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No-Bake Cheesecake has never been so easy or delicious! A silky smooth cream cheese filling surrounded by a buttery graham cracker crust. Enjoy plain or with any desired toppings with no oven required. The perfect summer dessert. Or if you’re looking for my classic cheesecake recipe <– see here!
What is No Bake Cheesecake?
Just as the name suggests, a no bake cheesecake doesn’t require any baking whatsoever. It’s the perfect dessert for hot weather, if you need a quick treat for a crowd or if you don’t want to take the time to make a traditional New York Style Cheesecake.
The graham cracker crust nor the filling requires any baking which means there are no eggs in this recipe and there is no extended baking or cooling times required. A no bake cheesecake is truly the fail-proof way to make cheesecake. No cracking, no baking, no water bath, no worries!
Which Cream Cheese is Best for Cheesecake?
Just like my Classic Cheesecake recipe, you’ll only need a few basic ingredients for this. Nothing new and very obvious items. For the cream cheese, I prefer Philadelphia brand because I think its a little more tangy that the other no-name brands out there. Be sure this is at room temperature to avoid lumps.
How to Make Cheesecake (No Bake)
There are only a few steps and a little fridge time standing in between you and this no-bake cheesecake recipe! As easy as can be!
Make the Crust
Stir melted butter together with graham cracker crumbs and a touch of sugar. Be sure every crumb is coated in butter to have a crust that sticks together. Press into a pie pan and refrigerate.
Do I Have to Bake the Graham Cracker Crust?
While a traditional cheesecake does call for pre-baking the crust, I find it isn’t necessary for a no-bake cheesecake because the melted butter works as glue to hold the graham cracker crumbs together for neat and tidy slices. The melted butter hardens in the refrigerator and works perfectly. I wouldn’t bother baking the crust. It’s an extra step that I think is unnecessary.
How to Make Easy No Bake Cheesecake Filling
- In a stand mixer, stir room temperature cream cheese together with granulated sugar and a touch of vanilla.
- Slowly incorporate the cold heavy cream into the cream cheese filling being sure to scrape the sides after each addition.
- Once all the whipped cream has been added, whip the filling for 30-60 seconds or until very thick and it holds its shape easily. Be sure to not over beat! If you beat it too long, it will go from thick back to thin and won’t set.
Pour Filling into Crust + Chill
Spread that thick and creamy filling into the chilled crust, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours (or up to a few days).
Easy Cheesecake Recipe No Bake Tips
What to do if your Easy No Bake Cheesecake Doesn’t Set
If you are familiar with no bake cheesecake, you may know that getting a thick and luscious filling can seem harder than all us online folks make it look. It’s not hard, you just need to know how to make your filling properly.
Be sure to use room temperature cream cheese and blend with sugar and vanilla to get a smooth base to mix the whipped cream into. Next, using COLD heavy whipped cream, slowly incorporate it by thirds into the cream cheese mixture, letting it mix in completely and scraping the sides of the bowl after each addition. Once all the whipped cream has been incorporated, you want to whip it until its thick enough to hold its shape, completely smooth and creamy. You’re essentially whipping the cream within the cream cheese mixture.
Like I mentioned above, over mixing can turn your thick filling into soup. So once it’s thick, turn the mixer off and spoon it into your crust.
Also, using cold heavy whipping cream is important and helps thicken the filling. (Heavy whipping cream has a higher fat content than just whipping cream, so be sure to find the containers that say “heavy whipping cream” for ultimate success.)
No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe Toppings
Of course this cheesecake is delicious as in with no toppings whatsoever, though I am a little partial to a little lemon curd.
Serve with any desired toppings. From canned cherry or blueberry filling to fresh fruit or chocolate sauce, the sky is the limit!
Since this is a very basic, beautiful and delicious cheesecake recipe, try to find delicious toppings that will help enhance the flavor. Here are a few classic ideas:
- cherry pie filling (what most no-bake cheesecakes call for)
- fresh strawberries or raspberries
- strawberry or raspberry sauce
- chocolate shavings
- chocolate sauce
- melted nutella
- whipped cream
- lemon curd
- chocolate ganache
- salted caramel sauce
Easy No Bake Cheesecake Recipe Storage
Leftover cheesecake should be covered in plastic wrap or an airtight container and stored in the fridge for 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Cheesecake can be frozen as a whole or cut into individual pieces. Be sure to wrap in plastic wrap and then wrap in foil before placing it in the freezer. Cheesecake will stay fresh for up to 1 month.
To Thaw: Place Cheesecake in the fridge overnight. The foil can be removed, but leave the plastic wrap on it until ready to serve. You can also microwave individual pieces for about 30 seconds at a time and then check it. I wouldn’t microwave an entire cake though.
More like this No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe
- Gluten-Free No-Bake Cheesecake
- No-Bake Brownie Batter Cheesecake
- No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake {Gluten + Sugar-Free}
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Nutella Cheesecake
- Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
- Cheesecake Factory Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
This recipe is certainly one of my favorites and I know you are sure to love this easy no bake cheesecake too 🙂 With the holidays quickly approaching, be sure to bookmark, pin, save or print this recipe so you don’t lose it. It’s another great one to add to your repertoire! Enjoy, friends.
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4.83 from 34 votes
Cheesecake (No Bake)
No-Bake Cheesecake has never been so easy or delicious! A silky smooth cream cheese filling surrounded by a buttery graham cracker crust. Enjoy plain or with any desired toppings with no oven required.
servings 8 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 16 oz cream cheese softened (two 8 oz packages)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream cold
- 1 cup canned pie filling cherry, blueberry, etc.
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
In a small bowl, stir graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together to moisten. Press into an 8 or 9-inch glass pie plate and refrigerate.
In a large bowl, mix cream cheese and granulated sugar together until smooth and well combined. Scrape the sides and mix again to ensure there are no lumps. Stir in vanilla.
With the mixer on, add cream in four increments, letting it whip into the cream cheese after each addition. Whip 1 minute until thick and light. Scrape the sides to ensure even mixing and whip again if needed.
Pour into prepared pie shell and smooth the top. Refrigerate 2 hours to overnight, covered in plastic wrap.
To serve, cut into pieces and top with two tablespoons of pie filling (or whipped cream) if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1460IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: no bake cheesecake recipe, No-Bake Cheesecake