This chocolate marble cheesecake is made with a combination of vanilla and chocolate batter - with a bit of sour cream for extra tanginess - and swirled together to create a marble effect.
Nestled into a crust made of Oreo cookies, this chocolate swirl cheesecake is super creamy, dense, and has the best of both worlds. It's quite an impressive dessert that is sure to please a crowd.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is a total showstopper recipe, that doesn't require too much effort (although a bit of time). This chocolate marble cheesecake would be perfect for birthdays, and even better for Valentine's Day!
Texture: This is a dense, yet creamy baked New York-style cheesecake, most akin to a traditional cheesecake. It's got that crunchy chocolate crumb crust that contrasts perfectly with the filling.
Flavor: This cheesecake has the best of both worlds - chocolate cheesecake and vanilla cheesecake! A classic vanilla flavor mixed with a rich chocolate flavored batter, and neither one is too overpowering. I chose to go with a chocolate crust to bring home the dark chocolate flavor, which I think compliments the bake best.
No traditional water bath: if you're a big lover of cheesecake making, you probably know how much of a pain it is to wrap your springform pan and pray to the Gods that the water bath doesn't leak through to your precious baked good!
Luckily, I've found a method that eliminates that step, which is to put a pan of boiling water in the bottom of the oven. This helps to create enough steam and moisture to replicate a true water bath! Ta da!
This recipe uses the basic cheesecake recipe from my Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, which is a perfect vanilla cheesecake base. It's also used in my Mini Strawberry Cheesecake Cups and Mini Speculoos Cheesecake.
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Ingredients
The ingredients for the chocolate marble cheesecake are quite simple, most of which you likely already have as a pantry staple.
- Oreos. Almost a full pack is used for the crust, both the creme filling and the cookie. This way, you don't have to do any tedious separating.
- Butter. Unsalted, melted butter is used to bind the crust.
- Cream cheese. Full-fat, Philadelphia brand cream cheese bricks will produce the most superior cheesecake in both flavor and texture. Be sure the cream cheese is very soft so no clumps form. I like to leave mine out on the counter for at least 6 hours prior to making the cheesecake.
- Granulated sugar.
- Cornstarch. This helps to set and add structure to the cheesecake and should not be skipped.
- Eggs. At a full room temperature, and whisked.
- Sour Cream. Full fat, and at a full room temperature.
- Chocolate (melted). I prefer semi-sweet (60-70% cacao) or dark chocolate. Milk chocolate doesn't give you that chocolate flavor that you're really looking for. Be sure to use a chocolate bar and chop it, rather than using chocolate chips. Chocolate chips contain anti-melting agents, and we want to make sure we have a super smooth, melted chocolate to incorporate into the batter. I do not suggest using cocoa powder in the chocolate batter.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
Here's a few ways you can mix up the chocolate marble cheesecake to make it your own.
- Crust - use chocolate graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or standard graham crackers.
- Chocolate - if you want to go double chocolate, add melted white chocolate to the vanilla batter (4oz).
- Toppings - while I wouldn't suggest adding anything over top of the cheesecake (so you don't hide the gorgeous swirled top), you can top slices with raspberry sauce, extra melted chocolate, chocolate fudge sauce, or caramel sauce.
How to Make This Recipe
One: Pulverize the Oreos in a food processor to a fine crumb, then mix with the butter and salt. Press the crumbs halfway up the sides of the pan, then bake to set and cool.
Two: Mix the cream cheese to break it down, then add the sugar and cornstarch and mix again.
Hot tip! Be patient when mixing the cheesecake batter. Everything should be done on the lowest speed for the smoothest batter. Beating too much air into the cheesecake can cause it to crack. Low and slow will produce the best results.
Three: Whisk together the eggs, then add them into the cream cheese mixture in four batches to slowly incorporate.
Four: Fold in the sour cream by hand until no streaks remain.
Five: Separate the cheesecake batter into two separate bowls, then add melted chocolate into half of the batter.
Six: Use a rubber spatula to fold the chocolate into the batter until no vanilla streaks remain.
Seven: Add the vanilla mixture and chocolate mixture to the crust in scoops, trying to alternate mixtures for best distribution. Gently tap and wiggle the mixture to settle it into the crust.
