Philadelphia’s New Frozen Cheesecake Is the Shortcut We All Need for the Holidays

The holiday season is stressful enough without having to make an elaborate dessert. As the most chaotic months of the year rapidly approach, I’ve started thinking about what I'll put on the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The idea of preparing a bunch of desserts along with a savory spread is already stressing me out. Fortunately, the arrival of Philadelphia Cheesecake has nipped all my worries in the bud.

Yes, Philadelphia is now making whole cheesecakes, not a mere block of cream cheese. This is the brand's first-ever foray into frozen cheesecakes, and the timing could not be better.

Cheesecake is one of those desserts that’s too involved to make myself when I’m busy buying gifts and planning menus, but it’s always something that I’m happy to see, even among the bounty of pies and other desserts that are abundant during the holiday season. 

My Review of Philadelphia’s New Frozen Cheesecake

The appeal of these frozen cheesecakes is immediately obvious: Once you’ve thawed them out overnight in the freezer, you’re mere seconds away from having dessert on the table.

Each cheesecake is pre-cut into eight slices, which means you don’t have to fuss with trying to cut even portions for everyone at the table (or dirty a knife). The slices are fairly small, too, which is nice—they’re perfect for a sweet treat after dinner without being too much.

As for the taste, I was impressed by how fresh the cheesecakes tasted straight out of the shrink-wrap. Both flavors had a soft, mousse-like texture, and the filling was pleasantly rich without being overly sweet. The Strawberry Swirl flavor’s hand-rippled dollops of jam added a pop of bright holiday color, and the buttery graham cracker crust surprised me with how crumbly-crisp it was.

I also appreciate that the original cheesecake made an excellent blank canvas. With a few of your own accoutrements—think caramel sauce or fresh fruit—you could probably convince your holiday guests that these cheesecakes are homemade. This is a genius idea for busy holiday hosts with hungry guests (and/or persnickety in-laws).

When (And Where) To Find the Frozen Cheesecake

Philadelphia Cheesecakes will hit freezer aisles at grocery stores like Walmart, Kroger, and Publix starting this month. Both the Original and Strawberry Swirl flavors will be $12.99.

It would seem that Philly believes it’s got an instant hit on its hands, because the frozen cheesecakes will be a permanent addition to its lineup of products. I’m officially ready for you, holiday hosting.

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