Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake
This Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake recipe is perfect for a Cinco De Mayo Dessert, or for adding something extra special to dinner any day of the week! Not only does this cheesecake taste delicious, it’s super simple to bake too.
I first baked this cheesecake when I had friends visiting. One was celebrating their birthday and when I asked what kind of cake they wanted, the reply was a Sopapilla Cheesecake. I had never made one before, however, this Best Sopopilla Cheesecake has been made many times since.
My Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake recipe is made using layers of light and airy crescent pastry dough, filled with a rich and creamy cheesecake filling and topped off with a sweet and spicy cinnamon sugar topping which turns crisp when baked in the oven. This cheesecake is full of flavor and once you’ve tried a slice you’ll keep coming back for more.
Another delicious cinnamon flavored cheesecake recipe is cinnamon roll cheesecake!
We also enjoy eating fried cheesecake bites. You can follow that recipe for a gooey, golden deep fried dessert.
What is Sopapilla?
Sopapilla is Spanish pastry, a quick fried bread that is light and airy and can be served salty or sweet. Sopapillas are thought to have originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
To save time in this recipe I have taken a short cut and replaced the sopapilla dough with 2 cans of crescent pastry instead. Crescent pastry is ideal as it has the right light and flaky texture for this dessert.
How to make Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake?
- Preheat the oven to 350F and spray a pan with non-stick spray.
- Line the bottom of the pan with one can of the crescent roll pastry.
- In a bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth and spread this evenly over the pastry.
- Top the cream cheese mixture with the remaining can of crescent rolls.
- Melt the butter and pour over the pastry crust.
- Mix the cinnamon and remaining 1/2 cup sugar together and sprinkle over the melted butter.
- Bake the cheesecake in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Cool completely before slicing and serving.
How to serve Sopapilla Cheesecake?
This cheesecake is rich and full of flavor so it really does not require anything added to it. Once it has baked and cooled, cut it into slices and serve it as it is, or with a little drizzle of runny honey if you like.
How to store Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie?
Refrigerator:
This cheesecake contains a lot of dairy, so once it has cooled slice it, place it into an airtight container and pop it into the fridge. Stored like this the cheesecake will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer:
You can also freeze any extra slices, enjoy half the cheesecake freshly baked and save the rest for later. Once cooled, slice the cheesecake into bars and pop into an airtight container. Leave the bars in a single layer, do not be tempted to pile them up or they will freeze together. Kept like this they can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Ready for a sweet treat any time you fancy.
Tips for making Baked Sopapilla Cheesecake:
- This is a great make ahead dessert, ideal for those times when you have friends for dinner and want to get ahead of the game. Prepare this cheesecake the day before and pop it in the fridge. Take out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving to allow this dessert to come to room temperature.
- No special equipment required this simple dessert is baked in an oven proof tray. A disposable foil tray can be used to cut down on washing, or if visiting friends with a gift of dessert.
- Freeze the cheesecake in individual portions ready to take out of the freezer any time you want a sweet treat.
- Best served warm so to reheat, pop the sopapilla cheesecake bar onto a plate and microwave for 30 seconds to warm through.
If you enjoy cheesecake, why not try some of these other great tasting recipes:
- Hot Chocolate Cheesecake
- Instant Pot Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Cheesecake
- Keto Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake
- Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie Cups
- NY Style Cherry Cheesecake
Sopapilla Cheesecake

Ingredients
- 3 8 oz packages Cream Cheese
- 2 cups sugar divided
- 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 cans crescent rolls
- 1 stick butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Spray pan with non-stick spray
- Line bottom with one can of crescent rolls
- Mix cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and Vanilla Extract until creamy and smooth
- Top with remaining can of crescent rolls
- Melt Butter
- Mix Cinnamon and Remaining 1/2 cup sugar
- Pour butter over top crust
- Sprinkle Cinnamon/Sugar Mix over melted butter
- Bake for 45 mins
- Cool completely before serving
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 29gProtein: 5g
I have this exact recipe given by a friend about 18 years ago, except mine doesn’t call for as much butter. This is the easiest to make and it’s delicious. I love it hot or cold. About to make it for a birthday luncheon tomorrow. A must try!
OMGosh this looks so yummy!
This looks so yummy and I will have to try out the recipe 🙂
I once made these in home ec (I won’t say how many years ago THAT was) and they were fantastic!! Light as air. Must try them again!!
Mishelle
This looks really good. Be nice for Mother’s Day!
This looks and sounds so delicious. And so easy and uncomplicated. Thanks for sharing this.
I definitely need to taste this Sopapilla Cheesecake. I like all the ingredients and the pictured instructions are so helpful!
Yum! Cheesecake is my favorite dessert! This sounds like an interesting variety.
My whole family loves cheesecake and this sounds like an amazing twist. Trying it!
This is so unique & so easy to make.
This sounds delicious. It must be kind of a cross between cinnamon rolls and cheesecake.
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. I have made sopapilla cheesecake like this and it is so good. I love trying new recipes especially cheesecake recipes!
I have never thought of using crescent rolls to make a dessert crust. Nice twist to a yummy-sounding recipe.
I love cheesecake the normal way and have honestly never heard of it this way! But it does look delicious!
That looks delicious. I love all kinds of cheesecake.
This cheesecake recipe sounds so good!! Love the use of crescent rolls! I definitely will be making this; thanks for sharing your recipe!
Does this freeze well? That’s a big cheesecake!
i always thought sopapillas were harder than this but i might try it
that looks very yummy
I live for for cheesecake and this one looks fantastic! I bet the flavor combination is amazing! Will make it asap!
Yum! Cheesecake AND Sopapillas? Sounds delicious!
Wow this looks like heaven in a pan. I must try this pairing of two delicious goodies that I never would have thought about.
That looks so good and I’m hungry! Sounds pretty easy to make too. Thank you!
Heart attack in a pan! Love it! Pinning it for later use!
Thanks for sharing! I’m looking forward to seeing what you cook up next week.
We will just love your Sopapilla Cheesecake it is a dessert for all seasons!
Hope you have a fabulous week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
That looks delicious! I’ve heard of Soapapilla before, but had no idea what it was. I’m a big fan of cheesecake though!
What an interesting take on Cheesecake! So different, I will have to give it a try.
Wow! That is even easier than I thought it would be! I love cheesecake! this may be something my family will love! Thank you!
Oh..that looks so yummy! Cheesecake. Ohhhh.
This looks divine!!! So sweet and amazing, I simply must make this, this weekend! Thanks for the recipe.
That looks pretty good!
Wow this sounds amazing. I’m adding it to my list of desserts I need to make.
I haven’t had sopapilla in years! Looks relatively easy to make.
I love sopapilla, didn’t realize you could make it so easily!
Oh my gosh this looks yummy! My sister is the baker in the family so I will have to beg her to make this!
Sounds rich!!