This is truly the most perfect and easy no-bake cheesecake. By following this no-bake cheesecake recipe, you’ll be gifted with a smooth and creamy dessert that sets up beautifully in the refrigerator. Unlike regular cheesecake, no-bake cheesecake isn’t overly heavy. It’s lightly sweet and perfectly refreshing!
I never tasted no-bake cheesecake until last year because I had my doubts.
- What’s the point of cheesecake if you aren’t baking it?
- Doesn’t it just taste like cream cheese?
- How is it firm enough?
- And, most importantly, does it taste like goo?
These are very serious questions you might consider before making it, especially the goo one. But after making real no-bake cheesecake and tasting the final results, I’m here to declare that no-bake cheesecake should be everyone’s dessert obsession. My husband, who “doesn’t like cheesecake,” went back for seconds. This stuff is GOOD.
The Kitchn ranked this recipe first place in its no-bake cheesecake recipe showdown, with a score of 10/10! They said: “The thing that sets this recipe apart is its rich, full-on cheesecake flavor. It’s not too sweet and full of cream cheese goodness. … Slices of this cheesecake are tall, gorgeous, and very impressive, and the flavor lives up to the appearance. It’s a dessert you’d be proud to serve your friends and family.”
Let’s Rewind. What Is No-Bake Cheesecake?
No-bake cheesecake is exactly what the name suggests. The graham cracker crust and cheesecake filling never see the inside of the oven, so it’s a fantastic dessert when the weather’s warm or when your oven is crowded. Or when you don’t feel like baking. 😉
No-bake cheesecake is a lot easier than baked cheesecake. Without eggs and baking, there is virtually ZERO room for error. Traditional cheesecake runs the risk of over-beating the eggs, over-baking, under-baking, and cheesecake cracking. And if you’re using a cheesecake water bath, which I always recommend, your springform pan could leak. With no-bake cheesecake, we’re essentially cutting every single complicated step!
What it lacks in oven time, it makes up for in taste and texture:
- Thick, buttery, and crunchy graham cracker crust
- Smooth, creamy, and velvet-rich cheesecake filling
It’s totally worth mentioning that the filling tastes like cheesecake mousse!
4 Minute Video Tutorial:
Thick & Sturdy Graham Cracker Crust
This is a no-bake graham cracker crust. It’s thick, crunchy, and sets up beautifully… even without baking! There are only 3 ingredients required: graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar. I usually use granulated sugar in graham cracker crust, but prefer brown sugar in this recipe. The moisture in brown sugar helps solidify the crust. Pack it into a 9-inch springform pan, then place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
How to Make Perfect No-Bake Cheesecake
Like I mention above, this no-bake cheesecake recipe is very easy. The process is similar to how we make strawberry cream cheese pie. Beat the filling ingredients together, then spread into your graham cracker crust and refrigerate until set. That’s it! The cheesecake filling is made in 2 bowls. In the 1st bowl, beat heavy cream into stiff peaks. In the 2nd bowl, beat the remaining ingredients. Fold everything together. Here are the cheesecake filling ingredients. Each has a job to perform!
- Heavy Cream: Beating heavy cream into stiff peaks most important step in this entire recipe and *the secret* to a thick no-bake cheesecake filling.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure you use bricks of real cream cheese, not cream cheese spread. I tested with varying amounts and 24 ounces (three 8 ounce bricks) produced a thick, yet creamy cheesecake filling. Make sure it’s room temperature.
- Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar breaks down the cream cheese. It’s easy to go overboard on sugar, but keep it light. Less sugar helps the tangy cream cheese and vanilla flavors stand out.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: A smidge of confectioners’ sugar thickens the filling, while also keeping it light. I tested with flour and cornstarch and both left a chalky aftertaste. I recommend sticking with confectioners’ sugar.
- Sour Cream: Add a little sour cream for that trademark tangy cheesecake flavor.
- Vanilla Extract & Lemon Juice: A splash of both flavors add a little something special.
How to Thicken No-Bake Cheesecake
These 2 important steps guarantee a thick no-bake cheesecake filling. Without 1 or 2, you’ll be eating cheesecake soup. (It’s not pretty.)
- As mentioned, the most important step is to beat cold heavy cream into peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake filling gently so you don’t deflate the air. The air creates a delicious mousse-like consistency and solidifies the filling in the refrigerator.
- Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 6-8 hours, but overnight is better. For a sturdy no-bake cheesecake with beautifully neat slices, refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This makes for a great make-ahead dessert! Do not freeze the cheesecake to set it. The filling won’t slice and you’ll lose the velvet texture!
