Cheesecake Cost
Last Updated on December 22, 2022 | Written by CPA Alec Pow
First Published on July 9, 2021 | Content Reviewed by 
CFA Alexander Popivker
A slice of cheesecake is the perfect dessert for any meal. From a simple but elegant affair to an extravagant dinner, you can enjoy this delicious treat no matter what your occasion may be. Indeed, there are establishments that exist solely in order to serve this delightful dessert, like The Cheesecake Factory, for example.
Cheesecake has always been a divisive food. It is debated whether cheesecakes should be classified as cakes, tarts, or custards and the differences in recipes have led to many arguments over which recipe reigns supreme – the ones using cream cheese, ricotta, or quark.
Greeks may call it cake, but the rest of us know that this is a delicious custard pie in disguise. The crust tastes sweet and buttery while there’s an unbelievable filling made with eggs, sugar, milk or cream, and of course, cheese.
How much does a cheesecake cost?
The cost of a cheesecake will be somewhere between $17 for a seven-inch cheesecake at most grocery stores, to over $55 for a premium 10-inch cake at one of the many high-end bakeries. Aside from its size, its ingredients and the brand will also influence its price.
The cost of a slice at your favorite local restaurant can vary greatly. For example, you might be paying $3 to $8 per slice at one establishment while neighboring establishments are charging upwards of $6 or more for similar menu items. As you can expect, a small restaurant will charge a lot less than a five-star establishment. The Cheesecake Factory is an excellent case study in this regard; the scanned menus from their website indicate that a plain cheesecake will run you anywhere between $5 and $8 depending on which flavor you go for.
One of the most popular cheesecake brands, Cheesecake.com has a variety of nine-inch options for sale with prices ranging from $42 to $55.
At the same time, on one forum thread from GardenWeb.com, someone asked what they should charge for their homemade cheesecake and members responded that after expenses one should be charging three times the ingredients’ cost which can reach prices of $50 if not more depending on how expensive the ingredients are in your area.
You might also like our articles about the cost of cakes at Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cake Boss, or Walmart.
If you’re looking to bake at home, it can cost $14 to $16 for the ingredients, depending on your recipe; but if you use a box mix, these prices drop considerably. A box of cake mix will have an average price between $2 and $6 in stores varying from store to store. Frozen cheesecakes purchased from grocery stores are often less than $15 each and some come prepped so that they only need a short amount of time to be ready to be eaten.
| Type of Cheesecake | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Homemade | $10 to $15 for basic ingredients |
| Specialty Bakery | $33 to $50 per 9-inch |
| 9-inch Grocery Store Bakery (Kroger/Walmart) | $15 to $20 |
| 17-ounce Sara Lee Cheesecake | $7 to $10, depending on the flavor |
| The Cheesecake Factory | – $6~ per slice, depending on the flavor – $13 to $20 per 6-inch – $16 to $22 per 7-inch – $34 to $42 per 10-inch |
| 12.5-ounce Cheesecake Factory Frozen at Local Grocery Store | $5 |
| Individual Sara Lee Servings (2.75-ounce) | $2.25 |
Cheesecake details
A cheesecake is made up of two or more layers. The most important layer, the thickest one, consists of a mixture of sugar, fresh cheese, and eggs to produce its texture and flavor; while the bottom layer is composed of pastry crumbs from cookies or cake batter that helps give it some crunchiness. Sugar will help to sweeten most varieties of cheesecake and they can also be topped with fruit or nuts, or even chocolate syrup for extra taste.
The frozen cheesecakes you can buy at the grocery store will either come pre-cut or with a guide for how to cut each piece. Buying these types of deserts is perfect when you are in need of dessert and don’t have time to bake something from scratch.
Flavors like toffee, key lime, strawberry, and chestnut can be used in cheesecake recipes. New York style is usually the most popular flavor but Pennsylvania Dutch may be for you if your looking for a more traditional taste while Philadelphia’s cream cheese will give that Philly edge on any recipe.
If you want to make a cheesecake for your family, one of the best ways is by using a box mix. First, there will be two packages in it – one containing graham cracker crust and the other with all ingredients needed for making delicious cream cheese filling. All you need to do is combine these components together following instructions on the package label, pour it into whatever pan or dish you are using and bake until golden brown.
Is there any way to spend less?
When it comes to cheesecake, there is no denying the best option will always be one that you make yourself. In fact, The Kitchn’s website did a study and found out how much cheaper homemade cheesecake can get than any other option. For example, a slice of homemade cheesecake would cost an average of $1 per serving size; at The Cheesecake Factory, their slices are about 4 times as expensive, while the grocery store frozen cheesecake would also be about two times more expensive than the one you make yourself.
As an alternative to grocery store bakery cheesecakes, check out your local farmers’ market to see if any vendors are selling them.
- How Much Does the Wellness Way Cost? - December 7, 2023
- How Much Does a Carousel Cost? - December 7, 2023
- How Much Does Mobile Tire Repair Cost? - December 6, 2023
Great article. One last stat would have been good to settle an argument – how many slices in x inch cheesecake? Growing up in NYC, the standard against which all were measured was the orinal Lindy’s on Broadway. FWIW neither Cheesecake Factory nor Junior’s comes close. But that’s beside the point. Great article. Thanks.