Red Velvet Cheesecake (Pressure Cooker Recipe) (2024)

This delicious red velvet cheesecake is a wonderful treat for Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year! Flavored with cocoa powder with a ginger cookie crust, this pressure cooker cheesecake comes out wonderfully light and fluffy.

This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here.

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

Do you have any plans for Valentine’s Day? We are pretty low key on the day, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying this delicious red dessert!

This red velvet cheesecake is all kinds of delicious. It has a decadent and rich chocolate flavor and the ginger snap crust is to die for.

This cheesecake recipe is cooked in the Instant Pot and is totally foolproof. This method ensures the fluffiest and creamiest cheesecake you’ll ever make!

For more cheesecake recipes, be sure to try my Instant Pot Carrot Cake Cheesecake!

How to make a red velvet cheesecake

• Gather your ingredients.

• Place cookie crumbs, sugar, and unsalted butter in a medium sized bowl and stir until combined.

• Place in the bottom of a greased 7 inch springform pan. Set aside.

• Place cream cheese, granulated sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until combined. Add sour cream, egg, vanilla extract, and vinegar and beat on medium speed until well blended. Remove about ¼ cup of the batter mixture and set aside.

• Add cocoa powder and food coloring to the bowl and beat until incorporated.

• Pour this mixture into the prepared springform pan and smooth the top.
• Place the ¼ cup of set aside batter mixture on top of the cheesecake.

• Create a swirl with a chopstick or toothpick.

• Cover springform pan with foil paper.
• Add 1 cup of water to Instant Pot. Add cake to Instant Pot on trivet or bakeware sling.
• Cover and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, allowing for natural release for 10 minutes.

• Remove cake and allow to cool on the counter, then transfer to the fridge. Refrigerate 2-24 hours, the longer the better.

How do you stop the cheesecake from cracking?

Cheesecakes can crack for two main reasons.

1. If the cake batter is over mixed, this can cause cracking. If you whip too much air into it, the cake can rise and then collapse, causing the cracks.
2. Cheesecakes also crack when the cool too quickly, so be sure to naturally release the pressure in your Instant Pot rather than a quick release.

How long does it keep?

Once your cheesecake has cooled in the fridge, cover it loosely with plastic wrap or foil. It’s best within the first couple of days, but will keep well for 4 to 5.

Can you freeze it?

Yes, cheesecake freezes well, and you can freeze it in slices or whole. If freezing whole, I like to keep it in the springform pan. Wrap several times in plastic wrap and foil and it will keep for up to a month. For individual slices, it’s best to freeze them solid on a baking sheet before wrapping and placing in a container or freezer bag.

Thaw frozen cheesecake in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Take care not to over mix the batter.
• Natural release the pressure for the Instant Pot so that the cheesecake doesn’t cool too quickly.

More Pressure Cooker Recipes

• Instant Pot Carrot Cake Cheesecake
• Instant Pot Chocolate Molten Cake Bites
• Pressure Cooker Lemon Curd
• Instant Pot Rice Pudding