No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListDessertsNo Bake Cheesecake Recipe

Posted by Aimee 33 comments
Published: Jan 26, 2021 Last Updated: Oct 23, 2023

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Easy to make with simple ingredients, this No Bake Cheesecake is perfect any time of year. Top with cherry pie filling or fresh berries for more delicious sweetness or enjoy it on its own.

Love no bake desserts? Our family is obsessed with these indoor s’mores bars! So easy too. Or give this No bake chocolate cookie recipe a try. Childhood favorite!

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • The BEST No Bake Cheesecake
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to make a No Bake Cheesecake
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Tips and Tricks
  • More No Bake Desserts
  • No Bake Cheesecake Recipe

The BEST No Bake Cheesecake

Don’t you love it when the best desserts are also easy to make? No Bake Cheesecake is one of those.

Delicious, buttery sweet graham cracker crust (homemade, of course) topped with a dreamy no bake cheesecake filling!

While I adore baked cheesecake, this creamy oven free version is a family favorite.

  • You can make it ahead of time without needing to fire up the oven and comes out perfectly every time. I love to make it the night before so dessert is ready to eat after dinner.
  • We like to add some canned cherry pie filling to the top for an extra sweet treat! You’ll also love it with fresh fruit or served plain. This cheesecake is rich, decadent and oh-so-creamy!

If you love today’s recipe, try our mini no bake cheesecakes too! Or give this cheesecake a makeover and try our no bake strawberry cheesecake next!

Ingredients Needed

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2)

Here’s what you need to make the best no bake cheesecake:

  • Cream Cheese
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • Cool Whip
  • Lemon Juice
  • Optional: pie filling or fresh fruit for topping – We love canned cherry pie filling, strawberry syrup, or slices of fresh berries!

For the homemade graham cracker crust you’ll need:

  • Graham Crackers
  • Sugar
  • Melted Butter

How to make a No Bake Cheesecake

Start by making your graham cracker crust.

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (3)

You can choose to use a prepared crust, but I personally think homemade tastes better. It’s so easy too!

To make your crust, add your full size graham crackers to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add in the sugar and melted butter and pulse until blended.

Divide in half and press crumbs into the bottom of TWO 8 or 9 inch pie plates. Use the bottom of a cup or the heel of your hand to press firmly, making sure the crumbs go up the sides of the pie plate.

To make the cheesecake filling:

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (4)

Beat room temperature cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice for about 4 minutes using an electric mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Fold in Cool Whip and pour evenly into your pie plates. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the tops of the pie.

Refrigerate the cheesecakes for at least 3 hours (or overnight) until chilled and set.

Add your favorite pie filling flavor to the top if you choose! We love cherry but blueberry, peach or strawberry would be delicious on your cheesecake, too.

Fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream are other good choices for adding sweetness to this dessert.

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (5)

Recipe FAQs

Can you use a store bought crust instead?

Yes, a store bought graham cracker crust works well in this recipe if you prefer!

How long will no-bake cheesecake stay good?

This cheesecake stays good for up to 3 days in the fridge. I love to make it the day before and let it set up over night in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze Cheesecake?

Absolutely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze for up to 60 days. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (6)

Tips and Tricks

  • No food processor? You can find ready made graham cracker crumbs in the baking aisle of many supermarkets.
  • Use full fat cream cheese. For best results and richest taste, use regular full fat cream cheese, cool whip and butter!
  • Press the graham cracker crust up the sides of the plate. Use your hands to make sure to the crust reaches as far up the sides of the pie plates as you can.
  • Topping ideas: blueberries, strawberries, bananas, fresh pineapple or raspberries are other easy ways to change up the flavor of the no-bake cheesecake.
  • Holiday: make our favorite Easter Egg Cheesecake using this recipe as a base. Or try our festive funfetti no bake cheesecake with colorful sprinkles for any holiday.
  • Make it for a crowd. Make our no bake cheesecake bars to serve a crowd! Same easy recipe in a 13×9.
No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (7)

More No Bake Desserts

  • No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe
  • No Bake Chocolate PB S’mores Bars
  • Peanut Butter Cheesecake
  • No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
  • Baileys Cheesecake
  • Nutella Cheesecake
  • No Bake Lemon Cheesecake

More Favorite Cheesecakes: Sopapilla Cheesecake | Cheesecake Dip

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (8)

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No Bake Cheesecake

4.84 from 24 votes

By: Aimee

Easy to make, this No Bake Cheesecake is perfect any time of year. For a little more sweetness, top it with some Cherry Pie filling!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours

Total Time: 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 2 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ½ cup sugar
  • cup melted butter

For the cheesecake:

  • 3 packages cream cheese, softened 8 ounce each
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 12 ounce Cool Whip thawed
  • 1 can cherry pie filling 20 ounce, optional

Instructions

  • In a food processor, pulse graham crackers (about 18 full size crackers) to make 2 1/2 cup crumbs.

