This is the only guide you need for making no-bake cheesecake, from bites to jars, to vegan and gluten-free, I share 65+ recipes plus tips to make them successful.
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Differences between no-bake and regular (baked) cheesecake.
The differences are few, but the results are very different in my opinion.
Baked cheesecake
In traditional baked cheesecakes, the filling contains eggs (and maybe other thickeners) and it is baked. This is necessary to achieve the creamy consistency we all crave and love. Besides, eating raw eggs is not advisable.
It usually has more of a velvety texture, as in the Brown Sugar Cheesecake or the insanely creamy 8-Hour Cheesecake.
No-bake cheesecake
It's simply cheesecake that is not baked. That means you never have to turn on the oven to make it, though it does require hours of refrigeration.
Or even a quick stay in the freezer as I do with my beloved Passion Fruit Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake (image above).
Clockwise from top left:
No-Bake Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cheesecake
Vegan Strawberry Cashew Cheesecake
No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Bars
Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake
No-bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Strawberry Ombre Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
No-bake Oreo Cheesecake
No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake
Mint Mocha no-bake Cheesecake
Light Rhubarb Cheesecake
Crust ingredients
The crust is an important part of this type of cheesecake. As it is eaten raw, you have to be careful what you use (no raw eggs for instance).
- The most common is the much-loved graham cracker crust, which consists of ground cookies combined with melted butter and sometimes sugar. It needs refrigeration time to solidify, so the easiest way is to pop the pan with the crust in the fridge while making the filling.
- Alternatively, you can buy a pre-made cookie pie dough and make a cheesecake pie. But take into account that the amount of filling in a cheesecake pie is usually smaller than in a regular one.
- In these modern times there are a ton of special diets cheesecakes, from vegan to gluten-free to dairy-free and so on. So crusts vary and you can probably find what adapts to you.
Tips for making a cookie crust
- Plain cookies. I strongly suggest you use plain cookies (such as graham crackers), as filled ones are way more greasy and messy when mixed with the butter.
- Sugar. You can add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar (I like brown sugar more than white) to the ground cookies before adding the butter.
- Butter. It should be melted and the final mixture must be like wet sand (image above, left). If you have dry spots after mixing it well, add a tablespoon more of butter. If you don't have enough butter the crust will crumble, it will not solidify well, especially since you're not baking it.
- Pie. If you're making a cheesecake pie or want to press the crust up the sides too (besides the bottom), make sure you press well the unions where the bottom meets the sides (image above, right). This is important so it doesn't break when you cut it. I recommend you start pressing the sides and the unions and work your way to the middle. It's easier so you don't run out of cookie mixture before securing the sides.
Clockwise from top left:
Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe
Dulce de Leche White Chocolate Cheesecake
No-Bake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake
Toblerone Cheesecake
Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
Birthday Cake No-Bake Cheesecake
Filling ingredients
- Cream cheese is the main ingredient in any traditional cheesecake. Full fat is the most used as it gives the cake a rich, creamy texture.
- Whipping cream is in many cases a key ingredient in no-bake cheesecake, especially if not adding gelatin or other stabilizing agents. The cream is whipped before being added to the rest of the ingredients and gives extra structure.
- Sugar, the white regular kind, is the main ingredient used to sweeten this dessert. Alternatives include brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, condensed milk, agave, maple syrup, other syrups, other sugars, and other sweet ingredients I probably don't know to exist. In some special diet recipes, sugar is substituted by dates for example. So there are many alternatives depending on the recipe.
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt is added to some cheesecakes to include that slightly tangy flavor that complements the richness of the cream cheese and whipped cream and the sweetness of the sugar.
- Gelatin (unflavored) is a stabilizer that adds structure but not flavor and is used in many no-bake cheesecakes, especially commercial ones that need a longer shelf life. It allows the cheesecake to hold its shape better at room temperature. Using gelatin is an extra step that many don't want as it implies special attention to temperatures in order for the gelatin to work, and you can ruin the cheesecake if used wrongly or in larger quantities than needed.
- Condensed milk is used as a sweetener (as mentioned above) but it also gives it some structure when used together with lemon and other citruses, especially after it's refrigerated. These recipes usually don't contain sugar as the condensed milk already has so much.
- Special ingredients are used in recipes that target allergies or special diet needs. For example, vegan no-bake cheesecakes don't use dairy so the 'cheese' part is many times substituted by cashews. You'll find many recipes in the last section of this post.
I'm not adding eggs to the list because, nowadays, most are egg-free due to all the potential problems we know might come from eating raw eggs. But it can be an ingredient if you have your own hens or are confident where your eggs come from or buy pasteurized eggs. Here's a link with more info.
Clockwise from top left:
No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Pie
Gluten-free Vegan Lemon Cheesecake
Keto Oreo Cheesecake Bites
Clockwise from top left:
Amarula Cheesecake
Lemon Crunch Cheesecake
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Gluten Free Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes
Special diets (vegan, gluten-free, keto)
There are many types of no-bake cheesecakes that are not traditional.
