The Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger: Dessert Meets Dinner in a Bold Bite
๐ง๐ The Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger: Dessert Meets Dinner in a Bold Bite
Welcome to the flavor revolution. The Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger is what happens when sweet, salty, tangy, and savory collide in one insane, Instagram-worthy tower of taste.
Imagine this: a thick beef patty grilled to perfection, stacked with crispy bacon, a creamy cheesecake spread, and a tart homemade cranberry compote — all nestled between two buttery brioche buns. It’s a burger for the bold, the curious, and the ones tired of boring sandwiches.
Whether you're experimenting in the kitchen, building content for foodies, or leveling up your next cookout, this is one burger you’ll never forget.
๐ What You’ll Need (Shop Links Included)
You can grab all the ingredients for this recipe online from top stores like Walmart and Amazon. Just click and cook.
Ingredient | Shop Link |
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1 lb ground beef (80/20) | Marketside Ground Beef – Walmart |
6 slices thick-cut bacon | Oscar Mayer Bacon – Amazon |
4 oz cream cheese (softened) | Philadelphia Cream Cheese – Walmart |
¼ cup powdered sugar | Great Value Powdered Sugar – Walmart |
½ tsp vanilla extract | McCormick Vanilla Extract – Amazon |
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries | Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries – Amazon |
¼ cup sugar | Domino Sugar – Walmart |
1 tbsp orange juice | Simply Orange Juice – Walmart |
4 brioche buns | Marketside Brioche Buns – Walmart |
Butter for toasting buns | Kerrygold Irish Butter – Walmart |
๐ง Kitchen Essentials:
๐ฅ Step-by-Step: How to Make the Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger
This burger is built in layers, and every layer slaps. Here's how to make each one with ease.
Step 1: Make the Cranberry Compote
Start by making this sweet and tart topping. You can make it ahead and chill it.
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In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup cranberries, ¼ cup sugar, and 1 tbsp orange juice.
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Simmer over medium heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the mixture thickens.
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Remove from heat and let cool completely.
Optional: Add a pinch of cinnamon for a holiday-style twist.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Spread
Next, whip together the creamy element that makes this burger unforgettable.
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In a bowl, mix 4 oz softened cream cheese, ¼ cup powdered sugar, and ½ tsp vanilla extract.
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Whip until smooth and fluffy.
Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Step 3: Cook the Bacon
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the slices of thick-cut bacon.
Bake for 15–18 minutes until crisp. Let drain on paper towels. Set aside.
Step 4: Form and Grill the Burger Patties
Divide 1 lb of ground beef into 4 equal patties using a burger press. Season each side with salt and pepper.
Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the burgers for 3–4 minutes per side until medium-rare or your preferred doneness.
Step 5: Toast the Brioche Buns
Slice the brioche buns and lightly butter the inside of each. Toast in a skillet until golden brown and slightly crisp.
Step 6: Assemble the Sweet & Savory Stack
Here’s how to bring it all together:
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Bottom brioche bun
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A generous swipe of cheesecake spread
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Grilled beef patty
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Crispy bacon slices
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A spoonful of cranberry compote
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Top bun
Optional: secure with a long pick or skewer and serve with extra cranberry sauce on the side.
๐คค Why It Works
You might be thinking: Cheesecake on a burger?! But trust us — it works. Here’s why:
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Creamy cheesecake spread balances the salty beef and bacon
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Cranberry compote adds tartness, moisture, and a surprising brightness
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Bacon cuts through the sweetness with crisp, smoky depth
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Brioche buns hold everything together with their soft, buttery bite
It’s sweet. It’s salty. It’s juicy. It’s balanced. This burger hits every flavor note you didn’t know you needed.
๐ฝ️ What to Serve With It
Make this your main event and surround it with some equally bold side dishes:
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Sweet potato fries with sea salt
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Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette
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Butternut squash soup shot for fancy vibes
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Cranberry lemonade or spiked cider
๐ธ Ready for the 'Gram?
This burger doesn’t just taste good — it looks like it was made for content.
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Stack it high so you can see every layer
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Spoon the cranberry sauce so it oozes slightly over the sides
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Use natural light, parchment wrap, and a wood board for those rustic, crave-worthy photos
๐ผ Alt Text: “Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger stacked with juicy beef, cream cheese spread, bacon, cranberry compote, and brioche bun.”
๐️ Ingredient Quick Shop
Click to grab the goods and build the dream burger at home:
๐ฅ Final Bite: Don’t Knock It Until You Try It
The Cranberry Bacon Cheesecake Burger is more than a meal — it’s a moment. The flavor fusion might sound unconventional, but one bite and you’ll understand why this recipe needs to be in your regular rotation.
Perfect for holidays, date nights, viral recipe videos, or just when you want to taste something different, this burger delivers that wow factor with every mouthful.
๐ฌ Let Tha Fam Know
Made it? Put your own spin on it? Want to go full dessert-burger with candied bacon or swap the beef for turkey?
Tag @ThaReview and use #CheesecakeBurgerDrop so we can see (and feature!) your version. Let’s build a burger community that’s as fearless as its flavors.