What is no-bake cheesecake?
Just in case you’re only familiar with the traditional baked cheesecake, the no-bake variation is what the name implies: it’s never baked so it’s perfect for summer or when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
I made a Complete Guide to No-Bake Cheesecake that you absolutely must read if you like this type of dessert.
Ingredients in a no-bake cheesecake include cream cheese and sugar or condensed milk (as I did with this recipe), whipped cream, maybe sour cream and flavorings. What it doesn’t include is egg because we should not eat raw eggs and all that. This is why some use gelatin, to give it structure, something that happens when you add eggs and bake a cheesecake.
I marbled the top of mine with the passion fruit curd (image above) and flavored it with lemon because these two flavors bring out the best in each other.
Making curd at home.
The most common citrus curd is lemon, but I made mine with fresh passion fruit pulp and seeds (image above). The process is similar to making pastry cream, sort of.
It is an extra step, but you can easily make this no-bake cheesecake with purchased curd or even a good raspberry jam. It pairs wonderfully with the lemon in the cheesecake.
Remember to marble the top of the cheese filling but not overdo it. You want to bite into pools of curd separated from the cheese.
Tips & tricks for this recipe:
- Cookie base: you can use a regular graham cracker base and it will save you time (not browning the butter and all that).
- Curd: you can use purchased curd (lemon is easily available) or use a good raspberry jam.
- Freezing: you have to freeze and then take it out when you’re ready to serve. You can also add gelatin so you can keep it in the fridge. Instructions are in the recipe below.
- Pan: you can use a regular 9-inch cake pan with a removable bottom and make half the recipe.
Other recipes you might like:
Coconut Cupcakes with Passion Fruit Filling
Strawberry Passion Fruit Caipirinha (a cocktail)
Sweet Blackberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Margarita Lime Pie
Orange Ricotta Cheesecake
Let me know if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it.
Thank you for being here, I appreciate it! Let’s connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Cuisine:
Print
PinIngredients
For the passion fruit curd:
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 ½ cups passionfruit pulp with seeds and juice
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 7 oz 200g unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
For the no-bake lemon cheesecake:
- 2 cups graham crackers or vanilla wafers crumbs
- ½ cup (115g) butter, browned and cooled (find step-by-step instructions here)
- 1 pound + 5oz (600g) cream cheese, room tº
- 2 cups (500g) whipping or heavy cream, room tº
- 1 can condensed milk
- Zest of 2 lemons
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup passionfruit curd
Instructions
For the curd:
- In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar for 1 minute. Add passion fruit pulp, lemon juice, mix well and reserve.
- In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, melt the butter without letting it boil. Add the yolk mixture, and cook over low/medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Don’t let it boil.
- Transfer to sterilized jars or a container and keep refrigerated. Makes about 2 ½ cups.
For the no-bake lemon cheesecake:
- Prepare a crumb base mixing crumbs with the brown butter until it resembles wet sand. Line a 9×13-inch (23x33cm) pan with 2-inch sides with aluminum foil, letting it hang over the two long sides (the short sides won’t have foil). Pat the crumb mixture evenly over bottom. Refrigerate while making the filling.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add cream and beat for 2 or 3 minutes, until beginning to thicken. Add condensed milk, lemon zest and mix well.
- Pour over prepared base. Add dollops of passionfruit curd all over the batter, and with a knife, swirl it lightly.
- Refrigerate for 2 hours and then freeze until ready to serve.
- Take out of the freeze about 15 minutes before serving. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- If you want to add gelatin to it, use 1 teaspoon unflavored powder dissolved in 5 teaspoons cold water. Melt it over a stove, the bowl barely touching the flame, let it cool to lukewarm and add it to the cream cheese mixture before pouring it into the mold. If you’re not used to working with gelatin but want to, here’s a tutorial.
