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With a touch of the Irish, a double dose of chocolate, and a luscious layer of cheesecake, this Baileys Brownie Cheesecake was a home run!

Baileys Recipes are the rage around St. Patrick’s Day, but Irish cream, with its flavors of cream, cocoa, and whiskey, can magnify the deliciousness of all sorts of desserts!

Close view of half of a Baileys cheesecake on a white cake plate.
Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 What is Baileys Irish Cream?
3 How to Make
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 You May Also Like:
6 Baileys Brownie Cheesecake

Why You Must Make

With an unopened bottle of Baileys Irish Cream in the liquor cabinet, I had the itch to bake a Baileys dessert despite it being nowhere near St. Patrick’s Day. My friend, Danielle, had a Baileys Irish cream cheesecake on her blog, so that sealed the deal.

  • If you have Baileys on hand, this is a decadent dessert to showcase the liqueur.
  • It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
  • It’s perfect for lovers of cheesecake and brownies! Two desserts in one!!

With 3 unique layers including a brownie base, it was destined to be a hit with the family. If you love Baileys and/or cheesecake this is a must-make dessert!

What is Baileys Irish Cream?

Baileys is a liqueur created in Dublin, Ireland in 1973. Its primary flavors are whiskey, cream, and cocoa. In the European Union, any Irish Cream must be manufactured in Ireland.

It’s used along with Kahlua in Irish coffee, served on the rocks, and also added to hot chocolate and numerous mixed drinks. Irish cream contains 15-20% alcohol.

Slice of Baileys Brownie Cheesecake on a white dessert plate with a red handle fork.

How to Make

  1. Start by making the brownie base. Use a 9-inch springform pan as it has a high and removable ring, making it perfect for cheesecakes. Mix and bake as directed.
  2. Next, make the cheesecake layer. PRO-Tip: Have the eggs and cream cheese at room temperature. If the cream cheese is cold, it will not incorporate into a smooth, homogeneous batter.
  3. PRO-Tip: Add eggs one at a time, waiting until the first is incorporated before adding the next.
  4. PRO-Tip: Alcohol, like salt, is a flavor enhancer. Adding Baileys to the cheesecake batter, ganache, and whipped cream garnish definitely pushes this dessert up a few notches!
  5. Pour the cheesecake batter over the brownie base and bake.
  6. PRO-Tip: Bake the cheesecake in a bain-marie, or water bath, to minimize cracking. I like to use the roasting pan I use for our holiday turkey for my bain-marie.
  7. Make sure to wrap the pan in a couple of layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  8. Once the cake has been baked and chilled, make the ganache, spread it over the cheesecake, and chill again.
  9. Garnish with whipped cream infused with Irish cream if desired. Use an open star piping tip to make whipped cream swirls around the perimeter of the cake for special occasions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Need to Wrap the Springform Pan in Foil?

Since you are baking the cheesecake in a water bath, wrapping the pan in foil helps prevent any water from leaking inside the springform pan. You definitely don’t want water seeping in and making the brownie base (or graham cracker crust) soggy.

Why Do You Use a Water Bath?

A water bath or bain-marie is one of the methods bakers utilize to minimize the chances a cheesecake could crack. Although this cheesecake is covered with ganache which will hide any cracks, it’s still lovely to have a perfect cheesecake after it cools.

The steam from the bain-marie helps the cheesecake cook and rise slowly and at an even temperature. This steady baking is key to preventing cracks. Plus the steamy environment makes for an ultra-creamy cheesecake.

How Do You Store an Irish Cream Cheesecake?

Make sure you store this cheesecake in the refrigerator. Keep it covered with plastic wrap in the pan until ready to serve. The plastic will prevent the cheesecake from absorbing any food odors from the fridge.
Note that cheesecakes taste best when brought to room temperature for at least an hour, but no more than 2 hours before serving. This allows the cheesecake to soften and become even creamier.

Can You Freeze a Baileys Cheesecake?

Yes, this cheesecake freezes well, for up to 3 months. Do not add the ganache or the whipped cream garnish, and wrap well with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil.
The day before you plan to serve it, let it defrost overnight in the refrigerator, top it with ganache when defrosted, and garnish if you’d like.

Overhead view of a slice of brownie cheesecake garnished with whipped cream and fudge sauce.

You May Also Like:

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Slice of brownie cheesecake on a white dessert plate with a red handle fork
The Recipe:

Baileys Brownie Cheesecake

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Additional Time 3 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Yield 16

A luscious cheesecake recipe with a brownie base and ganache topping, and flavored with Baileys Irish Cream

Ingredients

Brownie Base

  • 10 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup flour
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Cheesecake

  • 24 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • ¾ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup Baileys Irish Cream
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 eggs, at room temperature

Ganache

  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon Baileys Irish Cream
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream

Whipped cream

  • ½ cup cold heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 9-inch springform with parchment and butter the sides. Wrap the exterior with a couple of sheets of heavy-duty foil. Set aside.
  2. Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Add the eggs.
  3. Add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until combined.
  4. Pour into pan and bake 20 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.
  5. Lower oven temp at this point to 300° and make the cheesecake.
  6. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and flour smooth on low with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer.
  7. Add sour cream, then add the Baileys and vanilla.
  8. Add one egg at a time, making sure each is incorporated before adding the next. When smooth, pour over the brownie.
  9. Fill a large roasting pan with enough hot water to come up a couple of inches. Place the cheesecake into the water bath, then bake for 75 minutes.
  10. Shut oven heat off and leave the door shut for 30 mins to cool down the cheesecake slowly.
  11. Crack the door open another 30 mins.
  12. Remove and chill for a few hours.
  13. Next, make the Bailey's ganache by heating the cream and Baileys just to a simmer.
  14. Place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and pour on the hot cream. Cover for one minute and whisk smooth. Spread on cold cake. Chill again.
  15. To make the whipped cream for garnishing, beat cream and sugar to stiff peaks and then slowly add in Baileys.
  16. Pipe onto the chilled ganache and keep the cheesecake in the fridge.

Notes

Keep in mind the chilling times when making.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 520Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 262mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 40gProtein: 7g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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© LIz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Chocolate