Indulge in a dessert that combines two favorites: creamy cheesecake and sweet chocolate chip cookie dough. This delicious treat features a buttery, cookie dough-flavored cheesecake base topped with chunks of edible cookie dough, then finished off with a rich, chocolatey swirl.
Mini cookie dough balls (prepared from above cookie dough recipe)
Semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS
To Make the Cookie Dough:
Prepare the Springform Pan: Line the bottom of a 9” springform pan with parchment paper. To do this, remove the ring, cover the base with parchment, and fold the excess paper under the plate. Reattach the ring and fold the excess paper back underneath without cutting it off.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt until well combined.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and caramel extract on high speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture on low speed, mixing until just combined. Use a rubber spatula to fold in both the milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Form the Cookie Dough Layer: Transfer about 550g (19.5oz) of the dough into the prepared springform pan, pressing it evenly across the bottom and up about 1/4 of the way along the side. Roll the remaining dough (approximately 300g | 10.5oz) into small cookie dough balls the size of ping pong balls. Refrigerate both the dough layer and the cookie dough balls until ready to assemble.
To Make the Cheesecake Filling:
Preheat and Prepare Bain-Marie: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring 4 cups of water to a boil for later use in the bain-marie.
Blend the Filling: In a food processor, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Add the eggs all at once and process until well combined. Stir in the heavy cream and corn starch, then blend until smooth.
Add Cookie Dough Balls and Chocolate Chips: Stir in the small cookie dough balls (ping pong-sized) and chocolate chips by hand.
Assemble the Cake: Take the prepared cookie dough crust out of the fridge. Wrap the pan with aluminum foil to prevent water from entering during baking. Place the pan in a roasting pan and pour in the cheesecake batter. Add the boiling water to the roasting pan until it reaches about 3/4 of the way up the springform pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 350°F, then reduce the temperature to 250°F and bake for an additional 85-90 minutes. The cheesecake should be set with a slightly jiggly center.
Cool the Cheesecake: Turn off the oven and crack the door open. Let the cheesecake cool inside for about 1 hour. Afterward, run a thin spatula or knife around the edges of the pan and refrigerate the cheesecake uncovered for at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
To Make the Ganache:
Prepare the Ganache: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and corn syrup. Microwave for 1 minute, then let rest for 1 minute. Stir for 1 minute until smooth, repeating the process if necessary.
To Assemble:
Top the Cheesecake with Ganache: Carefully remove the cheesecake from the springform pan and place it on a serving platter. Pour half of the ganache over the top, spreading it to the edges and allowing it to drip down the sides. Repeat with the remaining ganache. Let it set for about 15 minutes.
Decorate: Pipe swirls of whipped cream around the top of the cheesecake and place one in the center. Garnish with mini cookie dough balls and chocolate chips.
Serve: Chill the cheesecake until ready to serve. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.
When it comes to accent walls for your home, nothing adds more warmth and personality than a family photo wall or a “gallery wall.”
If you’re thinking about creating one, you’ll love these aesthetic gallery wall ideas, layout design tips, and photo wall arrangement suggestions to help you craft the perfect family picture wall in your home.
Pictures
Below are plenty of photo wall ideas, pictures, and inspiration to suit all home decor styles, helping you find the perfect layout for your accent wall.
Whether you prefer framed or unframed photo arrangements, these ideas can transform any wall in your living room, bedroom, dining room, foyer, hallway, or any other space into a beautiful and aesthetic photo display.
Gallery Wall Ideas
Let’s explore some gallery wall layout ideas. From simple designs for your living room, bedroom, stairway, or foyer, to more modern gallery wall concepts, there’s an arrangement for every style.
A gallery wall can effortlessly enhance the vibe of any room in your home. The possibilities are endless, from covering an entire wall to framing the space above a couch or piece of furniture, stretching up a staircase, or adorning any other wall.
You can even get creative by arranging photos on one or two shelves. Below are some fantastic arrangements to inspire your next gallery wall.
That’s what makes these wall decorating ideas so great—gallery walls are incredibly versatile. Whether you’re decorating your living room, bedroom, or even adding a personal touch around your desk or TV, the choice is yours!
Here’s a simple yet stunning family photo gallery wall above the couch in the living room. The layout is clean and aesthetic, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere while showcasing cherished memories.
I’m a huge fan of farmhouse decor myself (there’s something about the rustic charm that just feels so inviting!), but when it comes to gallery walls, they bring an eclectic, almost “random” vibe to a space. However, it’s important to remember that a well-curated gallery wall requires careful planning before you hang anything up.
A gallery wall is a perfect way to showcase your personality and interests. It lets you tell the story of your travels, celebrate family memories, display artwork you’ve collected, frame hand-drawn illustrations, and even incorporate unique metal or wooden objects that you’ve gathered along the way. It’s a chance to create a meaningful, personalized space that reflects who you are.
Farmhouse Wall Decor Ideas
I totally get that! If farmhouse style is your thing, it’s natural to gravitate toward farmhouse wall decor ideas when designing your own gallery accent wall. The charm of rustic elements, vintage frames, distressed wood, and cozy touches can transform a simple photo display into something truly special and personal. Whether you’re adding family photos, farmhouse-inspired art, or handmade pieces, a gallery wall in this style effortlessly brings warmth and character to your space.
When designing your gallery or photo wall, start by selecting the photos and artwork you want to feature, then think about the layout that will best showcase them.
A great tip is to lay everything out on the floor first. Rearranging the pieces in different configurations will help you visualize how they’ll look on the wall. Don’t hesitate to experiment with a variety of frames and wall hangings—the different textures, colors, and sizes will add depth and an aesthetic, curated feel to your gallery wall.