As I said before, nowadays there are many recipes specially made for allergies, and intolerances such as gluten or dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and the list goes on.
Below, and throughout this post, you have lots of links to recipes.
I don't have food allergies, or intolerances and eat a bit of everything, but there are many recipes here addressing those issues. This is by no means a source of medical o nutritional information about special diets. You should consult with a professional if you have questions about a recipe.
Clockwise from top left:
Vegan Oreo Cheesecake
Strawberry Raw Vegan Cheesecake
Mini Lemon Vegan No-Bake Cheesecake
Mango Vegan Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Raw Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake
Chocolate Coffee Cheesecake
Lime Cheesecake
Lemon-Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Clockwise from top left:
Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake
No-Bake Oreo Vegan Cheesecake
Tricolor Vegan Mini Cheesecakes
No-Bake Layered Vegan Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Low Carb Keto Cheesecake
Mini Vegan Key Lime Cheesecakes
Keto No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
No-Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Chocolate Banana Mascarpone Cheesecake
No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Easy Oreo No-Bake Cheesecake
No-bake cheesecake for a crowd
This is one of the best desserts, in my humble opinion, to make for a crowd, especially during the spring and summer months.
They can be served at graduations, birthdays, small weddings, and any other gathering that requires a no-fuss dessert that is a crowd pleaser.
With one basic recipe, you can change the crust and toppings and have several different flavors of no-bake cheesecakes.
Ideas to serve them
- Jars and cups - they can be glass or acrylic. I use yogurt jars that I wash and sterilize again, but you can buy unused mason jars or acrylic bowls, sometimes in bulk.
- Spoons - there are small plastic spoons that are used in catering for bite-sized desserts.
- Mini muffins - use paper lined muffin pans to press the cookie dough and top with your favorite no-bake filling. Refrigerate and then peel the papers or serve them so that the guests peel them. Make sure you fill them halfway so they are 2-3 bites.
- Small squares - make the cheesecake in a square pan and cut it into small squares. Be careful of the crust-filling ratio as you don't want too large pieces that might be difficult to eat. This depends a lot if you're guests have plates and forks available or not.
- Store-bought mini pies - buy already baked pie dough (for individual portions) and fill with your choice of cheesecake. You can have one dough and different flavor fillings.
Clockwise from top left:
Mini Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake
Mason Jar No-Bake Cheesecake
Individual No-Bake Cheesecakes
Mini Cherry Almond Cheesecake
Clockwise from top left:
Raw Raspberry Cheesecake Cups
No-Bake Vanilla Cheesecake Mousse (Keto)
Mini Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecakes
Mango Cheesecake Parfait
Clockwise from top left:
5-minutes Blueberry Cheesecake Dip
Mini Cheesecake with Zabaione
Healthy Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Dip
No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake Cups
Freezing
- Cheesecake freezes wonderfully and no-bake is usually no exception. I say usually because, depending on the ingredients, it might not be as creamy as baked cheesecake that is frozen. That said, I make it in advance and freeze it, especially when preparing for special gatherings or holidays.
- If you're freezing a whole cheesecake I recommend wrapping it up in plastic and then in aluminum foil. Alternatively, you can use containers that can be frozen (the lids usually are not as airtight as regular ones).
- Sometimes no-bake cheesecake can freeze rock solid, it happens with this Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, so you have to take into account the time it takes for it to become soft enough to eat. I have made that ice cream recipe as part of a frozen cheesecake dessert, so keep that in mind.
Clockwise from top left:
Cheesecake Rice Krispies Treat
Chocolate dipped No-Bake Cheesecake Bites
No-Bake Mini Raspberry Cheesecake
No-Bake Cheesecake Truffle Bites
Clockwise from top left:
Frozen Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Shirley Temple Cheesecake
Tiramisu No-Bake Cheesecake
White Chocolate Cheesecake
Variations on a no-bake cheesecake recipe
As with regular baked cheesecake, you can take a recipe for the no-bake version and easily flavor it with different ingredients.
- Change the flavor of the crust. When making a cookie crust, you can change the type of cookie you use and add a whole new different flavor combination, even with a simple filling. I suggest you use plain cookies, not filled ones, as the latter tend to be too greasy and don't blend well with the butter.
- Add zest to the filling. Citrus is a great, fast and easy way to add a different flavor. Use them on their own (I personally love tangerine), or make combinations, like triple citrus (lemon, orange, and lime) or lemon-lime. The amount of each depends on your personal taste.
- Add liquors. Change the cookie crust to match or complement the liquor you want to use. For example, chocolate crust and coffee liquor, or gingersnap crust and orange liquor, or almond crust and limoncello (and some zest too).
- Nuts. Use half the amount of ground nuts in the crust. I love graham crackers with almonds or walnuts. You can add toasted nuts in the filling too.
- Toppings. Use different toppings to completely change the flavor of a regular cheesecake filling. From jams to curds to sauces with fresh fruits, the possibilities are many.
Sauces and toppings
These can dramatically change the flavor and appearance of a cheesecake.
