Black Forest Cheesecake Cake is two favorite desserts combined. Chocolate cake and a creamy baked cheesecake pair to create this awesome easy dessert. To make this into a black forest cheesecake, I use canned cherry pie filling to top it off. And, yes, believe it or not, the cheapest brand here actually has the MOST cherries!! If you want to get fancy, you can add whipped cream and chocolate flakes to the top as well.
I invented this incredibly easy dessert recipe a number of years back. Using a store-bought cake mix makes this a super simple and quick, yet impressive dessert. We don’t follow the instructions on the box, therefore, the crust is more dense, like a brownie, for this easy dessert recipe.
This post may contain affiliate links, please read myprivacy policy.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I use a standard baked cheesecake recipe for the cheesecake part. Then, just pour it onto the raw cake mix part and bake it all together. The topping can actually be whatever your favorite canned pie filling is. We often open a can of cherry pie filling and a can of blueberry pie filling to give everyone a choice. And, there are some who like this cheesecake cake plain with no pie filling on top:-)
History of Cheesecake
By the 5th Centure BC,ancient Greeks made the earliest known cheesecakes. These consisted of patties of fresh cheese mixed with flour and honey and cooked. In the first English cookbook, which was written in 1390, there were multiple recipes for cheesecake that had eggs and various different flavors. This love of cheesecake came to America with the British. By the 19th Century, cheesecake began to be flavored with vanilla, lemon, or other mild flavors. Cream cheese replaced the traditional curd cheese used in cheesecakes in the 1930’s. This transformed cheesecake!Cream cheese rendered the cheesecakes creamier, richer, and even more delicious! This is when the famous New York Cheesecake was born.
Why You Will LOVE Black Forest Cheesecake Cake!
- So sweetly scrumptious!
- Simple to assemble.
- Uses easy to find ingredients.
- Rich and impressive dessert recipe.
- Decadent baked cheesecake variation!
Using a cake mix for the crust in this cheesecake recipe is kind of cheating. But hey, why not? Sometimes it’s great to have an easy, yet impressive dessert to serve! Black Forest Cheesecake Cake is super simple and quick to assemble. It really takes only 15-20 minutes to mix all of the ingredients. Then pop it in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Just plan ahead a bit so that this baked cheesecake has time to chill!!
Ingredients for Black Forest Cheesecake Cake
For the Cake Mix Crust
- Cake mix, 1 box, preferrably chocoloate fudge, but any kind of chocolate cake mix will work!
- Cooking oil, I use canola, but any mild flavor oil is fine.
- Water
- Egg, just one for the crust part.
For the Cheesecake Part
- Cream cheese, this recipe uses 4×8 oz blocks, make sure they are softened before mixing.
- Sugar, granulated
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs, there are 4 in the cheesecake part.
Topping
- Canned cherry pie filling, I actually found that the cheapest brand has the most cherries…hmmm
How to Make Black Forest Cheesecake Cake
1. Grease a 9×13 inch pan, bottom only. In a medium bowl, beat all ingredients for the cake mix crust. (this will be quite thick)
2. Press into the 9×13 inch pan. It will be quite thick, I use a spatula to press it down.
3. In another medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Be careful to not overmix, it’s okay to have tiny lumps in the mixture.
4. Pour the cheesecake mixture onto the cake mix crust.
5. Bake at 325°F (not convection) for 40-50 minutes. The center should still be jiggly.
6. Spoon pie filling onto the individula pieces as desired.
For recommended items to help you make this recipe, see my Amazon Shop.
Variations
- Change the cake mix to Devil’s Food, Red Velvet, Chocolate Fudge, or Gluten Free Chocolate Cake.
- Add whipped cream when serving.
- Put chocolate shavings on each slice when serving.
- Use blueberry pie filling instead of cherry.
- Try strawberry or raspberry pie filling.
Other Cheesecake Type Recipes to Try
Black Forest Cheesecake Cake
Black Forest Cheesecake Cake is two favorite desserts combined. Chocolate cake and a creamy baked cheesecake pair to create this awesome easy dessert. To make this into a black forest cheesecake, I use canned cherry pie filling to top it off.
Ingredients
For the Cake Mix Crust
For the Cheesecake Part
For the Topping
Instructions
For the Cake Mix Crust
Grease a 9x13 inch pan, bottom only. In a medium bowl, beat all ingredients for the cake mix crust. (this will be quite thick)
Press into the 9x13 inch pan. It will be quite thick, I use a spatula to press it down.
For the Cheesecake Part
In another medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Be careful to not overmix, it's okay to have tiny lumps in the mixture.
Pour the cheesecake mixture onto the cake mix crust.
Bake at 325°F (not convection) for 40-50 minutes. The center should still be jiggly.
For the Topping
Spoon pie filling onto the individula pieces as desired.
Servings 18
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 452kcal
- Calories from Fat 253kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 28g44%
- Sodium 426mg18%
- Potassium 217mg7%
- Total Carbohydrate 45g15%
- Dietary Fiber 1g4%
- Sugars 24g
- Protein 5g10%
- Vitamin A 32 IU
- Vitamin E 13 IU
- Vitamin K 10 mcg
- Riboflavin 15 mg
- Vitamin B12 12 mcg
- Phosphorus 20 mg
- Copper 13 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Don't overbake, the top should be a bit jiggly when finished cooking.
Best served cold, a day after making Black Forest Cheesecake Cake.
Keep refrigerated once the cheesecake has completely cooled down.
Can use other fruit pie filling flavors.
Don't beat the cheesecake filling too much, just mix until mostly smooth.
Make sure that your cream cheese is room temperature before mixing.