No Bake Cheesecake
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This no bake cheesecake recipe takes minutes to make and will give you not one, but two decadently creamy desserts. Perfect for sharing!
No bake cheesecake is a favorite simple dessert recipe for holidays, parties, and Wednesdays. (Why not cheesecake on Wednesday?). Serve it up alongside a dish of sausage and pepper stuffed shells or a tray of grilled pork chops!
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No Bake Cheesecake
No Bake Cheesecake
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No Bake Cheesecake Ingredients
- Graham cracker crusts – Store bought or homemade.
- Cream cheese – Full fat, softened.
- Sugar – Granulated.
- Lemon juice – Fresh works best.
- Vanilla extract – Real vanilla, not imitation.
- Whipped topping – Like Cool Whip, thawed.
How do you make a no bake cheesecake? (Step-by-step)
⭐ First, beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice with an electric mixer until smooth.
⭐ Next, fold in the whipped topping.
⭐ Then, divide the mixture between two pie crusts and smooth the top with a spatula.
⭐ Finally, allow to chill completely and garnish with strawberries if desired.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can you make a no-bake cheesecake ahead of time?
You can prepare this up to a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Wait to garnish until immediately before servings.
The cheesecake can also be frozen (see below in Leftovers/Storage for details).
Can I make this with a regular pie crust?
Absolutely! Make sure to bake the crust completely before adding the filling since the filling does not get baked. This homemade pie crust recipe would work perfectly.
Leftovers and storage
How long does a no-bake cheesecake last?
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. For best results, store in an air tight container.
Can you freeze a no bake cheesecake?
Yes. First allow the cheesecake to set completely in the refrigerator (several hours or overnight). Then wrap it tightly before storing in the freezer for 2 – 3 months.
When wrapping, I prefer to cover the top tightly with foil, then wrap the entire dish with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
What to eat with no bake cheesecake (serving suggestions)
This recipe is great for bringing to potlucks and gatherings, but honestly it’s also one of my favorite Friday night family desserts. It’s so simple to make and comes together quickly, so we like to enjoy it with some baked bbq chicken and a side of no-boil mac and cheese!
Tips and tricks
🍋 Try flavoring your no bake cheesecake with extracts, we love a few drops of lemon or almond extract!
🎁 Make several and store them in the freezer. Perfect for new baby gifts and unexpected company.
🍓 Save time on holidays by preparing the dish ahead of time, but wait to garnish until right before serving.
🍫 Mix things up by using a chocolate crust, or topping with chocolate, caramel, or even peaches. Yum!
Frequently asked questions & troubleshooting
Why isn’t my no bake cheesecake firm?
Make sure you’re allowing time for the dish to cool completely, it should chill at a bare minimum for 3 hours, but as long as overnight.
Remember, if you’re adding a lot to your refrigerator or opening it frequently this will cause the temperature to go up and it will take the contents longer to chill.
What is the difference between baked and no bake cheesecakes?
A baked cheesecake uses eggs and baking to set, whereas a no-bake cheesecake sets with refrigeration. The texture is slightly different, but both are delicious!
Is no bake cheesecake gluten free?
The filling for this recipe is gluten free so as long as you use a gluten-free graham cracker crust, it is a gluten-free recipe.
Does the lemon juice make it taste like lemon?
No, the small amount of lemon juice just brightens up the flavor. If you are looking for a lemon flavored cheesecake you’ll want to add lemon extract or top with lemon curd or lemon pie filling.
More cheesecake recipes
- Caramel cheesecake
- Raspberry cheesecake cookie recipe
- No bake oreo cheesecake recipe
- Easy pumpkin pie cheesecake
- Classic cheesecake recipe
More delicious dessert recipes
- Homemade cake balls
- Magic cookie bar recipe
- Peanut butter granola monster cookies
- The best chocolate chip cookies
More cream cheese dessert recipes
- Cookies and cream cookies
- Carrot cake sandwich cookies
- Blueberry French toast bake
- Cream cheese frosting
Tools we love
- Spatula – These ingredients are ooey gooey and sticky. You for sure want to be using a spatula to make sure you’re properly measuring and using all your ingredients.
- Electric mixer – You’ll want an electric mixer for beating the filling to the proper consistency.
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How to Make No Bake Cheesecake
No Bake Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 2 graham cracker crusts
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces whipped topping (like Cool Whip) thawed
Instructions
- With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice until smooth.
- Fold in the whipped topping until well incorporated.
- Divide the mixture between two pie crusts, smoothing the tops with a spatula. Allow to chill for at least 3 hours.
- Garnish as desired before serving.
Video
Notes
- Makes 2 cheesecakes if using store bought graham cracker crust.
- If you use a homemade graham cracker crust in a springform pan the recipe will make one large cheesecake.
Nutrition
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No Bake Cheesecake
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The ULTIMATE no-bake cheesecake recipe is so EASY to make and delicious! Thank you!
Love how easy this is to make! I gave the other one to my neighbor and she already texted me for the recipe. A definite winner!
This looks so delicious and easy! I’m so excited to make this recipe! My hubby and I love cheesecake!
Hi! First of all I have made many great meals from your recipes. I write them down from the website but my arthritis in my hands restricts me so I save the individual ones on my laptop. I live alone and do my own cooking. I’m 77 yrs old and thank God my mother taught me and my brother how to cook so we wouldn’t starve. The reason for my message is that sometimes the website won’t let me save the recipe and I don’t know why is there something wrong with your website? I save the whole message when that happens but since I don’t know anything about computers I’m afraid to use up the memory to save one or two recipes. Computers are weird to me since I’m a dinosaur and pens and paper as well as talking to human beings is more normal to me. But if I’m doing something wrong let me know if it’s the computer please fix it. I don’t have anyone else to ask about this. Thanks and keep those great recipes coming!
DAN
JUST WANTED TO SAY PHILIDELPHIA CREAM CHEESE HAS A NO BAKE CHEESE CAKE FILLING THAT COST AROUND 5.00 AT WALMART I MAde a deserrt with it it so good