The history of Turtle cheesecake

The Turtle cheesecake is a dessert of American origin that combines the classic cheesecake with the flavours and textures of the “Turtle” confectionery — an iconic sweet in the history of American candy making. This modern twist on cheesecake is typically topped with caramel, chocolate and toasted pecan nuts, ingredients that lend it a rich, indulgent flavour and its distinctive appearance.

The history of the Turtle cheesecake begins indirectly in 1918, when the DeMet’s Candy Company, founded in Chicago, launched a sweet called the “Turtle”. The name came about because the shape of the sweet — with melted caramel enveloping the nuts and coated in chocolate — resembled a turtle. This treat quickly gained popularity across the country, becoming a registered trademark and a symbol of 20th-century American commercial confectionery.

From the 1980s onwards, during a period marked by fusion and maximalism in American patisserie, many reinterpretations of classic desserts emerged using the 'turtle' flavour profile. This led to the creation of turtle brownies, pies, ice creams, cupcakes and, of course, the Turtle cheesecake — a way to elevate the traditional New York-style cheesecake into something even more decadent and elaborate.

The Turtle cheesecake is typically made with a Graham cracker or digestive biscuit base, a baked or no-bake cream cheese filling, and a generous topping of caramel sauce, melted chocolate and toasted pecans. In some versions, layers of caramel are added within the filling itself, or a brownie base is used to intensify the contrast of flavours.

This dessert gained widespread recognition through specialist bakeries and restaurant chains such as The Cheesecake Factory, where it became a regular menu item. Today, its popularity has spread beyond the United States, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and several Latin American countries, where it is made both artisanally and on an industrial scale.

The Turtle cheesecake is not a traditional recipe in the strict sense, but rather a contemporary creation that merges two icons of American dessert culture: the New York cheesecake and Turtle chocolates. Its origins are modern, yet it has become so well-loved that it now forms part of the standard repertoire of North American patisserie.