When I gave up on my month without sugar, it was largely due to a goat cheese cheesecake at a San Francisco restaurant. Goat cheese in a cheesecake sounded too amazing to miss out, so I gave up 2 days early. It was worth it, and I knew immediately that I wanted to recreate the dessert at home.
I tried this Goat Cheese Cake recipe from Food & Wine, adding a graham cracker crust and baking it in a springform pan. In hindsight, I should have realized this wasn’t supposed to be a traditional cheesecake recipe (most others I saw used 1/2 goat cheese and 1/2 cream cheese, while this one was all goat cheese and baked in a cake pan). The cake came out way too browned, especially on the sides, and all around kind of ugly. So what do you do with an ugly cheesecake?
Scoop it into balls, roll them in the broken up graham cracker crust, dip them into chocolate and make cheesecake truffles! I had some sticks leftover from my marshmallow pops, so a few ended up as cheesecake pops. Either way, they were rich and decadent bites of happiness. I also recommend sprinkling on some of your favorite sprinkles to add some color and a nice crunch.
Line an even surface with wax paper. Using a small cookie or ice cream scoop (or just a spoon) scoop out the cheesecake and form little balls. Place in freezer for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, melt chocolate and canola oil over a double boiler. Remove cheesecake balls from freezer and roll in graham cracker crumbs. Dip them in the melted chocolate, coating evenly, then place on wax paper. Sprinkle with jimmies if desired. Let harden and refrigerate until serving.
Is there a difference between jimmies and salt? Also where did you eat that? Yum!
Wheels – jimmies are a nickname for sprinkles. I had the cheesecake at Zaré at Fly Trap, I think it was in SOMA. The food was good, especially the meat entrees.
I still haven’t tried cake pops and now you’re going to make me leap-frog over them to make these cheesecake lovelies. Oh okay, I’ll do it!
This is such a great idea! I’ve made cake balls but never thought to use cheesecake. Love it!
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What a great idea! These look so cute! Would you believe I’ve still never had a cake pop? I might have to change that.
The look beautiful. Good job.
What a great idea to use an ‘ugly’ cheesecake up! They’d be fantastic for a dinner party on a stick like in your top picture. I might start covering everything in chocolate and putting it on a stick…what could go wrong?!
Goat cheese cheesecake!?!?!? SUPER cool! And these pops look wonderful!
Mmmmm. Chocolate, cheesecake and jimmies for good measure? Sign me up. That looks like a fabulous way to handle an imperfect cheesecake!
Oooh, where did you go in San Francisco that you had the goat cheese cheesecake? I live in SF and go out all the time (doing food reviews), so I’d love to put another place on the ol’ reservation list. The pics look great too — I can never get such a clean coating of chocolate on my cake pops. I’ve heard shortening works, but I’m going to try using canola.
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Fabulous. Sorry the cheesecake didn’t work out, but what a great improv!
Thanks everyone for the positive feedback! I’m excited that this made the Top 9!
Dina – I had the cheesecake at Zaré at Fly Trap. The food was good, especially the meat entrees and I definitely recommend the goat cheese cheesecake!
Had these a week ago for the first time. They’re so addictive! A great party idea. Thank you for the recipe!
Haha, what an innovative idea! I’m totally intrigued about this goat cheese cheesecake now!
These sound delicious! I’m actually not a big fan of the whole cake pops thing (lovely idea in theory, usually dissapointing in reality) but I cheesecake? Lush!
These are so adorable and simple! You have a beautiful blog 🙂 I’m looking forward to exploring your recipes!
You got 24 comments? So proud!!!
I’ve never made any sort of “pops,” but I’m truly tempted by your version…what a fabulous way to enjoy cheesecake…especially one that’s not so pretty! Great save…your pops are gorgeous!
First of all, your cheesecake pops and balls are gorgeous! I love the contrast of the sprinkles on the chocolate. I make cake pops but I have yet to delve into the world of cheesecake pops. I think my main problem is that whenever I make a cheesecake my husband devours it before I have a chance to do anything else with it; it’s his favorite. That being said, I don’t mean to sound petty, but I have a small correction to make.
Heidi- wow thanks for all the info! I had no idea. I will edit the post and change the name of the sprinkles.
Oh my!! These look dangerously delicious!
They present them in a metal tree. The kids and adults alike adore them!!
They also roll the dipped cheesecake in nuts and chocolate bits. YUM!!
they look amazing! yay, you did make it!! btw, what the heck do you do with all these desserts you make?!
What a delicious dessert!! Thanks for sharing!