Speaking of beautiful slices, make sure you smooth the filling into the crust. I like using a large or small offset spatula to make the job easier. After refrigerating, decorate with whipped cream, lemon curd, strawberry sauce, raspberry sauce, blueberry sauce, fresh berries, and/or salted caramel. But if you’re a cheesecake purist, all you need is a fork. 🙂
Can I Make Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes?
Yes! See my mini no bake cheesecakes, which are made in a standard muffin pan.
Let’s Talk About Freezing No-Bake Cheesecake
I don’t recommend freezing no-bake cheesecake to set it—you really need to use the refrigerator for that step. And trust me, it’s worth the wait.
However, you can freeze the cheesecake to enjoy at a later time. After it sets in the refrigerator, wrap the whole pan (you can remove the sides if desired) in 1 layer of plastic wrap, then 1 layer of aluminum foil. No-bake cheesecake freezes wonderfully for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then slice and serve.
With the make-ahead components of this recipe (whether waiting for it to set or freezing ahead of time), it’s great choice for your menu of Easter dessert recipes or any time you have company. Take care of all the hard work ahead of time, then sit back, relax, and enjoy a slice (or two) of cheesecake with your family and friends!
When it’s time to serve, I’m always shocked that the crust and filling don’t fall apart. Follow this recipe for success. Would LOVE to know if you try it!
More Cheesecake Desserts
- Classic Cheesecake
- Mini Cheesecakes
- Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
- How to Prevent Cracks in Cheesecake
- White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Bars
- Snickers Cheesecake
- Cheesecake Pie
- Lemon Cheesecake
I have an entire cheesecake recipes category, too!
PrintNo-Bake Cheesecake
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours, 20 minutes
- Yield: serves 10-12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Whipping
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is truly the most perfect and easy no-bake cheesecake. By following this no-bake cheesecake recipe, you’ll be gifted with a smooth, light, and creamy dessert that sets up beautifully in the refrigerator. The most important steps are whipping the heavy cream into stiff peaks before folding into the filling, and refrigerating the cheesecake overnight.
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 2 cups (240g) graham cracker crumbs (about 16 full sheet graham crackers)
- 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake
- 1 and 1/4 cups (300ml) heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- 24 ounces (678g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (15g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup (60g) sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the crust: Stir the graham cracker crust ingredients together. Pour into a 9-inch springform pan or 10-inch springform pan and pack in very tightly. The tighter it’s packed, the less likely it will fall apart when cutting the cheesecake. I recommend using the bottom of a measuring cup to pack it into the bottom and up the sides. You can watch me do this in the video above. Freeze for 10–20 minutes as you prepare the filling.
- Make the filling: Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cold heavy cream into stiff peaks on medium-high speed, about 4–5 minutes. Set aside.
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and granulated sugar together on medium speed until perfectly smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula as needed. Add the confectioners’ sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat for 2–3 minutes on medium-high speed until smooth and combined. Make sure there are no large lumps of cream cheese. If there are lumps, keep beating until smooth.
- Using your mixer on low speed or a silicone spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake filling until combined. This takes several turns of your silicone spatula. Combine slowly as you don’t want to deflate all the air in the whipped cream.
- Remove crust from the freezer and spread filling into crust. Use an offset spatula to smooth down the top.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 6–8 hours and up to 2 days. For best results, 12 hours is best. I chill mine overnight. The longer refrigerated, the nicer the no-bake cheesecake will set up.
- Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean between each slice.
- Serve cheesecake with desired toppings (see Note). Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: This cheesecake can be made 1–2 days in advance. It can be refrigerated in step 6 for up to 2 days before serving. You can also make the crust 1–2 days ahead of time. Freeze for up to 1 hour in step 1, then cover tightly and refrigerate for 1–2 days before adding the filling. Another way to make this cheesecake ahead of time is to freeze it. Cheesecake can be frozen up to 3 months. See instructions in blog post above.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | 9-inch Springform Pan or 10-inch Springform Pan | Silicone Spatula | Offset Spatula
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice brightens up the flavor. This cheesecake does not taste like lemon. For lemon-flavored no-bake cheesecake, remove the sour cream from the recipe and add 2 Tablespoons lemon juice and 1 Tablespoon lemon zest.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring the cream cheese and sour cream to room temperature before beginning. Room temperature ingredients guarantee a smooth cheesecake filling. Beating cold ingredients together will result in a chunky cheesecake filling. (The heavy cream, however, MUST be cold in order to whip into stiff peaks.)
- Toppings: Before serving, decorate with whipped cream, lemon curd, strawberry sauce, fresh berries, salted caramel, or your favorite cheesecake toppings. I used Ateco 849 piping tip for the whipped cream in the pictured cheesecake.
- Can I Make Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes? Yes, see my mini no bake cheesecakes, which are made in a standard muffin pan.
