Cher's Ultimate Comfort Food? Her Mom’s Famous Cheesecake—and She’s Sharing the Recipe (Exclusive)

Cher wasn't always one to share—especially when it came to her mom Georgia’s irresistible cheesecake. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Georgia would prepare an array of desserts, including two cheesecakes, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple pie. Yet, Cher admits, it was always a battle to snag a slice.

Cher recalls, “We’d have a ton of people over, and everyone would start slicing the cheesecake before dinner, then hide it away somewhere.”

Though Cher was always tempted to indulge in the sweets before the turkey, she jokes, “My mom would’ve killed me if I ruined my appetite! But I always made sure to save a second slice in the back of the fridge for later, since the cheesecakes would always disappear first.”

Over the years, Cher even perfected her cheesecake-eating strategy. “I’d go for two smaller slices to avoid looking guilty. It’s bad for your reputation if you take a big piece. So I’d have a normal-sized slice first, then sneak back for the second one in the middle of the night.”

Alongside her mom’s famous cornbread stuffing, Cher considered these dishes the highlight of the holiday season. When her mother passed away in December 2022, Cher feared she might never taste those familiar flavors again. But then, her sister discovered an old handwritten cheesecake recipe dating back to 1962, tucked away on a yellowing piece of notebook paper. The family generously shared the recipe with us to cherish and pass along. The cheesecake has since found a new life as the star flavor of Cher's best-selling Cherlato gelato.

While brainstorming new flavors for her Cherlato line with Chef Giapo Grazioli, the partner and CEO of Cherlato, Cher was asked what dishes were meaningful to her. Without hesitation, she said, “I want to recreate my mom’s cheesecake!” Grazioli admits he was a bit nervous about the challenge—having never made a cheesecake gelato before and never tasting Georgia’s iconic, rich, and crumbly cheesecake.

Together, they managed to perfect the recipe, relying solely on Cher’s memories and a well-worn notecard with her mom’s original cheesecake recipe. Grazioli shared, “Recreating this dish was a labor of love for both Cher and me. It was a challenge I was eager to take on, and when we finally nailed it, it was everything we hoped for.”

For an ultimate dessert combo, Grazioli recommends serving a slice of pumpkin or pecan pie topped with a scoop of Cherlato’s cheesecake flavor for a decadent á la mode experience.

Cher continues to refine the recipe, noting, “She’s the only one who could make it perfectly, truly. Now that she’s gone, I know the taste so well that I’ll be able to make it just right.”

Cher's Deep Affection for Her Mom Georgia’s Home Cooking

Cher fondly reflects on her mom’s cooking, remembering how Georgia was 'quite a good little cook.' The meals weren’t fancy, as they didn’t have much money, but they were always delicious and satisfying.

Cher’s favorites included homemade empanadas, mixed beans with ham hock—green lima beans, pink lima beans, and pinto beans—and comforting dishes like her 'Hollywood Goulash' and 'Sheepherder’s,' a hearty mix of ground beef, potatoes, corn, and peppers.

Cher reminisces, 'I can’t even describe how good it was! It doesn’t sound like much, but it was incredibly tasty. Maybe it was because my mom made it, and she had that magic touch, or maybe it was just that good.'

They mostly ate vegetarian meals because meat was too expensive. Cher proudly recalls how her mom discovered 'the only health store in the Valley,' and they would always have a big wooden bowl of raw nuts and raisins on the table. 'When I was little, I thought, “What is this, and why isn’t it dessert?!” But as I grew older, I couldn’t wait to rush home and dig into that bowl!'

And what better soundtrack for all this deliciousness than 'Hey Good Lookin’' by Hank Williams? Cher and her mom used to sing this together, and it’s also how Cher fondly describes Georgia’s stunning cheesecake. You can hear them sing together on 'I’m Just Your Yesterday,' which pairs perfectly with making her mom’s original cheesecake recipe—graciously shared (or, chered) below.

Georgia’s Famous Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 25 graham crackers, crushed with a rolling pin
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Filling:

• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened for 30 minutes
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 “large” (16-ounce) container sour cream
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. For the crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter, crushed graham crackers, and sugar.
3. Press this mixture into a deep glass pie dish and bake for 5 minutes in the preheated oven.
4. For the filling: In another large bowl, mix together eggs, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth. Pour this mixture over the prepared crust.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, then allow to cool on the counter for 30 minutes.
6. For the topping: In a small bowl, mix together sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Gently spread this over the cooled cheesecake and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Once baked, remove from the oven, let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours before serving.

Recipe graciously provided by Cher and the Holt family.