Perched on a hill in the countryside surrounding Cambridge, NY lies a hidden gem famous for its beautiful architecture, tranquil gardens and delicious cheesecake. For decades, New Skete Monastery’s nuns have been perfecting their cheesecake recipes, which have become a favorite treat of locals and visitors alike.

Whether you’re a baking enthusiast or hardcore cheesecake fan, you’ll fall in love with the simply divine cheesecakes made right here in Washington County, NY. In this blog post, we’ll take you behind the scenes of New Skete Monastery‘s cheesecake-making process and share what’s made it so special its creators were featured on Rachael Ray!

Without further ado, let’s explore New Skete Monastery’s cheesecake bakery as part of our How It’s Made series!

So, why cheesecakes? It’s a great way for the nuns to support their Orthodox Christian way of life with their own two hands while being involved with their community. After moving to New York from Indiana, the women first cleaned homes and performed various other tasks for the community and monastery, including sewing vestments, making iconography and helping the Monks raise and train their German Shepherds.

Here’s the beautiful way they describe it on their site: “New Skete’s entire history has been characterized, in the midst of supporting ourselves, by our efforts to translate the essentials of early Christian monasticism to an American culture capable of transforming us today. This has entailed pursuing the knowledge needed to foster a spirit of healthy simplicity. We achieve this by studying Sacred Scripture, Monastic and Liturgical History and by being open to the difficulties and yearnings of our contemporaries.”

Once Sister Magdalene came to New Skete, she offered to put her baking skills to use, and the cheesecakes were a huge hit. Steadily, the business grew within the region, with local grocers as well as larger chains gladly selling New Skete products.

While the recipes were fine-tuned in 1975, the nuns’ current energy-efficient bakery wasn’t built until 1983. Later, their partnership with Goldbelly allowed them to ship nationwide and employ several local helpers to keep up with demand. Currently, these cakes provide the primary funding for the nuns’ monastery, requiring 9-10 people between baking, shipping and online ordering/inventory.

Typically, New Skete’s gourmet cheesecakes are baked twice per week using the nuns’ highly-efficient two-day system. First, the cookie crumb crust is perfectly spread in the pans using their specially-developed machine (called The Crumber). Using 30lb blocks of cream cheese, they beat the cream cheese until it’s smooth and creamy. Then, the batter is poured into the depositor, which puts the batter into the crusted baking pans.

While some of the cakes have flavoring added right to the batter, others (like raspberry) have the flavoring “swirled into the top by hand, creating an aesthetically-pleasing ripple effect.” Depending on the cake, the bakers also add apples, walnuts, key lime zest or white chocolate.

Next, the cheesecake is baked in a revolving five-shelf even that holds over one hundred cakes each baking round! By the next day, the cakes are cooled and ready to be cut. A special slicing machine places dividers between each of the perfectly-cut slices of frozen cake, which are then sealed and boxed for sale or shipment.

The Result

In the end, this hard work results in a cheesecake that’s both delicious and beautiful. With perfectly crispy and buttery crust, a rich and creamy filling and a simple heavenly flavor, it’s easy to see why New Skete cheesecakes are a hit across the nation.

And, no matter your preference, there’s a delicious cheesecake option for you! After all, New Skete offers many different flavors throughout the year. These include Amaretto & Cream, Apple Walnut, Chocolate, Chocolate Amaretto, Classic New York Deluxe, Irish Cream, Orange Cream, Chocolate Marble, Kahlua, Key Lime, Raspberry Ripple and White Chocolate. Additionally, visitors enjoy special seasonal flavors, like the autumnal Pumpkin and Eggnog in winter!

Cheesecake for Special Events

Looking to add a unique touch to your wedding day, special event or dinner party? Consider offering one of New Skete’s delicious gourmet cheesecakes, also available in sampler packs! In fact, you can even get a two or three-tier cake in the Deluxe flavor, easily customizable to suit your style. Just work with your caterer or florist to come up with a design that can easily be added to your cakes, including fresh flowers, silk flowers, fruit or ribbons!

Naturally, you can find the nuns’ delicious cheesecakes as well as other tasty treats (like brandied fruitcakes, cheese dips and pancake mix) and unique New Skete souvenirs at their self-serve freezer or gift shops. Items available include icons, candles, books, locally-made goods and more. By making a purchase, visitors not only acquire beautiful and meaningful objects but also contribute to the preservation and continuation of this sacred sanctuary.

If you’d like to visit, the churches, gardens, bell tower and hiking trail are open for self-guided tours Tuesday through Sunday. Additionally, visitors can find self-guided tour brochures in the bell tower. However, the monastery does close during community retreat times, mid-August through mid-September and in February. You can also take a virtual tour. Furthermore, you can read our other article about the monastery to learn more about their dog training, hiking trails and retreats.

Beyond that, the monastery also holds several public events throughout the year. These include:

• Annual Pilgrimage – in August, a special day of exploring American religious history at New Skete. The 2024 guest speaker will be Patricia Fann Bouteneff (D. Phil. Oxon.)
• Annual Open House – in early June, in conjunction with the Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival
• Blessing of the Animals – early October, in honor of the Feast of St. Francis, all animals and their people are welcomed to be blessed at the monastery.
• The Art of Training Your Dog Workshop – Occasional, 5-day dog-training workshop for dog owners and dog trainers.
• Iconography Workshops – Occasional, hosted by the monks of New Skete and taught by instructors Philip Davydov and Olga Shalmova from Sacred Murals Studio in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Keep up with the events & inhabitants of New Skete Monastery

Follow New Skete on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Looking for more fun things to do nearby in Washington County, NY?

Of course, New Skete is just one of the many unique businesses & attractions in the area! Near Cambridge, NY you’ll also find Argyle Brewing Company, Battenkill Books, Autumn’s Harvest Vineyard, Black Widow Gallery, Hubbard Hall, Lauderdale Park and much, much more.

Or, discover more local options including lodging, dining, unique experiences and events!