Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe

The Ultimate Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe: Sweet & Fluffy Magic

Sopapilla cheesecake brings together an irresistible fusion of sweet and creamy textures that dance across your palate.

This delectable dessert combines the richness of classic cheesecake with a crispy, golden exterior reminiscent of traditional Mexican pastries.

Warm spices and buttery layers create a delightful contrast that elevates this dish beyond ordinary desserts.

Bakers love how quickly this recipe comes together, making it perfect for spontaneous gatherings or unexpected sweet cravings.

The magic happens when flaky pastry meets smooth cream cheese, changeing simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of comfort and indulgence that will leave everyone asking for seconds.

Gather your ingredients and get ready to impress your friends and family with this crowd-pleasing treat.

Sopapilla Cheesecake That Blends Flaky and Creamy

  • Craft Creamy Indulgence: The smooth, velvety cream cheese filling creates a luxurious texture that melts in your mouth, delivering pure dessert bliss with every single bite.
  • Elevate with Effortless Elegance: Using ready-made puff pastry transforms this complex-sounding dessert into a simple recipe that looks impressively professional without requiring advanced baking skills.
  • Celebrate Cinnamon Comfort: The warm, aromatic cinnamon sugar topping adds a delightful layer of sweetness and spice, reminiscent of traditional Mexican sopapillas, making this cheesecake a nostalgic and comforting treat perfect for gatherings and family dessert times.

Essential Ingredients for Sopapilla Cheesecake

Base Ingredients:
  • Cream Cheese: Smooth and rich base for the creamy filling, best when at room temperature.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender, flaky texture.
  • Puff Pastry Sheets: Provides a light, crispy base and topping for the cheesecake.
Sweeteners and Spices:
  • Sugar, Cinnamon: Classic combination that adds warmth and sweetness to the dessert.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its aromatic and sweet profile.
  • Sea Salt: Balances and deepens the sweet flavors, adding a subtle complexity.
Finishing Ingredients:
  • Sugar, Cinnamon: Creates a sweet, spicy topping that caramelizes during baking.
  • Butter: Helps create a golden, crispy top layer with a rich flavor.

Crafting Sopapilla Cheesecake with Flaky Perfection

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm up the oven to 350°F (175°C) and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

Step 2: Create Creamy Filling

In a mixing bowl, blend:
  • Cream cheese
  • Softened butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Salt

Whip the ingredients until smooth and velvety, about 3-4 minutes, scraping the bowl’s sides occasionally.

Step 3: Layer the First Pastry Sheet

Sprinkle flour on your workspace and rolling pin. Gently roll out the first puff pastry sheet to fit the baking pan. Carefully transfer the pastry into the prepared dish.

Step 4: Spread the Filling

Evenly distribute the cream cheese mixture across the pastry base, ensuring a consistent layer.

Step 5: Top with Second Pastry Layer

Roll out the second puff pastry sheet and place it directly on top of the cream cheese filling.

Step 6: Create Topping Mixture

In a separate small bowl, combine:
  • Sugar
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Sea salt

Step 7: Add Final Touches

Drizzle melted butter over the top pastry sheet. Sprinkle the sugar-cinnamon mixture evenly across the surface.

Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Remove from the oven and let the sopapilla cheesecake cool for 1-2 hours. Slice and enjoy at room temperature or chilled.

Expert Tricks for Sopapilla Cheesecake Mastery

  • Chill Cream Cheese Perfectly: Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing to ensure a smooth, lump-free filling.
  • Roll Pastry with Precision: Use light, even strokes when rolling puff pastry to maintain its delicate texture and prevent tearing.
  • Check Doneness Carefully: Look for a golden-brown top and slightly jiggly center to guarantee a perfectly baked sopapilla cheesecake.
  • Cool Completely for Best Texture: Allow the dessert to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours to help it set and enhance flavor.
  • Slice with Clean Strokes: Wipe your knife with a warm, damp cloth between cuts to create clean, beautiful slices that showcase the layers.

Storing and Reheating Sopapilla Cheesecake to Retain Freshness

  • Refrigerate: Wrap the cooled sopapilla cheesecake tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Slice the cheesecake, place parchment paper between each slice, and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
  • Reheat: Thaw frozen slices in the refrigerator overnight, then warm in the oven at 325°F for 10-15 minutes or enjoy chilled straight from the fridge.