- Non-US Readers: ​​Don’t have graham crackers where you live? Use 270g ground digestive biscuits instead (about 18 biscuits), the same amount of butter, and add a bit more brown sugar (about 1/2 cup, or 100g). And from what I understand, spreadable cream cheese sold in a tub in countries outside of the US is a little different from the spreadable cream cheese in the US. It’s thicker, sturdier, and more solid and should be OK to make cheesecake. I have no experience with it, but this is what I’ve heard from other non-US readers.
Adapted from All Recipes.
This is the first no bake cheesecake that I have made. It was delicious and enjoyed by all. I topped it with strawberries that I made as if I was making strawberry shortcake. Sliced the strawberries and added sugar and a little vanilla. Your recipes are always spot on. Whenever I’m making something new I almost always go with your recipe, and I am always happy with the results.
This is my second time making this cheesecake. This is a great alternative to a baked cheesecake, especially during the hot weather.
I do have a question though, I need to travel an hour with the cheesecake and it’s rather warm here. Can I freeze the cheesecake for an hour just so it keeps it consistency?
Hi Michelle, so glad you enjoy this no bake cheesecake recipe. If traveling for about an hour with it, I would definitely freeze it before going so it doesn’t completely lose shape or its texture. I’m sure you could serve right away once you get to your destination or you can refrigerate it until serving.
Sadly this was cheesecake soup for me. It tasted great but was a huge mess. I followed all the instructions including how to thicken it but it was still a flop. Shame as the photo looks good
I have made this numerous times with great success! I have substituted lemon Oreos, or the store brand lemon sandwich cremes, and everyone loved it! I’ve even added extra lemon juice. I use fresh strawberry preserves as a topping.
I make this recipe frequently but need to make 4 this time. Can I use premade whipped cream (like in a tub) weight for weight folded in?
Hi Kendra, You can replace the heavy cream with 2 and 1/2 cups of Cool Whip (1 and 1/4 cups of heavy cream whips into around 2 and 1/2 cups.) You may also want to reduce the sugar since Cool Whip is sweetened. We like to use heavy cream (36% fat) to make our own whipped cream. Enjoy!
So your recipe looks delicious but I have two small problems. First I can’t find blocks of cream cheese and I was wondering if I could use spread instead. Also i can’t seem to find sour cream where I live. Could I ommit it completely? Thank you for all the time you spend to put together your recipes and for sharing them with us 🙂
Hi Jimmy! In the U.S. block cream cheese is very different than the tubs and is the only cream cheese that will work for cheesecake. We have been told by readers outside the U.S. that cream cheese in a tub is different from ours and can work, but we have not tested it. Yogurt will work in place of the sour cream in a pinch. Please let us know if you try!
Hi Sally, have tried this recipe a multiple number of times . And the taste is amazing!the only issue that I’m facing is that in India I can’t find graham crackers and when I use digestive buiscuits the base gets v hard to cut.. what do you suggest I try?
Hi Radhika, digestive biscuits are usually the best replacement for graham crackers. Make sure they’re very tightly packed into the springform crust, which should make it easier to cut. If you have access to something similar, you could also use gingersnap cookies like we do in our no-bake pumpkin cheesecake.
I made this last night. It tasted good but unfortunately did not set up as I would have liked. I think part of the problem may be that I accidentally purchased at least one block of low fat cream cheese, would this be the reason it didn’t set up? Also my crust crumbled on top (after sitting for 24 hours), I did butter the pan because the directions on my pan say it has to be prepared. Any tips for fixing these issues? The flavor was good, so I definitely want to try again.
I made this yesterday. I have made baked cheesecake but this my first no bake. I have a heavy hand when folding. This cake did not disappoint. Didn’t have a lemon but that was ok. The cake is wonderful. My grandsons and I loved it. Will make again.
Hi sally , can I use a package of dream whip in this recipe instead of heavy cream ?
Amazing recipe! The filling turned out spectacular, but the graham cracker crust fell apart when serving. Any advice for next time?
Hi Rooney! Make sure to really pack it down very tightly into the springform pan before adding the filling. The tighter it’s packed, the less likely it will fall apart when cutting the cheesecake!
Hi I made this before and it was delicious! I just want to make a small batch, can I use this recipe using a 6inch pan?
Hi Anna, you could try halving the recipe for a 6 inch pan for a smaller batch using less cream cheese. Or, make the filling as is and use the leftovers to make mini no-bake cheesecakes. Let us know if you give it a try!
Very strong cream cheese flavor. Wouldn’t make again.
Hi, Can we use a non-dairy whipped cream for this recipe?
We haven’t tested it, but please let us know if you do!
Hi, is an electric mixer required for this or could it work without? If not, is there a way to make this without using an electric mixer? Thanks!