  • Add sugar and melted butter and pulse until blended. Divide in half, and press crumbs into the bottoms of two 8-inch pie plates. Use the bottom of a cup or the heel of your hand to press firmly (make sure to go up the sides of the plate).

  • In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with sweetened milk and lemon juice for 3-4 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

  • Fold in Cool Whip with a spoon. Pour into pie plates even over crust. Smooth tops and refrigerate pies for about 3 hours (or overnight), until ready to use.

  • Slice and enjoy, or add some cherry pie filling on top.

Notes

  • No food processor? You can find ready made graham cracker crumbs in the baking aisle of many supermarkets.
  • Use full fat cream cheese. For best results and richest taste, use regular full fat cream cheese, cool whip and butter!
  • Press the graham cracker crust up the sides of the plate. Use your hands to make sure to the crust reaches as far up the sides of the pie plates as you can.
  • Topping ideas: blueberries, strawberries, bananas, fresh pineapple or raspberries are other easy ways to change up the flavor of the cheesecake.

Nutrition

Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 180mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Easy to make, thisNo Bake Cheesecakeis perfect any time of year. For a little more sweetness, top it with some Cherry Pie filling!

No Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken no bake cheesecake filling? ›

If your cheesecake filling goes soupy in texture, don't worry—you can fix it! Just add a little gelatin to the mix, and it will set up in the fridge just fine. The trick is to use just enough gelatin so you don't end up with a jello texture for your cheesecake.

Is baked or no bake cheesecake better? ›

The key difference between baked and no-bake cheesecakes is the former's superior texture. Baked cheesecakes have a dense, fluffy, moist and smooth texture, which is not possible with the recipe for no-bake cheesecake.

How do you keep a no bake cheesecake firm? ›

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!

Can you eat a no bake cheesecake straight away? ›

No-bake cheesecakes may not need an oven, but they do need a refrigerator and several hours to chill before serving. When the filling is still above 50°F (10°C), it's soft, loose, and airy, something like a mousse, with a crust that crumbles a bit more readily.

Why is my no-bake cheesecake not firming up? ›

The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

Can you over whisk a no-bake cheesecake? ›

Runny Cheesecake mixtures

Sometimes, you can simply over whisk, or under whisk a mixture. I cannot explain the differences, as it can vary as to why! You need to make sure when whisking a no-bake cheesecake mixture that you keep an eye on the mixture constantly so you can see when it thickens up!

What is the difference between New York cheesecake and baked cheesecake? ›

Regular cheesecake relies on heavy cream and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silkier, creamier texture. New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special.

Does no bake cheesecake need to be refrigerated? ›

Yes! No-bake cheesecake must be refrigerated when it is first made to allow it to set properly. It also requires refrigerating for storage and should not sit out longer than two hours for serving. Any leftovers should also be refrigerated.

Why do you add cornstarch to cheesecake? ›

Flour or cornstarch is sometimes included in cheesecake recipes to preventing cracks. If you find that you always have problems with cracking and your cheesecake recipe does not call for any flour or cornstarch, it's ok to experiment and add some cornstarch (one to two tablespoons) to the batter when you add the sugar.

How long is Philadelphia no-bake cheesecake filling good for? ›

Keep refrigerated. Do not freeze. For best quality, use within 7 days of opening. Best if used by date shown.

Why is my no-bake cheesecake not setting on Reddit? ›

Because cream cheese is pretty firm when it's cold and not whipped, if that cheese is softer that's why it's not setting.

Why is my no bake cheesecake leaking liquid? ›

baked crust (even one with less butter) means your filling will ooze into the crust and make it soggy. Try this instead: Most importantly, you should make sure to chill the crumb crust at least 10 minutes before filling it, but even longer is better.

Can a no bake cheesecake set in 3 hours? ›

Spoon the filling into the pan on top of the crust: Smooth the top of the cheesecake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight to firm up.

Can you eat 2 week old cheesecake? ›

Prepared cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, per USDA food safety recommendations. We suggest storage in an airtight container, so it doesnt absorb any fridge odors.

How can I make my cheesecake filling thicker? ›

You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.

How do you fix a runny cheesecake filling? ›

Here are some techniques you can try:
  1. Use full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream: Using full-fat cream cheese and heavy cream can help thicken the filling and give it a smoother texture [1].
  2. Add gelatin or cornstarch: If your filling is runny, you can add a small amount of gelatin or cornstarch to thicken it up.

What can I use to thicken cheesecake mix? ›

If that is what you like then I would definitely recommend cornstarch over flour. If you want it thicker but want to keep it more creamy then I would suggest using less eggs.

How do I thicken cream cheese for cheesecake? ›

You can quickly and easily thicken cream cheese frosting with icing sugar, corn starch, or by lowering the temperature. If you don't mind the frosting getting sweeter, add 2 tablespoons of icing sugar to the frosting and mix it together until it reaches the consistency that you want.

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