Perfect Strawberry Mint Julep Cheesecake Recipe with Easy Bourbon Compote
A creamy cheesecake brightened with fresh mint and strawberries, topped with a warm bourbon compote for a fresh twist on a Southern classic dessert.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 12 full sheets, finely crushed)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 24 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced (for compote)
- ¼ cup bourbon
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves, torn
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar until coated. Press into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 minutes and cool.
- Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla and sour cream. Fold in chopped mint and diced strawberries gently. Pour over crust and smooth top.
- Bake cheesecake for 50-60 minutes until edges are set and center jiggles slightly. Cool in oven with door cracked for 1 hour, then chill in fridge at least 4 hours or overnight.
- For bourbon compote, combine sliced strawberries, bourbon, brown sugar, lemon juice, and torn mint in saucepan over medium heat. Cook 10-15 minutes until thickened but strawberries hold shape. Cool.
- Release cheesecake from pan, serve chilled with bourbon compote spooned over or on the side.
Notes
Use room temperature ingredients to avoid lumps. Avoid overmixing after adding eggs to prevent cracks. Cool cheesecake slowly in oven with door cracked to prevent cracking. Compote can be strained for smoothness. For gluten-free, substitute crust with almond flour or gluten-free crumbs. For dairy-free, use coconut cream cheese and plant-based sour cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of che
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: strawberry cheesecake, mint julep, bourbon compote, summer dessert, easy cheesecake, southern dessert