The best aesthetic photo wall arrangements strike a perfect balance, like the ones shown here. Don’t hesitate to mix and match your favorite photos, artwork, and personal items to make it uniquely yours.
Get creative by incorporating different elements into your photo wall—consider mixing high and low pieces, and feel free to blend black-and-white photos with colorful ones for contrast. Check out our cheat sheet for helpful do’s and don’ts to guide you.
A gallery wall can include a variety of things like artwork, paintings, family photos, souvenirs from your travels, and even metal or wooden objects. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect pieces, flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, Etsy, consignment shops, your grandmother’s house, and antique stores are all great places to discover unique finds. Enjoy the treasure hunt—it’s part of the fun!
In addition to choosing the art itself, pay attention to the frames that will highlight and complement your pieces. For a clean, formal, and minimalist look, opt for frames in the same size and color to create a cohesive feel.
Here’s a perfect example of a gallery wall that uses identical frames to achieve a neat, organized, and visually harmonious arrangement. This approach keeps the focus on the artwork while still providing structure and consistency to the overall design.
For a more eclectic vibe, mix and match picture frames to give the impression that you’ve curated the art over time. This approach adds character and personality to your gallery wall. If you’re looking for budget-friendly framing options, consider browsing online for affordable frames, or explore flea markets, antique stores, and yard sales for unique vintage frames that can add extra charm to your wall.
Tip: If there’s an unsightly object on your wall—like a door chime box—get creative and frame it. By incorporating it into your gallery, you can make it feel intentional and part of the overall design.
Family Photo Wall Layouts
Once you’ve selected the perfect pictures for your family photo wall, it’s time to focus on the layout.
Placement is key, so don’t just start hanging things randomly—plan out the look you want first.
Here are a few tips for creating a stunning family photo wall:
Measure the space you want to fill on your wall, then tape off that area on the floor to visualize the size.
Arrange and rearrange your photos and frames until you find a layout you love. Take your time experimenting with different arrangements.
Once you’re happy with the setup, take a few photos of the arrangement for reference, or cut out paper in the same sizes as your frames and tape them to the wall to get a better sense of the spacing.
Finally, hang your art one piece at a time, making adjustments as needed until everything looks perfect.
The most important thing to remember is that there’s no magic formula for creating an interesting gallery wall. Don’t let the process overwhelm you—just dive in and enjoy the creative journey!
However, if you’re feeling a bit intimidated, I’ve found some helpful gallery wall layout charts on my Pinterest account that might give you some guidance.
As you’ll see, there are countless ways to arrange your family photos or gallery wall, whether it’s on your main wall or along a staircase.
Ultimately, there’s no “right way” or “wrong way” to design your family photo gallery wall—just make it personal, and let it reflect your unique style and memories!
There are countless ways to frame your gallery wall, whether you opt for frames of the same shape and size for a uniform look or mix in objects, mirrors, and lights for added texture. You can blend paintings with photography, combine black-and-white with color images, or embrace an eclectic mix of frame sizes and shapes, incorporating both high and low pieces. The possibilities are endless—use whatever combination sparks your creativity.
Here’s a simple method to help you create a beautiful and cohesive gallery wall:
The most important thing to remember when creating your gallery wall is that there’s no one-size-fits-all method for displaying frames. The key is to enjoy the creative process and let your unique style guide you. With that mindset, your gallery wall will naturally come together beautifully!
Picture Wall Layout Tips
To create an aesthetic gallery wall, choose picture frames that complement and enhance your photos—check out the ideas above for inspiration.
Use the design charts provided to experiment with different layouts and find what feels right for your space.
Start by hanging the largest pieces first to establish a focal point, then gradually add in the smaller items around them to fill in the gaps.
For the best visual impact, aim to hang your photo wall frames at eye level, which is typically around 5 feet from the ground.
We accumulate so many photos over time, but how often do we take the opportunity to get them off our computers and onto our walls? If your walls are looking bare, these accent gallery wall ideas are here to inspire you to create unique photo displays.
One popular method is filling a large wall with a collection of photos or artwork framed in identical frames, or using the same size frames for similar photos. But why not get a little creative? For example, you could make your own frames from cardboard tubes—how clever is that? Or if you have an empty corner, corner picture frames can be a great way to utilize that space.
Do you have photos of different family members? Consider creating a beautiful family tree wall to showcase them. Or if you’ve inherited your grandma’s old handbags, don’t let them gather dust. Instead, repurpose them into special, unique frames for your wall—turning cherished items into meaningful art displays.
Ledges mounted to the wall are a fantastic way to display framed or mounted photos, artwork, prints, canvases, and more. For a creative twist, consider cutting old suitcases in half and using them as wall-mounted shelves—what a unique and stylish storage solution!
Another fun idea is using a metal wall frame with clips. This allows you to easily arrange your photos or artwork in any design you like. It’s modern, high-quality, and adds a fresh touch to any room. Plus, it’s an affordable way to decorate your walls. Remember, pictures don’t always have to be framed! For an unconventional display, try hanging unframed prints or photos from a length of wire with clips for a playful and dynamic arrangement.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, creating a gallery wall is a personal and creative way to showcase your favorite photos, artwork, and memories. Whether you opt for a traditional, cohesive layout with matching frames or embrace an eclectic, unique approach, the possibilities are endless. From using ledges and shelves to repurposing old items as frames, there are countless ways to display your art and photos. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different materials, layouts, and framing styles to make the space truly your own. Ultimately, the process of arranging your gallery wall should be enjoyable, allowing you to create a stunning and meaningful focal point in any room.