Eight: Use a table knife to swirl the batter together, getting down the whole way to the crust (without piercing through it). Then bake, adding a roasting pan of hot water to the bottom of the oven to act as the water bath.
Bake the cheesecake, then turn the heat off and crack the oven door for one hour before transferring to the fridge. Do not cover the cheesecake in plastic wrap, simply add it to the fridge completely uncovered to chill for eight hours.
Expert Tips
- Plan ahead for this recipe. I like to take my ingredients out to come to temperature (cream cheese, eggs, sour cream) in the morning, bake the cheesecake right after dinner (since the oven will be occupied for about 3 hours), then refrigerate it overnight to set.
- Line both the bottom and sides of the springform pan with parchment paper. Watch how to prepare your pan for a crumb crust.
- Use room temperature ingredients! I cannot stress how important this is to get a smooth cheesecake batter.
- Mix the batter on low speed only. Fight the urge to increase the speed!
- Use an oven thermometer to ensure the correct oven temperature. Baking the cheesecake at too high of a temperature can cause it to crack.
- Add the pan to the bottom of the oven, then add boiling water to the pan rather than trying to transfer a pan of hot water to the oven.
Recipe FAQs
Philadelphia brand, full-fat brick cream cheese is hands down the most superior type of cream cheese for cheesecakes. It's thick, creamy, and fluffy. Some other brands of cream cheese can be very dense and have more of a sour cream flavor, which produces stogy baked goods.
Technically no, but you should really use one. The moisture created keeps the cheesecake super moist and creamy, and also helps to produce an even bake. Cheesecakes baked without a water bath are also more prone to cracking.
This can be for a few reasons: too much air was whipped into the batter, the oven temperature was too high, the oven door was slammed at some point, or the cheesecake was removed from the oven right away, and cooled in a drafty area.
Storage
Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap in the fridge for one week. The cheesecake can be eaten straight from the fridge.
To freeze the cheesecake, wrap the cheesecake or slices tightly in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and then place it into a zip-top bag. Freeze the cheesecake for three months. To thaw, unwrap the cheesecake and thaw uncovered in the fridge to allow moisture to release. Re-cover with plastic wrap to store.
More Cheesecake Recipes You'll Love
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📖Recipe
Chocolate Marble Cheesecake
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- 9-inch springform pan
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment, or handheld mixer
- Rubber spatula
Ingredients
Oreo Crust
- 3 cups oreo crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Cheesecake Layer
- 32 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened
- 1⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream room temperature
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bar (60-70% cacao) melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
Oreo Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃ and line a 9" springform pan with parchment paper. Gently grease the pan, then line the bottom and sides.
- Pulverize the Oreos (including the filling) until a very fine crumb forms, then combine with the melted butter and salt and combine with a fork until fully moistened.3 cups oreo crumbs, ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Press the mixture into the springform pan, going at least halfway up the sides. A ⅓ cup dry measuring cup is a great tool for this. Be sure to compact it tightly into the bottom, corners, and sides.
- Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then use the ⅓ cup measuring cup to re-compact the crust as it will fall slightly during baking. Cool while you make the cheesecake layer.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 300℉/150℃.
Cheesecake Layer
- Add the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on low speed until broken down. Scrape down the sides.32 ounces full-fat cream cheese
- Mix together the sugar and cornstarch in a bowl, then add it to the cream cheese and mix on low until incorporated. Scrape down the sides again.1⅓ cups granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- Whisk together the eggs and vanilla, then drizzle it into the cream cheese mixture (with the mixer running on low speed) in four batches until fully incorporated.4 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
- Scrape down the sides once more, then add the sour cream and mix on low speed until combined.1 cup full-fat sour cream
- Add half of the cheesecake batter to another bowl and set it aside.
- Chop the chocolate and add it to a heatproof bowl. Microwave the chocolate in thirty second bursts, stirring in between each round, until fully melted. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes.4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bar (60-70% cacao)
- Add the melted chocolate to one bowl of batter and use a rubber spatula to fold it in until the chocolate is fully incorporated into a smooth, chocolate batter.
Cheesecake Assembly
- Use a large cookie or ice cream scoop (or large spoon) and alternate adding the chocolate and vanilla batters into the crust until they are completely used up.
