No Bake Cheesecake

A reader, Nanjee, says: “The versatility of this dessert is fantastic—it can be dressed up with fresh fruit, homemade preserves, or even store-bought sauces. The idea of using a 9-ingredient base to create such a creamy and adaptable cheesecake is brilliant.” ★★★★★

This no-bake cheesecake is the perfect choice when you’re looking for an impressive-looking (and tasting!) treat that’s super low-lift. I developed my easy no bake cheesecake recipe to have the flavor of a baked cheesecake without all the fussiness of the baked version. It only requires 9 ingredients and the filling is simply whipped together.

Best yet, you don’t have to deal with a water bath or even need to turn on the oven! Since you don’t have eggs or need to bake it, there’s no risk of the cheesecake cracking or water making the crust soggy. This cheesecake is virtually fool-proof! Just pop it in the fridge to set up for a clean and stable slice. When ready to serve, simply top off each slice with fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, cherry pie filling, or any of your favorite cheesecake toppings.

Key Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients you need to make the best no bake cheesecake. You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.

Graham Cracker Crumbs — if you have whole graham crackers, they’re easiest to crush using a food processor. Don’t have one? Not to worry — you can also put the graham crackers in a zip-top plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Alternatively, feel free to use a box of pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.

Unsalted Butter — I personally prefer the unadulterated flavor of buttery grahams, but if you’re a fan of salty sweets, feel free to use salted butter instead.

Cream Cheese — make sure you’re reaching for block-style cream cheese instead of the whipped variety that comes in a tub.

Sour Cream — in a pinch, you can substitute with full-fat Greek yogurt!

Lemon Juice — the acidity helps to thicken the no-bake cream cheese filling, plus I love the faint hint of lemony flavor. Fresh lemon juice tastes better than bottled, plus you get the option of adding a few rasps of zest if you are looking for a more citrusy flavor profile.

Powdered Sugar — using powdered sugar ensures the no-bake cheesecake filling is perfectly silky smooth and helps it to set. If you’re fresh out, you can easily make your own using granulated sugar, cornstarch (or potato starch), and a food processor.

Vanilla Extract — for adding depth and warmth to this easy recipe. Feel free to use an equal amount of vanilla paste or vanilla powder!

Heavy Whipping Cream — there’s no Cool Whip in this from-scratch no bake cheesecake, so to achieve the perfectly light consistency of cheesecake without baking, we’ll whip cream to stiff peaks and fold it into the cream cheese mixture. While heavy whipping cream is preferred, you can use regular whipping cream so long as it has a minimum 30% milkfat.

How Does No Bake Cheesecake Set?

The secret is in the whipping of cream cheese! When I developed this recipe, I wanted the method to be simple and easy, so I chose not to include gelatin (often used in no-bake desserts) because you have to bloom and dissolve it, and then mix it in just right.

A block of cream cheese is firm on its own when it’s cold, and when you whip it, it holds onto air and turns fluffy (think about cream cheese frosting!). Once whipped and rechilled, it turns into a fluffy, creamy (and sturdy) cloud. Since a no bake cheesecake doesn’t include eggs, I added some whipped cream for the richness and to lighten the texture ever so slightly. Because this cheesecake isn’t baked, it does need to be thoroughly chilled and stay cold to hold its proper texture.

Crust Variations To Try

A graham cracker crust is going to be the most classic option, but if you want to take a little twist on the recipe, try one of these other crusts.

• Oreo crust: Make the crust from my Oreo cheesecake and freeze it instead of baking it before you add the no-bake cheesecake filling. You can use any regular filling Oreos, whether that’s original or a flavored version; just avoid Double Stuf or Mega Stuf because the extra filling can make the crust too sticky and pasty instead of perfectly crumbly.
• Use other crispy cookies: Swap the graham crackers for fine ground Biscoff cookies, buttery shortbread cookies, or vanilla wafers, or any crispy cookie you like! You may need to add a little bit more melted butter to the crust depending on the type of cookie you use. To test, mix the butter into the cookie crumbs, then pinch the mixture together. If it doesn’t hold together, add another tablespoon or two of melted butter and test it again.
• Lose the gluten. To make a gluten-free no-bake cheesecake, simply swap in the gluten-free graham crackers or cookie crumbs of your choice!

Pro Tips For Making The Best No Bake Cheesecake

Get a mini arm workout. (But it’s an easy one!) There’s so little cream in this recipe that it doesn’t quite get whipped in the base of a stand mixer. I suggest using your hand mixer, or even a balloon whisk and some elbow grease. Don’t forget to start with cold cream fresh from the fridge. Consider chilling your bowl and beaters/whisk to make it even quicker to whip up!

Don’t rush the chilling step! You want to make sure your homemade no-bake cheesecake fully sets up before slicing.

Get creative! This velvety smooth cheesecake is a versatile dessert that can be topped just about any way you wish! In the heat of summer, try rosettes of sweetened whipped cream, macerated fresh berries, or prepared cherry pie filling for a pop of color and refreshing fruitiness. No fruit? No problem! A simple dark chocolate ganache or caramel sauce can be drizzled on top for a deliciously decadent spin!

How To Make No Bake Cheesecake

Here are some helpful process images along with steps for making no bake cheesecake. You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

1. In a medium bowl, stir together melted butter, crushed graham cracker crumbs, and sugar until combined. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Freeze while preparing the no-bake cream cheese filling.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the cream cheese, sour cream, and lemon juice.

3. Pour in the powdered sugar and vanilla to the bowl with the cream cheese. Beat on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.

4. In a medium bowl, vigorously whisk the cream until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.

5. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until just combined.

6. Pour the no bake cheesecake filling into the frozen crust, using a small offset spatula to smooth into an even layer. Cover top with plastic wrap and chill for 6 hours or up to overnight.

How To Serve

Top your creamy no bake cheesecake with any of your favorite cheesecake toppings! Cherry pie filling, strawberry topping, homemade caramel sauce, or hot fudge all work very well. You can even spread a layer of lemon curd, raspberry jam, or dulce de leche on top after the filling as set. Or, go simple with assorted fresh berries or chopped fruit and fresh whipped cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cheesecake Recipes To Try Next

There’s a cheesecake for every occasion, and these are some of my favorite recipes!

If you’re a lover of a New York style cheesecake, then you must try my classic cheesecake recipe. It’s a no-fail recipe made without a water bath!

My peanut butter cheesecake is the perfect combination of sweet n’ salty with a peanut butter cheesecake base topped with a decadent chocolate ganache.

My strawberry cheesecake and lemon cheesecake are perfect fruit-topped desserts for summer gatherings or barbecues. Make the cheesecake a day or two in advance and just add the fruit topping before serving.

If you’re looking for an excellent Thanksgiving dessert, try my pecan pie cheesecake! A classic cheesecake base is topped with a gooey brown sugar pecan mixture that’s reminiscent of a pie filling.

If you’ve tried this no bake cheesecake recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!