Extra resources
How to use Gelatin
More No-Bake Cheesecake recipes from Foodgwaker
Fruit Sauces for Cheesecake
Toppings for Cheesecake from Yummly
My favorite Cherry Sauce (image above)
Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
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Nikita says
Hi Paula, Thanks a ton for such a detailed tutorial. I have been looking for one, and my major issue in spoiling all my cheesecake is using vegetarian gelatine (carrageenan) and agar-agar... and that's the one process that I am hunting for for a fool proof way of using these two ingredients. Gelatine, unfortunately is not vegetarian.
Would you have an idea or examples of such cheesecakes? Not vegan, since vegan uses cashews and other creams and I want to get an idea of using these two ingredients, with cream cheese and heavy cream, bcoz of these ingredients, require heating up at high temperature and I wonder what will happen to cream cheese and heavy cream bcoz of heating.
Paula Montenegro says
Hi Nikita, thanks for your comment. I have never used agar-agar and don't know much about it. There are several links online, one from Lyon Eats that sounds good, but I can't talk from experience. Have a great week!
Gaby says
I've been making no-bake for years now and everyone love it! Your post is getting my creative juices flowing. Excited to try them all!
Amanda Mason says
I am in awe right with the the level of detail in this post. Wow - who knew there was so much related to cheesecake? I had no idea that cheesecake was this versatile and they fact that I can make it gluten free and vegan puts a smile on my face! Really fantastic article!
Paula Montenegro says
I know, so many options!
Neha says
Such fantastic choices! I have no clue which one to try first, they all look so delicious. Loving all the details and tips in the post also all the yum ways to serve cheesecakes.
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Neha!
Jenni LeBaron says
I tend to switch it up, making baked cheesecakes when it's cold out and no-bake when it's warm so I can avoid turning the oven on and heating up the house. This roundup of recipes looks spectacular - plenty of choices for year-round cheesecake enjoyment!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Jenni! I do the same. Love cheesecake of any kind!
Rebecca Blackwell says
Oh my word. I just drooled all over my keyboard. 🙂 Which one to try first??? I can't decide. Probably one of the ones that involve cookies. Although the raw raspberry cheesecake cups look amazing. And the Keto no bake chocolate looks positively decadent. I'm not even on a Keto diet, but I can't wait to make it. Thank you so much for compiling all these delicious looking recipes in one place!
Paula Montenegro says
I totally agree about not knowing where to begin! Have a great day Rebecca!
Anna says
No bake cheesecakes are among my favourite treats, they are so easy and hassle-free! I love them especially in the summer, when the last thing I want to do is stand next to the hot oven! They all look delicious, and can't wait to try some of them very soon!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Anna! Glad you like it.
Tammy says
I'm all about no-bake cheesecakes especially during the summer! These all look fabulous and there are so many good tips here!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Tammy!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
Wow, this is truly a comprehensive guide to no-bake cheesecakes! So many options you gave us, I am craving a cheesecake right now. Love the ones in the muffin tins, never tried making it. Thank you!
Aleta says
Cheesecake is my JAM! As much as I love to bake cheesecake, there is nothing worse then heating your oven in the middle of summer. All these tips and information is amazing! What a great post, I basically want to try every single cheesecake here!
Paula Montenegro says
No oven in the summer, I agree! Have a great week Aleta!
Flor says
Love this post! And we are needing a piece of cheesecake right now!!!
Paula Montenegro says
jajaja Flower! Te voy a hacer una especialmente.
Leslie says
I love all the recipes on here for different variations of cheesecake! This looks like the Holy Grail of cheesecake recipes!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Leslie!
Elaine Benoit says
I need every single one of these cheesecakes in my life. Hubby and I are huge fans of cheesecake and although I've made a few no-bake versions, I haven't in a while! Now the biggest question for me is which one of these delightful recipes do I try first? Decisions, decisions!
Paula Montenegro says
I'm a big fan too. Now I have a truckload of no-bake recipes. Have a good week Elaine!
Kelly Anthony says
This is an impressive post with so many delicious options. No bake options are perfect for days that are too hot to heat up the oven.
Paula Montenegro says
Completely agree kelly!
Tanya Schroeder says
Wow, there are so many great recipes here, it will hard to decide which one to try first!
Dannii says
Wow, what an amazing selection of cheesecakes. I am craving one now.
Sylvie says
This is seriously cheesecake heaven! So many incredible recipes, and I love all of your explanation on the different elements and ingredients of a baked cheesecake. Now the big question is... which one will I make first!?
Paula Montenegro says
You have all summer to make them all, jajaja!
Adrianne says
Oh yum!!! The Chocolate Peanut Butter one is my favourite!! There are so many delicious and great ideas here, I can't wait to try them all out. Thanks for a great post!!
Paula Montenegro says
Thank you for stopping by Adrianne!
Michelle says
Wow, what a fabulous post! I'm seriously drooling at all these gorgeous cheesecakes!!
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Michelle!
Heather says
Now THIS is a post for summer! So much helpful information and sooo many recipes to try. I love all the different ways to serve it too - super helpful for all those get togethers you travel to in the summer.
Paula Montenegro says
Thanks Heather, glad you liked it!