Hi Liz! You could try to whisk this by hand, however it is not easy and will take much longer to whip the cold heavy cream into stiff peaks with a hand held whisk.
Hi! I was wondering if this recipe could be used for shooters, cheesecake shooters?
Thank you.
We can’t see why not!
Hi Sally, could I use this recipe to fill already baked cupcakes for a cheesecake filling.
Thanks!!
Hi Beth! We haven’t used this cheesecake filling as a filling for cupcakes but it should work wonderfully! This filling yields quite a bit, so depending on how many cupcakes you want to fill, you could halve this filling recipe.
I’m wondering if you have a lemon version? I was thinking of using lemon Oreo cookies or if I add lemon zest to the graham cracker crust? Any suggestions would be great!!
Hi Rebecca! We haven’t tested a lemon version of this no bake cheesecake, but a lemon Oreo crust is a great idea! Lemon zest would be great in the cheesecake itself and a topping of lemon curd would be delicious as well! Let us know what you try 🙂
Hi i was just wondering if I could add any other flavors to this recipe, I really want to make a passionfruit cheesecake how would you tweak this recipe? xx
Hi Darcy, we love passionfruit but don’t have a passionfruit cheesecake recipe. You can certainly start with a passionfruit topping over this cheesecake, but if you find one that incorporates them into the batter let me know!
Smooth cream cheese filling! This was so good. I’m always looking for the next best recipe and you always come through. Love your site.
Can I make this No-Bake cheese without a crust? Graham cracker crusts are too sweet and cookie crusts crumble when cutting the cheesecake. I always bake my cheesecakes without a crust and they come out fine.
Hi Eileen, we haven’t tested it, but I wonder the filling may not be very sturdy in slices without a crust. It may also stick to your dish, but should set up just fine. Let us know if you try it! You may also love these no bake cheesecake jars 🙂
Hi Sally – do you have a strawberry cheesecake no bake version/ advice?
Hi Shuchi, You may love this no bake strawberry cheesecake pie!
Amazing recipe. I slightly reduced the sugar and it came out absolutely perfect. My boyfriend loved his birthday cake 🙂 Thank you!!
How long do you beat the heavy whipping cream before stiff peaks start to form ?
Hi Amy! This will depend on your mixer, it usually takes a few minutes for us.
I have a kitchen aid stand mixer
Hi, is it possible to make a vegan version of this replacing the dairy products with vegan ones?
Unfortunately cheesecakes rely on high fat dairy products for their taste and texture!
I suggest looking for specifically vegan cheesecake recipes instead of doing a straight ingredient swap out with a dairy cheesecake recipe.
You may not be able to replicate a true cheesecake taste but I’m sure there are lots of delicious alternatives!
Good luck 🙂
Sorry , I meant 7 inches.
Hi Sally! Do you think half of the recipe will be enough for 8 inch spring form?
Thank you !
Yes, absolutely! You can halve the recipe for smaller pans. A half batch would be thinner in your 8 inch pan.
Can this be made in a 13 x 9 dish?
Hi Holly, you can make these in an 9×13. The cheesecake, as written, will be enough and should still set up nicely. The bars will be very thick in a 9×13 pan, so make sure they are sufficiently chilled, even up to 24 hours! Let us know how they turn out.
Can I split the batter in two and add half melted chocolate to half of the batter and leave the other plain? So I will end up with two distinct layers? I wanted a chocolate version but not all chocolate. Thank you!
Hi Tat, we’re sure you could make a chocolate version (or half as you mention), but we haven’t tried it. It would require some testing because we are torn if you would use melted and cooled chocolate or cocoa powder. Let us know if you test anything!
Thank you so much for the quick response as I am planning baking it tonight. I am considering using melted chocolate and Oreos as the base. What do you think? Any considerations I should take into account? Thank you once again!
Hi Tat, that sounds like a plan! If using melted chocolate, make sure to let it cool before swirling into the batter. An Oreo crust would be delicious, too.
Thank you so much!!! It worked and came out just perfect! I added 4 ounces cooled melted chocolate and a bit of cocoa and little more powdered sugar. And added a chocolate ganache on top. Great texture!
I have tried this recipe like this! It ended up really amazing but the melted chocolate does make for a MUCH firmer cheesecake so add it in small amounts until the flavor is right for you. The more you add the firmer is becomes. I’ve done this a few times and personally have found less chocolate is preferred for my house. Also put it on an oven crust and i usually make extra whipped cream to pipe on top!
I halved the filling recipe and put the mixture into a store-bought graham cracker crust. Topped with blueberry pie filling it made the PERFECT Father’s Day dessert!
This is the best thing I have ever made thank you so much for sharing this recipe. the only problem was the cream cheese was a little lumpy but that was on my part because I didn’t let it get to room temperature so if you make this make sure to do that.