My husband’s second favorite restaurant in the world is The Cheesecake Factory. We don’t go for the food, we go for the cheesecake. All of them. Okay, well maybe not all of them, unless we’re in a large group, but we always order at least 4 different cheesecakes to share between us.
Two bites out of each and the rest gets packed up for home to enjoy later.
Unless I’m in the front seat of the car with a plastic fork in hand and the to-go boxes on my lap.
Then we’re in trouble….big trouble.
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Especially if one of those cheesecakes is a chocolatey, caramel-y, nutty turtle.
At home, instead of making an entire Turtle cheesecake — because we all know what will happen if I’m alone with cheesecake – I make little cheesecake balls, bites and pops. Each one of these is about 3-bites big, and they are designed for SHARING, as in take-one-pass-it-along. Promise me, no hoarding.
Bites, balls, pops and turtles are the only types of desserts I’ll let myself make. Portion control is not my strong point.
How to make Turtle Cheesecake Truffles
It all starts with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, I use the 1/3 Less Fat version. Make sure it’s softened to room temp.
Mix in graham cracker crumbs – the come in a box and are pre-crumbed. Or you could take the crackers and pulse in your food processor.
Use a melon baller to create evenly sized balls. Freeze for 10-15 minutes to harden.
While the cheesecake balls are freezing, melt the chocolate squares. You can use candy melts as well.
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Until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.
For the rest of the topping, I use pecans and caramel sauce – the kind you buy to pour over ice cream sundaes.
Chop the pecans.
You’ll use a fork to dip the cheesecake balls into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip through the tines of the fork.
Top with a few pecan pieces.
Dip your fork into the caramel.
And drizzle the caramel over the cheesecake truffles.
Then sit back, kick your feet up and enjoy just one (you’re supposed to share the rest).
Turtle Cheesecake Truffle Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Philadelphia Cream Cheese 1/3 Less Fat
- 1 package (8 ounces) baking chocolate squares, semi-sweet (or candy melts)
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (or melted caramel squares)
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese with the graham cracker crumbs. Use a melon baller to scoop up 1 1/4" sized balls to a wax-paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until you've scooped up all of the cream cheese. You should have about 15 balls. Freeze for 10-15 minutes.
- While the cheesecake balls are freezing, melt the chocolate according to package directions.
- Using 1 or 2 forks, dip each cheesecake ball into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip away between the tines. Place the chocolate covered balls back on the wax paper on the baking sheet. Repeat for all cheesecake balls.
- Top each truffle with pecans. Drizzle caramel over each truffle. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving (up to overnight).
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These are amazing and easy to make.Thanks for the recipe.The family loved them.
Is there an easy way to put the caramel on the inside?
I enjoyed this.
I used the boxed crumbs, but they weren’t sweet, so I added a little brown sugar and cinnamon. I can’t wait to try them and hand them out for Christmas! Thanks for sharing!!
Sure
Thank you for sharing this easy to make and delicious recipe. This is perfect for Christmas , my daughters will surely enjoy it.
I’m making these tonight for a special treat for Thanksgiving Day. Can’t wait to try them.
This cheesecake looks fantastic. I’ll try to make this specialty tonight! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!!!
Can these be made ahead and frozen? Am thinking of making these for a baby shower. If they make it there that is….
Thanks!
This FB page is using your photo and recipe as theirs: https://www.facebook.com/grandmadownhomecookingrecipes
I love when directions are so thorough that my version looks just like the picture. These are so easy to make…can’t wait to try one! 🙂
I made these last night with cinnamon graham crackers because I didn’t have regular ones, and they are absolutely delicious and so pretty. Thanks for sharing!
jk jk i found it… awk
how much of the crushed graham cracker crumbs do you use? i’m going to put them in the food processor and the recipe doesn’t say
I just made these and they turned out very well. I did end up with more than the recipe stated which was a good thing. My question is, do they need refrigerated after making?
Thanks for your response. Thanks for the recipe
Woah! I think I have to make these for Thanksgiving. Love turtle cheesecake!
I didnt know how but I wanted cheesecake bites or balls , so I typed it in and these beautiful creations popped up I ran to the store and im goin to make them tonite cant wait. Thankyou for sharing……. 🙂
Wow! do I love turtles! I can hardly wait to try this recipe. Thanks.
Thank you for the wonderful recipe! They were pretty easy to make, but so delicious and pretty~♥
Thank you your site and recipes are very good wish you a nice day 🙂
Can i use somthing other then graham cracker crumbs ?
Sure! You can use gingersnaps too.
I made these for the first time this week, I used white chocolate melting chips instead of the bakers chocolate because my boyfriend is not a big fan of dark chocolate…he said they were THE BEST things I have ever made!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS RECIPE!!!
Definitely saving this to my computer to make at some point! I too love Cheesecake Factory…don’t get there ofte enough.
these look great, i just made a bunch and I am waiting for my friends to come over and try them
Probably a freat recipe for the parents
does looks good but do you need the pecans with it
These is no way I could eat just one. Maybe one dozen! 😉
yum! incredible 🙂
This is a great recipe. Few ingredients and quick. I will prepare these for my husband’s BD. He loves cheesecake.
Right now, I am so in love. I have never considered turning this into a bite-sized treat.( always making turtle cheesecakes and trying to get the right balance). Cannot wait to tweet about it.
Thanks.
do you put any kind of sugar in the cream chesse?
Nope! They are plenty sweet with cream cheese, chocolate and caramel already.
See!! Now I was wondering what happened to all of the cute little turtles when I was at the beach this past weekend. Un huh…Jaden ran off with them and made them all sweet and scrumptious. Okay, you’re going to have to send a few of those nummy turtles back, purty please 🙂
Finally — a simple, yummy dessert with no baking necessary! Now that I can do!
Oooh, Philly cream cheese, yay! I’m not the biggest fan of Hershey’s (being in the UK means brought up on Cadburys), but everything else sounds perrfecct 🙂 I’m not great at portion control either, but I’ve just given up on that.
I am going to make these for my Mother-in-law’s 60th Birthday party! Should be a delightful addition to the party! Thanks Jaden!
Wow! Those look amazing! I love that you used lower fat cream cheese. Very happy I found your lovely site.
These look delicious! I’m surprised there’s no sugar mixed in with the cream cheese; I supposed they’re sweet enough with the chocolate and caramel. Who doesn’t love Turtles, anyway!?
Those little Turtle candies are my favorites – there is just something about the nuts, caramel and chocolate together that just screams EAT ME. These look really, really good!
Oh my! Oh my!
I think I just died and went to heaven. Yum!
I never thought to make cheesecake truffles. Thanks for this post! Cheesecake is my favorite cake but my husband doesn’t really care for it – so I NEVER make it because like you, me and cheesecake alone is not good.
Somehow I have gone through life without ever being to the cheesecake factory! I really must go…soon.
Jaden, these truffles look incredible! What a wonderful combo of flavors – turtles are my favorite dessert, and cheesecake is my second! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Jaden,
This is so cool, so creative, and the best part you can also get a kid to make it on his/her own. Splendid!
Sri
Those are super simple and look tasty. I love the idea of little servings and stopping at just one! Ha!
These look absolutely DEE-lish!