Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cheesecake

Jul 23, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cheesecakes Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Beans Medium

Gluten-free dark chocolate vanilla cheesecake made with Mexican vanilla

Gluten-free dark chocolate cheesecake flavored with a whole vanilla bean. An intermediate recipe: 30 minutes of prep and 60 minutes of cooking, plus cooling and chilling; serves 12. Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.

Prep 30 min

Cook 60 min

Cool & Chill 9 hr

Total 10 hr 30 min

Servings 12

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

Crust

1 ½ cups (150.0 g)gluten-free graham cracker crumbs
6.0 tbsp (85.0 g)unsalted butter, melted

Filling

32.0 oz (900.0 g)cream cheese, softened
1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
4.0large eggs
½ cup (120.0 ml)sour cream
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
¾ cup (130.0 g)chopped dark chocolate

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan in two layers of foil and bring a kettle of water to a boil for the water bath.
Stir the graham crumbs and melted butter together until evenly moistened, then press firmly into the bottom of the pan and chill while you make the filling.
Beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until completely smooth, then beat in the sugar and vanilla until creamy.
Melt the chopped chocolate, let it cool slightly, and beat it into the filling until smooth.
Add the eggs one at a time on low speed, mixing just until each disappears, then blend in the sour cream; avoid overbeating to keep the texture dense and crack-free.
Pour the filling over the crust, set the pan in a roasting pan, and pour in hot water to come 1 inch up the sides. Bake at 325°F (165°C) for about 60 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly when nudged.
Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool inside with the door cracked for 1 hour, then chill overnight before slicing with a warm, clean knife.

Tips

Use chocolate between 60% and 70% cacao so its bitterness balances the vanilla's sweetness.
Don't toss the scraped pods: tuck them into a jar of sugar for homemade vanilla sugar.
No vanilla bean? Use 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder instead. Add it where the recipe adds the seeds; if the bean is steeped in hot milk or cream, stir the swap in after cooking, off the heat.
Choosing vanilla: Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky) suits this recipe best; Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy) is a great alternative, and any pure vanilla works.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla cheesecake?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 60 minutes of cooking, plus 9 hr cool & chill. The recipe makes 12 servings.

How should I store vanilla cheesecake?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 5 days, or freeze well-wrapped slices for up to 1 month.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This version uses 1 split vanilla bean. You can swap in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, or 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder instead; they're interchangeable at these amounts. Beans give the most visible specks and the fullest aroma.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

514 Calories / serving

39.2g Fat

37.4g Carbs

6.9g Protein

28.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~6168 cal · 470g fat · 449g carbs · 83g protein · 340g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 514 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 97 min·5.7 mi·~11350 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 70 min·3.5 mi·~7000 steps
Moderate cycling 52 min·10.4 mi
Swimming laps 72 min
Jogging 50 min·4.2 mi·~8000 steps
Stair climbing 47 min·~4250 steps
Dancing 84 min
Bodyweight circuit training 52 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 119 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.