Pairing Recommendations for Sopapilla Cheesecake

  • Brew Cinnamon Coffee Companion: Pair this sweet sopapilla cheesecake with a freshly brewed cinnamon-infused coffee that echoes the warm spices in the dessert, creating a harmonious flavor explosion.
  • Drizzle Caramel Delight: Top each slice with a rich caramel sauce to enhance the buttery pastry and creamy cheesecake, adding an extra layer of decadent sweetness that complements the dessert's texture.
  • Serve Vanilla Ice Cream Sidekick: Add a scoop of smooth vanilla ice cream alongside the warm cheesecake, letting the cold, creamy vanilla balance the dessert's warm, spiced notes and provide a refreshing contrast.
  • Pour Mexican Hot Chocolate: Accompany the sopapilla cheesecake with a traditional Mexican hot chocolate, spiced with cinnamon and a hint of chili, which mirrors the dessert's Latin-inspired flavors and creates a comforting taste experience.

Innovative Twists on Sopapilla Cheesecake

  • Chocolate Caramel Crunch: Drizzle melted chocolate over the top before baking and sprinkle crushed pecans or almonds for extra texture and rich flavor.
  • Fruit Fusion Cheesecake: Layer thinly sliced strawberries or blueberries between the cream cheese filling and top pastry sheet for a fresh, fruity variation.
  • Mexican Spice Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sugar topping and include a splash of orange zest in the cream cheese mixture for a zesty, authentic Mexican-inspired dessert.
  • Nutella Swirl Version: Gently fold Nutella into the cream cheese filling and create beautiful swirl patterns before assembling the pastry layers for a decadent chocolate experience.
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Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe

Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe


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4.5 from 39 reviews

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Sweet sopapilla cheesecake blends creamy cheesecake with crispy pastry in a delightful Mexican-inspired dessert. Cinnamon-sugar crusted layers melt together, creating a heavenly treat that promises pure comfort and indulgence for you.


Ingredients

Scale

Dairy and Cheese:

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Pastry:

  • 1 package puff pastry, thawed

Sweeteners and Spices:

  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch of fine sea salt
  • Pinch of fine sea salt

Instructions

  1. Warm the oven to 350°F and apply a light butter coating to a 9×13″ baking dish to prevent sticking.
  2. Create a velvety cream cheese mixture by blending cream cheese, butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt using an electric mixer until the texture becomes uniformly smooth and silky.
  3. Prepare the work surface with a light flour dusting, then carefully unfurl the first puff pastry sheet, gently stretching it to match the pan’s dimensions.
  4. Transfer the first pastry layer into the greased baking dish, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom surface.
  5. Generously spread the prepared cream cheese filling across the pastry, creating an even, consistent layer that reaches all edges.
  6. Roll out the second puff pastry sheet and delicately position it atop the cream cheese filling, completely covering the initial layer.
  7. Craft a sweet-spiced topping by combining sugar, cinnamon, and sea salt in a small mixing bowl.
  8. Drizzle melted butter uniformly over the top pastry layer, allowing it to create a rich, golden base.
  9. Liberally sprinkle the prepared sugar-cinnamon mixture across the buttered surface, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
  10. Slide the assembled dessert into the preheated oven and bake until the top transforms into a beautiful golden-brown color, approximately 35-40 minutes.
  11. Once baked, remove from the oven and permit the sopapilla cheesecake to cool completely for 1-2 hours, allowing the layers to set and flavors to meld.
  12. Slice into generous portions and serve at room temperature for optimal enjoyment.

Notes

  • Elevate your dessert game with this irresistible fusion of creamy cheesecake and crispy pastry, delivering a delightful texture contrast.
  • Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for smooth, lump-free mixing that creates a velvety filling.
  • Rolling puff pastry to fit the pan precisely prevents uneven baking and guarantees a perfectly golden, flaky crust.
  • Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar topping generously for a caramelized, sweet crunch that transforms the dessert into a crowd-pleasing sensation.
  • Allow the cheesecake to cool completely before slicing to help it set and maintain its beautiful layered structure.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, wrapped tightly to preserve the pastry’s crisp texture and creamy filling.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 330
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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