Easy Deep Fried Cheesecake

These fried cheesecake bites are irresistible. They're everything you love about classic cheesecake, with a deliciously light and crispy outer crust. And you'll be surprised how quick and easy this fried cheesecake is to make!

The Best Fried Cheesecake

If you love cheesecake and fried dough, you're going to love this fried cheesecake recipe. It creates little balls of deliciousness with a slightly crispy and chewy coating on the outside with a smooth cream cheese cheesecake filling that has bits of graham crackers inside.

Trust me, deep-fried cheesecake made into individual bite-sized balls is just phenomenal!

They kind of remind me of warm cream puffs, except they have a creamy cheesecake filling instead and are just so much better. And these cheesecake bites are so versatile that you can top them with any of your desired toppings! Make sure to check out my topping ideas in the ingredient section below.

Anyway, another reason I love this recipe is these deep fried cheesecake bites are actually really easy to make. You basically just mix the filling ingredients, shape it into balls, then coat in a batter and fry 'em up. 

By the way, if you love deep fried food, you have to check out my fried dough and fried Oreos next! 

Ingredients

The deep fried cheesecake ingredients are actually really simple. In fact, you probably have everything you need in your fridge and pantry already!  

Check out what you need for cheesecake filling:

• 8oz. cream cheese
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs

And here's what you need for the batter:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 cup milk

Not not so bad, right?!

Oh, and if you have all of these ingredients, then you have almost everything you need to make this Philadelphia no bake cheesecake next!

Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions

Alright, so I love to make these deep-fried cheesecake bites as the recipe is written. However, you can make some substitutions as you see fit. I've written some examples below in case you're looking to jazz them up a bit.

First of all, there are many ways you can top them to serve. For example, you can roll the fried cheesecake balls in a cinnamon-sugar mixture or chocolate sauce, or you can serve them with strawberry sauce and fresh strawberries. Even a bit of powdered sugar sprinkled or caramel sauce elevates this tasty treat. Think of it as though you're making different cheesecake flavors for each bite.

Secondly, if you're making these deep fried cheesecake balls in a pinch, you can make a few adjustments to make it more convenient. If you just don't have the time to make the batter, you can substitute it with pancake mix. If you have the just add water mix, you're already halfway there!

But if it's the filling you're worried about, you can buy a pre-made frozen cheesecake at the store and ball it up into individual cheesecake balls. Then just batter 'em up and fry to golden perfection. It's that easy!

How To Make Fried Cheesecake

Now, as I mentioned earlier, these deep-fried cheesecake bites are made with such a simple process. Whether this is your first time in the kitchen or you're a seasoned baker, you're going to nail this recipe on your first try!

So without further ado, here's how to make deep-fried cheesecake bites!

Step 1: Make The Cheesecake Filling

First, you're going to start by beating the cream cheese in a mixing bowl until it's fluffy.

Then you can add the sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and beat until the mixture is smooth. After that, fold in the graham cracker crumbs until they're mixed with the cheesecake batter. 

Step 2: Freeze The Cheesecake

Next, you'll want to put the bowl with the cheesecake mixture into the freezer for 15 minutes.

Then when the time is up, remove the cheesecake mixture from the freezer. Next, you'll want to scoop out one tablespoon sized balls of the cheesecake mixture, shape it into a ball, and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. And then repeat with the remaining cream cheese. 

Once all the cheesecake balls are shaped, freeze the cheesecake balls for another 15 minutes.

Step 3: Make The Batter

Now, you're going to make the cheesecake batter for that addictively crispy outside.

Start by whisking flour, baking powder, and sugar in a medium bowl. Then you can whisk in the milk until you have a smooth batter that resembles the consistency of pancake batter.

Step 4: Deep Fry The Cheesecake

Next, you're going to heat 3-4 cups of vegetable oil or canola oil in a deep pan or saucepot over medium heat.

Then once the oil is hot, you'll want to coat the frozen cheesecake balls with the batter and use a slotted spoon to let the excess batter drip.

Next, drop 2-3 batter-coated balls into the hot oil and fry the cheesecake balls for about 3-4 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until golden brown. Once fried, use another slotted spoon to remove the fried cheesecake bites from the saucepot.

After that, let the oil reheat before you add the next batch to the pot, and repeat the frying process until you fry all the cheesecake balls. Then drain the cheesecake balls on paper towel-lined plates. 

Finally, serve the cheesecake balls with fresh strawberries and strawberry syrup or your desired toppings. Enjoy!

How To Store Deep Fried Cheesecake Bites

This recipe for fried cheesecake bites makes 15 balls. They're so irresistible you might not have any leftovers. But if you find you have some leftover cheesecake bites, you can store them.

As with anything deep-fried, it's best when eaten immediately, but you can store any leftover cheesecake bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How To Reheat Fried Cheesecake

The best way to reheat these deep-fried cheesecake bites is to reheat them in the air fryer. Just preheat the air fryer to 400°F and re-fry them for about 3-5 minutes or until hot and crisp.

FAQS About This Fried Cheesecake Recipe

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make fried cheesecake bites!

This delicious dessert recipe makes perfectly round puffs of cheesecake that are sweet and creamy on the inside, with a crispy and flakey coating.

With a dessert recipe as delicious and simple to make as this one, why make anything else?

Anyway, I hope you love this fried cheesecake recipe as much as I do.

And, of course, if you give it a try, let me know how it goes in the comments below.

More Dessert Recipes

If this recipe has you in the mood for some more delicious dessert recipes, we have a ton on the blog you can try next!

Here are some reader favorites:

• Elephant ears
• Funnel cake
• Caramel rolls
• Oreo balls
• Philadelphia cheesecake
• No bake cheesecake bites