Kick off summer by turning classic cheesecake into the ultimate frozen treat

You can take these spiked popsicles to the next level by dipping them into a homemade magic shell and sprinkles

By Joseph Neese

Deputy Editor in Chief

Published May 23, 2020 5:30PM (EDT)

Boozy Irish Cream Cheesecake Pops (Buttercream Blondie)
Boozy Irish Cream Cheesecake Pops (Buttercream Blondie)

To help bakers of all skill levels conquer their fears of making cheesecake, Buttercream Blondie owner Meghan McGarry recently shared a recipe that yielded everything Salon Food knows and loves about one our favorite desserts with all of the hard work removed. After helping us cope with parting ways with our springform pans, the pastry chef is making things even easier by removing the oven in its entirety. 

Now you can kick off summer in the best way by turning classic no-bake cheesecake into the ultimate frozen treat: a popsicle spiked with Irish cream. An added bonus? Clean up is a breeze, because this simple dessert is made entirely in a food processor or blender. 

"I wanted a fun frozen treat that was not only easy to make for summer but something that still delivered in the flavor department," McGarry said of her inspiration. "So I thought, 'Let's turn cheesecake into a popsicle.'"

RELATED: How to make a delicious cheesecake without hours of work or a springform pan, revealed

The flavor profile of McGarry's popsicles resembles an Irish coffee, and every ingredient works wonderfully together. Light brown sugar adds a depth of flavor, cream cheese adds the lush factor of cheesecake and espresso powder adds punch. It only takes the right combination of simple ingredients to yield an elevated dessert and keep it light.

If you want to up the chocolate factor, you can add chocolate chips or crushed Oreos to the batter for a cookies and cream cheesecake. After you've blended all of your ingredients together, pour the batter into disposable paper cups. You don't need a fancy popsicle mold to get a perfect result every time. 

You can, of course, take these pops to the next level by dipping them in McGarry's homemade magic shell.

RELATED: You can bake this quick loaf with ingredients on hand in your pantry, because substitutions are easy

"I wanted to recreate that feeling of nostalgia I had growing up that came every time I cracked open a bottle of magic shell and watched it instantly harden," McGarry said of her recipe. "And it's so easy to recreate at home with only chocolate and coconut oil."

When you dip the popsicles into the homemade magic shell, you add a crunchy exterior that adds a new texture to the dessert. You can keep things simple or pick your favorite decoration for the outside. Rainbow sprinkles add a pop of color or cookie crumbs can bring out your Oreo cheesecake.

Let's review: This one-bowl dessert requires no baking, has a short-ingredient list (which includes a favorite liquor) and feels very light even though it's cheesecake. Summer is about to be taken to a whole new level.

***

Recipe: Irish Cream Cheesecake Pops

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 6 pops

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. espresso powder
  • 2 Tbsp. sour cream
  • 1/3 cup Irish cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • Homemade magic shell (if you want to go that route)

Instructions:

  1. Place cream cheese, sugar and light brown sugar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until smooth.
  2. Add sour cream and continue to pulse. Give the bowl a good scrape down to make sure everything is combined.
  3. Click here to access the remainder of Meghan McGarry's cheesecake pops recipe. 

Don't forget to follow @ButtercreamBlondie on Instagram for more ways to spike your desserts!


By Joseph Neese

Joseph Neese is Salon's Deputy Editor in Chief. You can follow him on Twitter: @josephneese.

MORE FROM Joseph Neese


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Buttercream Blondie Cheesecake Desserts Food Meghan Mcgarry Popsicles Recipes