A Spicy Perspective

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe (Limoncello Cake!)

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe (Limoncello Cake!) – A fabulous silky cheesecake recipe with a boozy lemon essence and crisp salty-sweet biscoff cookie crust.

lemon cheesecake

Homemade Cheesecake

There are certainly some recipes I’m more excited to share with you than others. Probably because there are certain recipes I’m more excited to eat than others… Like a homemade cheesecake recipe kissed with delicate boozy limoncello.

If you are a cheesecake lover, a lemon lover, a limoncello lover, and/or a Biscoff cookie lover, today’s Limoncello Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust might make you feel just as giddy as I do.

If you are not, maybe it will change your mind!

limoncello cake

The Perfect Cheesecake

Cheesecake is a guilty pleasure I revel in but am very selective about eating.

If a cheesecake looks dry, grainy, or looks as if the crust will be a let-down, I will sneer at the pathetic attempt at perfection, and willingly pass it up.

However, if a cheesecake looks silky, moist, and smells of tangy richness, I could quickly eat the entire thing before blinking out of my cheesecake-induced fit of fury.

How to make limoncello

Limoncello Cake

I am particularly fond of this Lemon Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust because it offers a mild lemon liqueur flavor that is perfect for serving with fresh seasonal berries or berry sauces.

Using part limoncello and part fresh squeezed lemon juice (instead of lemon juice alone) offers just the right citrus note, without overpowering the natural tang of the limoncello cake.

As for texture? Heavenly forkfuls of dense creamy fluff accompanied by a crumbled crust made of sweet Biscoff cookies.

If you love graham cracker crust you are going to go nuts over the sweet crunchy Biscoff Crust.

Sour Cream Layer

Our Limoncello Cheesecake also offers an endearing layer of sour cream baked over the top blended with a touch of limoncello.

This layer does several things… It increases the intensity of the limoncello flavor. It creates a textural contrast and visual appeal. And best of all, if your cheesecake top happens to crack in the oven, which sometimes they do, it covers all flaws for a perfect homemade cheesecake.

Lemon Cheesecake Recipe Ingredients

For The Crust:

  • Biscoff Cookies The main ingredient to the crust. These cookies are magical!
  • Sugar Sugar makes the crust a little sweeter and crisp.
  • Salt To offset the sweetness add just a pinch of salt, but not too much.
  • Melted ButterThe butter is what will hold the crust together.

For The Cheesecake

  • Cream CheeseIt can’t be cheesecake without cream cheese!
  • EggsA traditional cheesecake additive that helps with thickening.
  • SugarTo offer a tangy-sweet flavor.
  • Lemon Zest For that strong citrus flavoring.
  • Lemon JuiceSome sour to offset the sweet from the sugar and Limoncello.
  • Limoncello LiqueurThis is where it gets boozy, friends.
  • Vanilla Extract Some vanilla flavoring to add depth.
  • SaltSalt to bring out and balance flavors.

For The Sour Cream Topper:

  • Sour creamTo create creamy tangy flavor.
  • SugarI know, more sugar.
  • Limoncello Liqueur To flavor the sour cream with a little bit of liqueur.
Homemade Cheesecake

How to Make Lemon Cheesecake

  1. Preheat the oven. Place one oven rack in the middle of the oven, and one at the bottom. Place a large rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack to catch any leakage. Line the bottom of a 9 1/2 inch springform pan with parchment paper. Then clamp the ring around the bottom tightly. (Trim the paper edges if desired.)
  2. For the Crust: Place the Biscoff cookies, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the cookies are finely ground. Then add the melted butter and pulse again to combine. Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pan. Press the crumbs with your hands over the bottom of the pan, and about 2/3 the way up the sides of the pan. Bake.
  3. For the Limoncello Cheesecake Filling: Meanwhile, place the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high to soften and fluff the cream cheese. One at a time add the eggs, not adding another egg until the previous egg is completely blended in. Scrape the bowl with a spatula. Then add the remaining ingredients and beat until completely smooth. Pour the filling into the crust and bake.
  4. For the Sour Cream Topping: In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream, sugar, and limoncello until smooth. Once the cheesecake has baked and is mostly set in the middle, spread the sour cream filling over the top of the cheesecake and place back in the oven to bake.
  5. Cool the cheesecake on the counter for 1 hour. Then place in the refrigerator to chill and set for at least 3 hours. Later, take the ring off the springform pan and slide the cheesecake onto a cake plate. Slice and serve cold.

You can make Limoncello Cake with Biscoff Crust up to a week before serving. Then top it with fresh seasonal berries and dive into the silk folds of limoncello bliss! Enjoy!

See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make Lemon Cheesecake Recipe (Limoncello Cake!)

can you freeze cheesecake

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Long Does This Recipe Last In The Fridge?

