- Crust:
- 20 chocolate sandwich cookies
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- Filling:
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 (13 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
- 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 drops red food coloring (optional)
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies, divided
- Whipped cream and hot fudge for garnish (optional)
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Crush the sandwich cookies and mix thoroughly with melted butter. Press into a 10-inch springform pan and bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
- For the filling, in the bowl of your stand mixer or with a hand mixer, slowly beat the soft cream cheese, marshmallow fluff and peppermint extract. Be careful to scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl. When the batter is completely smooth, slowly add the heavy whipping cream until it's just incorporated. Fold the instant pudding, salt and red food coloring into the mixture gently with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle 1/2 of the crush candies into the smooth filling.
- Spread the filling into the baked crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Add a drizzle of hot fudge, a spoon of fresh whipped cream and sprinkle of crushed candies to the top before serving.
- Release the cheesecake from the pan and serve! A tart pan or pie plate are acceptable for use as well.