make. All you need for your crust is crushed graham crackers and melted butter.

If you do not want to crush the graham crackers yourself, you can purchase already crushed graham cracker crumbs on the baking aisle at your local grocery store.

If you have a food processor, it takes seconds to crush up a batch of graham crackers. I always use my food processor for the job. 

What is a springform pan, and where do I buy one

A springform pan is a pan that consists of two parts. This pan is typically used for cheesecakes. The pan has a neat feature that allows you to remove the sides of the pan so that the sides of the cake are exposed.

This makes cutting your cheesecake easy and serving even more effortless. When I serve cheesecake that I’ve baked in a springform pan, I serve it still sitting on the bottom of the pan.

You can purchase a springform like mine from Amazon here. Or you can buy one at your local big-box store.

Ingredients for Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake

Crust:

• 1-½ cup crushed graham crackers
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature

Cheesecake:

• 4 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Red and blue food coloring

Directions for Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake 

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2. Begin by preparing the graham cracker crust. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and butter. Mix until well combined.

Step 3. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9” spring form pan. Press down firmly to create a flat, packed-tight surface.

Step 4. Place the crust in the oven and bake for 8-12 minutes. When baking time is complete, carefully remove from the oven and set to the side. Leave the oven on and set heat to 450 degrees.

Step 5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar. Beat by hand or using an electronic mixer until both ingredients are well combined.

Step 6. Beat in the eggs, one egg at a time, until each egg is completely incorporated into the mixture.

Step 7. After all eggs are combined into the mixture, mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Blend until well combined.

Step 8. In two smaller, separate bowls, pour out approximately ⅓ of the mixture into each bowl. Leave about ⅓ of the original mixture in the original bowl.

Step 9. In one of the smaller bowls with about ⅓ of the cheesecake mixture, drop 6-8 drops of blue food coloring and mix until the color is completely mixed. Repeat for the other small bowl of cheesecake mixture with red food coloring.

Step 10. You will have three cheesecake bowls, with three colors. The original bowl with the original cheesecake mixture. The blue colored mixture and the red.

Step 11. Pour the original cheesecake mixture into the springform pan. Pour the red and blue mixtures on top of the original cheesecake mixture into smaller sections. See Photo.

Step 12. Using a fork or knife, gently swirl the colors together by taking the utensil back and forth and then side to side. This will create the swirl pattern.

Baking Directions

Step 13. Place cheesecake into a roasting pan with 1-2 inches of water in the bottom. Place the pan into the oven and bake the cheesecake for 60-65 minutes or until only the middle of the cheesecake is more wobbly.

Step 14. When cooking time is complete, carefully remove cheesecake from the oven and allow to cool inside the spring form pan. When the cheesecake has cooled completely, place in the refrigerator and allow to chill overnight.

Step 15. When cheesecake has completely cooled, remove from the refrigerator and open the spring form pan.

Step 16. Serve cheesecake with whipped topping and fresh berries for garnishing.

Notes:

Use a metal spatula or metal serving spoon to better press down the crust.

When dying the cheesecake mixture, begin with 6-8 drops of food coloring and mix completely. Add additional drops of food coloring for color desired.

Your family and friends are going to love this Red White and Blue Swirl Cheesecake and you are going to be so glad you made it.  This 4th of July recipe will be making an appearance at your family holiday parties time and time again. 

More Delicious Red White and Blue Recipes

• RED WHITE AND BLUE POKE CAKE – 4TH OF JULY RECIPE
• RED WHITE AND BLUE TRAIL MIX – 4TH OF JULY SNACK MIX
• PATRIOTIC FRUIT COOKIE PIZZA – 4TH OF JULY FRUIT PIZZA
• BERRY TRIFLE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE – 4TH OF JULY TRIFLE
• RED WHITE AND BLUE FUNFETTI CAKE