This cheesecake can last up to 5 days if you store it in an airtight container in the fridge. If you are just wrapping the top up with foil or plastic wrap, then this cheesecake can last up to 3 days in the fridge. 

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

If you wrap them VERY well, you can freeze them for up to 6 months. Wrap tightly in plastic first, then wrap again in foil to reduce the chance of freezerburn.

Would a 9” Springform Pan Change The Cooking Time?

Yes, just a little. You my need to add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time.

Is It Possible To Substitute The 1/4 Cup Limoncello With An Equal Part Lemon Juice?

No, I wouldn’t use straight lemon juice. It would be better to make a lemon simple syrup to use in place of the Limoncello, because lemons as pretty acidic, and Limoncello is sweet.

Can I Just Leave The Sour Cream Part Unbaked?

If you want the top layer to set, you do need to keep baking it. Otherwise, it will not cut neatly when sliced.

How Long Do I Have To Wait For The Base To Set Up Before I Pour On The Sour Cream Layer?

Once the cheesecake has baked for 45 minutes, go ahead and pour the sour cream layer over the top. 

limencello cake recipe

Lemon Lovers Unite! Find More Citrus Recipes Here:

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5 from 21 votes
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Lemon Cheesecake Recipe (Limoncello Cake!)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Cool Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Limoncello Cheesecake with Biscoff Crust – A fabulous silky cheesecake recipe with a boozy lemon essence and crisp salty-sweet biscoff cookie crust.
Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

For the Biscoff Crust:

For the Limoncello Cheesecake Filling:

For the Sour Cream Topping:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place one oven rack in the middle of the oven, and one at the bottom. Place a large rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack to catch any leakage. Line the bottom of a 9 1/2 inch springform pan with parchment paper. Then clamp the ring around the bottom tightly. (Trim the paper edges if desired.)
  • For the Crust: Place the Biscoff cookies, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the cookies are finely ground. Then add the melted butter and pulse again to combine. Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pan. Press the crumbs with your hands over the bottom of the pan, and about 2/3 the way up the sides of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
  • For the Limoncello Cheesecake Filling: Meanwhile, place the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high for 2 minutes to soften and fluff the cream cheese. One at a time add the eggs, not adding another egg until the previous egg is completely blended in. Scrape the bowl with a spatula. Then add the remaining ingredients and beat until completely smooth. Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 45 minutes.
  • For the Sour Cream Topping: In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream, sugar, and limoncello until smooth. Once the cheesecake has baked and is mostly set in the middle, spread the sour cream filling over the top of the cheesecake and place back in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
  • Cool the cheesecake on the counter for 1 hour. Then place in the refrigerator to chill and set for at least 3 hours. Later, take the ring off the springform pan and slide the cheesecake onto a cake plate. Slice and serve cold.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 386kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 108mg, Sodium: 470mg, Potassium: 180mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 680IU, Vitamin C: 0.7mg, Calcium: 109mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier

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65 comments on “Lemon Cheesecake Recipe (Limoncello Cake!)”

  1. OMG….. possibly the best cheesecake I’ve ever made!! Berries are pretty crummy here in the Northwest this time of year, so I opted for my killer Lemon Curd swirled over the top. Guests swooned!

  2. Very good. However we used very high quality eggs with bright orange yokes and the filling ended up being slightly pink in the end!!! 

  3. Can I make the cake as mini cakes. How long would I cook them for,

  4. i made it and everyone loves it. When shoud you remove the parchment paper?
    Last time it stuck to the cheesecake and made it hard to cut in pieces

  5. this was the best cheesecake i have made so far.is there a special brand of lemoncelloi should look for next time?

  6. This cheesecake looks so yummy and delicious.

  7. I can’t find a 9 1/2” springform pan.  Would a 9” change the cooking time?

  8. This cheesecake looks amazing! I was wondering though, would it be possible to ‘bake’ it in my crockpot? (I found this recipe through your crockpot one, but like the sounds of these ingredients/flavors) thank you!

  9. Hello, I made this nummy cheesecake. I would like to make some of these for a special occasion but need to freeze them. How long can these be frozen? Thank you.

  10. I made this, followed directions, only difference, I had to make my own anise biscotti for the crust.
    It was absolutely delicious. I made it three days before it was needed. Kept the ring on and removed on second day, then covered it left it in refrigerator. Took it out about two hours before we ate it, needed room in fridge! It was so good. I’m making another one right now! 

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  12. This is beyond irresistible !

  13. Absolutely divine – this is one good looking cheesecake! And I love limoncello, so I know I am going to love this :)

  14. I have some limoncello in the freezer that is just waiting for me to make use of it and I love cheesecake so I think I will give this a whirl. It looks and sounds so delicious.

