Name: No Bake Cheesecake
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 390 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs; 2 tablespoons sugar; 6 tablespoons butter, (melted); 1 packet gelatin, (about 2 ¼ tsp); ¼ cup boiling water; 24 ounces cream cheese, (softened to room temp); 1¾ cups powdered sugar, (sifted); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons lemon juice, (freshly squeezed); ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, (or sour cream); 1½ cups frozen whipped topping, (thawed); 16 ounces fresh strawberries; ⅓ cup sugar; whipped cream for serving, (optional)

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Quick and easy no-bake cheesecake is topped with fresh strawberry sauce for an ideal summer dessert!

A slice of no bake cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry sauce.

No Bake For the Win!

We absolutely love cheesecake AND strawberries. Who doesn’t?

The only problem is that when the weather heats up and strawberries are in season, the last thing we want to do is turn on the oven for an hour to bake a dessert. That’s why we perfected this no bake cheesecake!

It’s creamy, it’s delicious, it’s EASY – and it’s always a hit at every function.

Why we love it:

The crust! It has an amazing Graham Cracker Crust (which might be my favorite part).
No oven necessary! Get the same great taste of a cheesecake without heating the house! This is a perfect summer dessert.
Endless toppings. From Chocolate Syrup to Strawberry Sauce, top this no bake recipe with your favorites!

Ingredients

PREP TIME: 30 minutes
CHILL TIME: 6 hours

Graham Cracker Crust

1½ cups graham cracker crumbs – Use store-bought crumbs or crush your own in a food processor.
2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons butter – melted

Cheesecake Layer

1 packet gelatin – about 2 ¼ teaspoons, gelatin powder is unflavored and unsweetened. Do not use flavored Jell-O powder.
¼ cup boiling water – it needs to be hot so that it dissolves the gelatin powder
24 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temp
1¾ cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice- freshly squeezed is the best flavor, but bottles can also work.
½ cup plain Greek yogurt – or sour cream
1½ cups frozen whipped topping – store-bought or homemade Whipped Cream thaw before using

Strawberry Topping

16 ounces fresh strawberries – or use thawed frozen strawberries.
⅓ cup sugar
whipped cream for serving, optional

Making No Bake Cheesecake

The Crust

PREP. Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
MIX. In a medium bowl stir 1½ cups graham crumbs, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 6 tablespoons melted butter.
PRESS. Press into the bottom of the springform pan, making a slight lip up the sides of the pan. Place in the freezer while you make the cream cheese layer.
Avoid hard crust. Do not add too much butter to the recipe, which hardens when refrigerated. Also, when pressing the crust into the pan, press hard enough to get a good shape and keep the crumbs in place, but not too hard.

Process images for making no bake cheesecake recipe.

How to make no bake cheesecake process image.

The Filling

GELATIN. In a small bowl, dissolve 1 packet of gelatin in ¼ cup boiling water and let sit while you make the filling.
MIX. In a large bowl use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer (or electric hand mixer) to whip 24 ounces cream cheese until very soft.
- Scrape the side of the bowl down, then mix in 1¾ cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, ½ cup sour cream, and gelatin mixture.
- Turn off the mixer and gently fold in 1½ cups whipped topping.
FILL. Take the springform pan out of the freezer and spoon the cream cheese mixture over the top, smoothing the top with a flat-edge knife or rubber spatula.
CHILL. Set in the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Speed up this process by placing the cheesecake in the freezer.

Homemade strawberry sauce for no bake cheesecake recipe.

Sugared Strawberry Topping

Make the strawberry sauce a few hours before serving the cheesecake to bring out the juices in the strawberries.

CUT. Hull 16 ounces strawberries then cut them into quarters or eighths.
SWEETEN. Toss the strawberries with ⅓ cup sugar and place them in a container in the fridge.
SERVE. To serve the cheesecake, take it out of the fridge and trace the edges of the springform pan with a thin sharp knife. Then unclamp the pan and cut it into pieces.
TOPPINGS. Top with Whipped Cream and sugared berries.

Recipe FAQ

Do I have to use a springform pan?

Line a regular cake pan with parchment paper. Once the cake has chilled completely use the parchment paper to lift the cake out of the pan.
Bake the easy no bake cheesecake in a disposable aluminum pan. Once the cake has chilled completely cut away the sides of the pan.
Serve directly from a regular pie dish. The slices will look different but will taste the same.

How do I get the right texture?

To ensure a firm texture use regular cream cheese and not low-fat variety for your cheesecake filling, do not skip adding gelatin as this will also help with firmness, and refrigerate the cheesecake for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours to get the best results.

make mini cheesecakes?

Use a silicone cupcake tray or silicone liners in a metal cupcake pan. Divide the graham cracker crust evenly and freeze. Add the cheesecake filling and refrigerate to set.

What toppings go well on no bake cheesecake?

Drizzle Caramel Sauce or Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe
Other fresh berries and fruits: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi
Top with warm pie filling, a thicker Strawberry Sauce, Blueberry Sauce, or Lemon Curd
Add chocolate shavings or shredded coconut
Whipped Cream
Sprinkle on crushed candy or cookies: Oreos, Thin Mints, Reese’s, or Snickers

How do I store no bake cheesecake?

Homemade no bake cheesecake recipe can be left at room temperature for 2 hours, otherwise, it must be chilled. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, foil, or an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Can I freeze no bake cheesecake?

Once chilled, remove the cake from the baking pan, slice it if desired, and wrap it with plastic wrap (do not add toppings). Store in an airtight container or wrap again with foil. Freeze for 3-4 months for the best quality, but it can safely be stored for 6-8 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge, add toppings!

Easy No Bake Cheesecake