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Quick and easy no-bake cheesecake is topped with fresh strawberry sauce for an ideal summer dessert!
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.
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.
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.
More Like This
- More cheesecake: No Bake Cheesecake Bars, Jello Cheesecake, Lemon Cheesecake
- More no bake recipes: No Bake Oreo Cheesecake, No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake, No Bake Snickers Cheesecake
More collections: Cheesecake Recipes, Summer Desserts, 4th of July Desserts
No Bake Cheesecake
This quick and easy no-bake cheesecake is ideal for summer and can be topped with fresh strawberries or your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
Cheesecake Layer
- 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
Strawberry Topping
- 16 ounces fresh strawberries
- ⅓ cup sugar
- whipped cream for serving, optional
Instructions
For the Graham Cracker Crust
- Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl stir graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter.
- 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.
For the Cheesecake Layer
- In a small bowl, dissolve 1 packet of gelatin in ¼ cup boiling water and let sit while you make the filling.
- In a large bowl use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer (or electric hand mixer) to whip cream cheese until very soft.
- Scrape the side of the bowl down, then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, sour cream, and gelatin mixture.
- Turn off the mixer and gently fold in 1½ cups whipped topping.
- Then take the springform pan out of the freezer and spoon the cheesecake layer overtop, smoothing the top with a flat-edge knife or spatula.
- Set in the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours, or overnight. You can also speed up this process by placing the cheesecake in the freezer.
For the Sugared Strawberries
- A few hours before serving, make the sugared strawberries. This brings out the juices in the strawberries.
- Hull 16 ounces strawberries then cut them into quarters or eighths. Toss the strawberries with ⅓ cup sugar and place them in a container in the fridge.
- 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.
- Top with whipped cream and sugared berries.
Notes
Serving. Do not leave out for longer than 2 hours.
STORE. This homemade no bake cheesecake must be chilled. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge for 5-7 days.
FREEZE. 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!
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece, Calories: 428kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 313mg, Potassium: 175mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 950IU, Vitamin C: 22.5mg, Calcium: 87mg, Iron: 0.8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
What type of gelatin are you referring to? I have sheets.
Thanks
Is the lemon juice necessary? Does it give it a lemon taste?
It gives it the mildest hint of flavor but it doesn’t have a strong lemon vibe. It compliments everything really well. I think you’ll enjoy it!
Perfect dessert for the hot summer heat here in South Texas, my family loves it
Mmm yes, such a great option for these hot summer days! So glad your family loves the cheesecake!
I do not like bakedvcheesecake at all. Give me No Bake any day of the werk!
Hope you enjoyed this no bake recipe!
Love anything with Strawberries 🍓 thanks for sharing! 🥰
Made this for the holidays last year and it was so good! I will definitely be making this again!
Why, every time I make a graham cracker crust, it gets hard and difficult to cut?
Here are a few ideas as to why it might be hard…. 1) Added too much butter to the recipe, which hardens when refrigerated. 2) Pressing too hard when forming the crust to your pan. You want to press hard enough to get a good shape and keep the crumbs in place, but no need to press too hard. 3) The crust got overcooked (not applicable in this recipe though since it’s a no-bake recipe). If using a crust for a baked recipe, you can try lowering the temperature or shortening the cooking time next time.
Thank you for your help.
You’re welcome!!
My dad is obsessed with cheesecake so I made him this for his birthday and it was a hit!
The cheese cake tuRned out smooth. I Like adding a mixed berry compost so i use that i stead Of just strawberrieS.
No-Bake desserts are perfect for summer! No need to heat up the kitchen, when you can have this delicious dessert. So rich and creamy. I love adding fresh summer fruit on top too.