  15. That lemon ginger combination is the best!

  16. Such a dreamy cheesecake filling!! And with a Biscoff crust???! A magnificent combination!

  17. Gosh, I was introduced to Biscoff cookies while on an airline flight years ago. At the time, I thought they were delicious, but was unable to find any in our local shops. I hadn’t thought about them again until I ran across your neat site. And … I was able to find the Biscoff cookies on line. Hooray! I made your Linoncello Cheese Cake using your recipe and my spring form pan. Oh, was it every deeee-licious!! Yum! And it made enough that we have left overs. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! I’ll be back again to visit your site.

    Aloha ~~~ Nancy On Maui

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  20. Delicious! No cracks, but did make the sour cream topper.  Used half sugar, half stevia in the cheesecake itself. Everyone loved it!

  21. I’ve got my cheesecake in the oven right now. :)

  22. Fabulous recipe! Super creamy! Important to follow the directions in mixing in eggs and liquids to the cream cheese mixture. Gradual is best to get the best texture. 

  23. Hi Sommer, I was thinking of making mini cheesecakes with his recipe in muffin size cups. I plan on baking them about 20 minutes. Do you think I could pull them out after about 10 minutes and put the topping on–then bake for another 10 minutes to set the topping? Or do you think the topping would just sink in, because they might not be set enough…. maybe I should bake them for the complete 20 minutes then put the topping on and bake for another 10 minutes???? I would appreciate you’re opinion. I will be bringing them to an”Open House” at my stylists new salon. Thank you, Mary Beth

  24. Hi! I live in a place where it is very difficult to find Limoncello but I love your flavour combination! Is it possible to substitute the 1/4 cup Limoncello with an equal part lemon juice?

    • Hi Celine,

      No, I wouldn’t use straight lemon juice. I think you would be better offer making a lemon simple syrup to use, because Limoncello is pretty sweet. Hope this helps! :)

  25. The most amazing cheesecake i hv ever seen ✨✨✨ . Just one question; do we hv to continue baking 10-12 mina after adding the sour cream ? Cant we just leave the sour cream part unbaked? Thank you 

  26. This is my third time making this cheesecake because it is so good!  Walmart sells the cookies as does Amazon but they are cheaper at the former.  The first time I made it I did not let the cheesecake cook a bit before I put on the sour cream topping to put it back in the oven and all the topping fell to the middle.  It was good but not pretty.  So now I let it cool for about 20 minutes, put the sour cream on and pop it back in.

    • I wish I had read this first, I put the sour cream on right away and mine also fell in the middle. I will try waiting the 20 min next time, thanks!

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  28. I just made this. It’s not as pretty as yours.  The sour cream topping all sank to the middle but it still looks yummy!  Not sure what I did wrong. 

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  30. Does this cheesecake freeze well?

  31. How long do I have to wait for it to set up before I pour on the sour cream layer?

    • Hi Rachel! Once the cheesecake has baked for 45 minutes, go ahead and pour the sour cream layer over the top. :)

      • Mine is almost finished baking for the 45. Do I really just take it straight out, pour on the sour cream mixture, and pop it back in for 10-12?? Please excuse my nervousness in perfection. The fact that i haven’t butchered this recipe up to this point is a miracle in itself. 

      • Hi Emily! Sorry for the late response. How did it turn out?

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  33. So gorgeous! I could eat it all by  myself! 

  34. I am a cheesecake, biscoff and especially limonchello lover, so this has my name all over it!

  35. What a gorgeous cheesecake!!  Love all of the flavors that you added to this!  Especially the limoncello.  Anything lemon is a winner for me! 

  36. I love cheesecake for dessert more than anything in the entire world… and I get so excited when I see a PERFECT looking cheesecake!  This one is perfect!  And I’m loving the flavors so much.  Nice!!

  37. This is simply gorgeous!!

  38. Anything Limoncello has always been a weakness of mine. This needs to be made in my kitchen.

  39. Love everything about this, Sommer. The perfect Italian dessert for a summer dinner party, too!

  40. OMG, that layer of sour cream gets me every time. There are three things I covet in baking: the perfect cinnamon roll, the perfect scone and the perfect cheesecake. I think you just knocked this one off of my search. 

  41. This looks amazing and perfect for summer picnics!

  42. Currently the images are more delicious than the chocolate itself :p 

  43. This might be the most gorgeous cheesecake I have ever seen. And I’m loving the flavors!

  44. Biscoff and lemon…I’m in!

  45. This really does look like the perfect cheesecake!! Lemon and berries together is always a win.

  46. FAAAANCY! such  beautiful dessert!

  47. Wow, what a stunner!!

  48. Oh wow!! This is just genius.  Love how gorgeous and fluffy it looks.  You nailed it again!!!