Thin Mint Cheesecake features a rich brownie crust, creamy mint cheesecake, and a smooth chocolate ganache. Easy to make and perfect for any gathering, this dessert is a refreshing treat everyone will love.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Chill Time4 hourshrs
Total Time4 hourshrs50 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Thin Mint Cheesecake Recipe
Servings: 10
Calories: 694kcal
Ingredients
Brownie Crust Layer
18.3ouncesFudge Brownie mix,Duncan Hines brand
2largeeggs,room temperature
⅔cupvegetable oil
3tablespoonswater
Thin Mint Cheesecake Layer
16ouncesfull-fat cream cheese,softened to room temperature
1cuppowdered sugar,sifted
¾teaspoonmint extract,McCormick brand
½teaspoonvanilla extract
7 to 8dropsliquid green food coloring,McCormick brand
4ouncesfrozen whipped topping
1cupchopped Thin Mint cookies(from 12-13 cookies)
Chocolate Ganache Layer
1cupsemi-sweet chocolate chips,Ghirardelli brand
½cupheavy cream
¼teaspoonmint extract
Garnish
4ouncesfrozen whipped topping,thawed
Whole Thin Mint cookies,cut in half
Green & white sprinkles
Instructions
To Make the Brownie Crust Layer
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with a parchment round and spray the bottom and sides of the pan with baker’s spray. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the fudge brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water just until combined and no lumps remain. Do not over-mix, or your brownies will be tough.
Transfer the brownie mix to the prepared springform pan and bake for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a couple of moist crumbs.
Allow the brownie crust layer to cool completely on the counter while you prepare the thin mint cheesecake layer.
To Make the Thin Mint Cheesecake Layer
Add the softened cream cheese to a large mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer on medium-high speed, for 1-2 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add the powdered sugar and beat again until fully incorporated.
Add the mint extract, vanilla extract, and green food coloring to the cream cheese mixture. Mix on low speed just until all the cream cheese is uniformly colored green. You will want to note that your cream cheese should be a little darker of a green color than you will want your final thin mint cheesecake color to look like. Once the Cool Whip is added to the mixture, it will lighten the green up a little bit.
Fold in 4 ounces of thawed whipped topping just until no white streaks from the whipped topping remain.
Lastly, fold in the chopped Thin Mint cookies just until the cookies are evenly distributed in the cheesecake mixture.
Spread the Thin Mint cheesecake mixture evenly over the cooled brownie crust layer. You can use a small offset spatula to smooth the mixture into a smooth layer.
For the Chocolate Ganache Layer
Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and heavy cream to a microwave-safe bowl to make the ganache. Heat in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Allow the warm chocolate to sit on the counter for 1 minute, add the mint extract, then stir until smooth.
Allow the chocolate ganache to cool to the touch before carefully pouring it over the thin mint cheesecake layer. Spread it into a smooth layer and be careful not to mix the ganache into the cheesecake layer.
Refrigerate the Thin Mint cheesecake for 4 hours or up to overnight to allow the cheesecake layer to firm up.
Before removing the outer ring of the springform pan, run a small sharp knife around the edges of the cheesecake to make sure that no chocolate ganache sticks to the pan's outer ring when removed.
When ready to slice and serve, garnish the Thin Mint cheesecake by adding the remaining 4 ounces of thawed whipped topping to a large piping bag fitted with a large piping tip and pipe 14 decorative dollops around the outer edge of the cheesecake.
Using a small sharp knife, cut seven Thin Mint cookies in half. Place a single half cookie between each of the whipped topping dollops.
Sprinkle the whipped topping dollops with green and white sprinkles before slicing and serving.
Notes
Room Temperature Ingredients: With this cake, using room temperature ingredients will make all the difference. Make sure your cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature before starting.
Avoid Overmixing: When mixing the brownie batter, combine just until there are no lumps. Overmixing can lead to a tough crust.
Gradually Add the Sugar: When adding powdered sugar to the cream cheese, do it gradually. This helps to avoid your filling having a gritty texture.
Don't Skip the Chill Time: Let the cheesecake chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or preferably overnight. This helps the cheesecake set properly and makes it easier to slice.