- Gently jiggle and tap the pan to settle the batter, then use a butter knife to make swirls throughout the batter. Be sure to get down to the crust, without breaking through the crust.
Baking
- Add a 9x13" pan to the bottom oven rack and fill it with boiling water.
- Carefully place the marbled cheesecake onto the center rack, then bake for 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Turn off the oven, crack open the oven door, and allow it to slowly cool for one hour.
- Transfer the baked cheesecake to the refrigerator (uncovered) and chill for at least 8 hours to full set and cool.
Charles R. Whealton
I made this one. After a test version - which was good because that one turned out to be more of a "chocolate cheesecake" (no swirls), I did another and did a better job of halving the batter and swirling the chocolate. My colleagues loved it. Thanks for this!
Callan Wenner
Ahh, yes, the swirls can get muddled sometimes. Glad you went for a test run, and that everyone enjoyed the second batch!
Patty
What's the safest way to remove the parchment paper? Or do you just leave the one on the bottom when you serve? Also, would a ganache topping be too much chocolate?
Callan Wenner
If you just slide an offset spatula or thin knife in between the crust and parchment and go around in a circle, the whole cheesecake will slide right off of it! Then you just pull off the pieces from the sides. Regarding the ganache, it would definitely be pretty chocolatey, but if you're looking for ultra-chocolate I think it would be delicious! You'd lose out on seeing the nicely marbled top, but you would obviously see the effect once you slice into it. If you want to add the ganache, you can follow this recipe: https://thecozyplum.com/no-bake-baileys-irish-cream-cheesecake/
Amy
I've been making cheese cakes for the past 50 years. About a month ago husband asked me to make a chocolate marble one. This recipe looked really good, so I decided to go for it. My second one is in the oven as I'm typing this. It's a winner. The only thing that I changed this time is that I made a graham cracker crust. Thank you.
Callan Wenner
Amy, this makes me so happy!! I've made it with a standard graham cracker crust many times, and love it both ways. Thanks so much for reporting back - much appreciated.
Marna Hoffman
Planning to make this as the chocolate dessert for Thanksgiving. Have been making cheesecakes for over 50 yrs (married 51 yrs). Ive never lined my springform pan or sprayed it. Why do i need to with this one??? Answer please??? Thnx
Callan Wenner
Marna - this is a safety precaution to ensure the crust doesn't stick and to prevent any butter from potentially leaking out. The pan gets sprayed so the parchment sticks to it. You are welcome to skip that step if you feel confident in your pan and technique!
Theresa Tan
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. It was so simple to follow and the cheesecake turned out perfect (except for my sad, nearly-non-existent crust-making skills but practice will make perfect). I baked it in a water bath (wrapped the tin with 2 layers of foil) and it worked perfectly. My kids loved this cheesecake, and so did my elderly neighbour who ate it instead of her dinner and declared it delicious!
Callan Wenner
This makes me so happy! Too funny on the story of your neighbor...glad everyone enjoyed this.
Me
If we could have this in metric it would be helpful. Thanks
Callan Wenner
Hi there, just click the "metric" toggle next to US cups in the recipe card and it will provide the metric measurements!
Shirley
Hi, what kind of brand chocolate bar do you use?
Thanks,
Shirley
Callan Wenner
Hi Shirley, I either use Moser Roth (at Aldi), Bakers, or Ghirardelli!
Angie
An hour and 45 mins?!!!! Isn’t that too long for a cheesecake? The last time I baked a cheesecake that long it burned…
Callan Wenner
Hi Angie, this cheesecake is baked at quite a low temperature so it needs a longer bake time!
Megan
You know it’s a great recipe when it’s the first cheesecake you’ve made that didn’t have a cracked top! Such a crowd pleaser.
Callan Wenner
Yay! That is the BEST news. Sounds like you aced it!
Kaitlyn
I had always been too afraid to try to make a cheesecake, so this was my first attempt at making one. This Chocolate Marble Cheesecake just looked too delicious to resist and it came out just as fabulous as it looks. Honestly, I could just eat the Oreo Crust by itself, but it just made the cheesecake that much better. I absolutely loved the chocolate and vanilla batter being mixed together for that marble look!