- About the passion fruit pulp, I simply mash it with a fork as much as I can. It ends with some thicker parts, but I like that. And it’s much simpler. If you want a very smooth pulp, strain it to extract as much juice as you can, separate the seeds, and process the pulp. Add it to the juice with the seeds. I don’t see the point in doing this.
Tips & tricks for this recipe:
- Cookie base: you can use a regular graham cracker base and it will save you time (not browning the butter and all that).
- Curd: you can use purchased curd (lemon is easily available) or use a good raspberry jam.
- Freezing: you have to freeze and then take it out when you’re ready to serve. You can also add gelatin so you can keep it in the fridge. Instructions are in the recipe below.
- Pan: you can use a regular 9-inch cake pan with a removable bottom and make half the recipe.
Keywords: passion fruit curd, passion fruit cheesecake, no-bake cheesecake
Your swirl on top is amazing – I'm jealous of your swirling skills! I bet this cheesecake smells so wonderful!
What a sweet daughter you are. I could totally relate to doing a happy dance at hearing of unexpected treats in my freezer. 🙂 Honestly, I have a weird aversion to the little seed in passion fruit – they kind of freak me out. HOWEVER, these look so good that I must get past my neurosis.
I like the flavor SO much, I think it's worth it to pick the seeds out…
Hola Paula: Menudo trabajo que has tenido, pero valió la pena. Tiene una pinta fabulosa, voy a preparar muy pronto. Saludos.
Gracias Celeste! Si la hacés espero que te guste!
I can see why they were the hit of the party. I imagine it would be a lot of fun to be at your parties. Thanks, Paula.
I really love the tropical aroma of passionfruit. These cheesecake bars look fantastic.
Paula,
The party sounds fabulous. . and aren't you the BEST for cooking and baking all of this food? . . and for saving some of the cheesecake for your father's girlfriend?! I bet she loves you now 🙂 and dude, I love Nigella. . the passion fruit curd sounds amazing! yummm!
I bet you created quite a feast for your dad (happy birthday to him again!). These cheesecake looks fantastic-I want to dip a spoon into that jar of passionfruit curd.
I am not surprised this cheesecake was success, it looks so good! And passion fruit curd sounds so interesting and delicious!
Browned butter crust – oh yea!! And what a cheesecake too. I can see why everyone was so happy to get this sweet treat.
I am fascinated by the passion fruit curd and think it is gorgeous! I'm not usually a cheesecake fan, but the lemony fruit curd would definitely have me grabbing a piece. And what a nice change from brownies when one wants an easy-to-make bar!
Paula, I can just see the spread of food that you prepared – I am sure that all guests and your dad were seriously impressed and happy and then this lovely looking dessert…it sounds wonderfully tart and juut perfect after a wonderful meal and for a birthday celebration – I would do a little dance myself for these (and I am by no means talented in any shape or form in the dance department) – have a blissful Thursday, Paula!
Wow, that looks insanely good! I love passion fruit and it's even better that it's no-bake. Yay! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe Paula!
This sounds & looks amazing! I want a spoon and that jar!
I adore passion fruit and your curd looks perfectly mouth-watering! I was hoping to get some passion fruit from my in-law's garden. Too bad, somehow there was 0 fruit on the tree this year. 🙁 I guess I'll have to head to the market and get some to make this. Looks scrumptious.
I never saw where they grow. I would be very happy to have them in my backyard!
Yummy! I would do a happy dance too if I were given some of these delectable squares:D
These bites sound heavenly with the brown butter crust!
I so wish I could get my hands on some passionfruit! I would definitely make this gorgeous cheesecake!
I'd do a happy dance, too, if I knew your bars were squirreled away in my freezer. Gorgeous, as always, Paula. Trust your papa was a very happy man on his birthday =)
Oh my- I love passion fruit and this cheesecake looks like such a scrumptious way to use it!
I just discovered passion fruit this summer and I can't believe how beautiful the flavor is. I bought a bunch of them and was at a loss for how to use them, wish I'd seen this!