Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

This No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake is the perfect balance of light, airy, rich, and creamy. This fruity dessert is made with a buttery lemon Oreo crust, lemon cream cheese filling, and homemade whipped topping.

Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (1)

Easy No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake with Lemon Curd

I am always surprised by lemon desserts. Lemon isn’t usually my go-to, although I’ll never pass up a lemon bar. But the more I make lemon desserts, the more I appreciate just how amazing they are.

Now, I’ve made dozens of no-bake desserts, but up until now, I was missing a classic No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake. This is bursting with a tart lemon flavor balanced with a sweet cheesecake filling. For the crust, I found lemon Oreos which just helps amplify the flavor. This would pair well with some fresh berries too.

Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed for Lemon Cheesecake

This lemon cheesecake recipe is made up of three simple components: the lemon Oreo crust, the lemon cream cheese filling, and a homemade whipped topping! Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Crust

  • Lemon Oreos – I love to give the cheesecake even more lemon flavor by grinding up Lemon Oreos for the crust. You can also easily swap the lemon Oreos out for golden Oreos or use homemade graham cracker crust instead.
  • Unsalted Butter

For the Filling

  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Cream Cheese – use a bar of full-fat cream cheese for the best results. Be sure to bring it room temperature.
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Lemon Curd
  • Lemon Zest – you can easily zest a lemon using either a lemon zester or a cheese grater.

For the Topping

  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Lemon Slices – thinly sliced for garnish! Or top with fresh berries.

How to Make Lemon Cheesecake

Make the Crust

  1. Grind the cookies. Use a food processor or blender to grind the Oreos into a fine crumb.
  2. Assemble the crust. Melt butter in the microwave, then pour over the cookie crumbs. Stir until well-coated, then press the mixture into a greased springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Make the Filling

  1. Make a batch of whipped cream. Chill the bowl to your electric mixer in the freezer for 10 minutes. Once chilled, beat the cream until it’s thickened to soft peaks. Next, add the powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
  2. Mix the filling. Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add in granulated sugar and beat until well combined then mix in lemon curd and lemon zest.
  3. Assemble and chill. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese filling until well combined, then pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours.

Make the Topping

  1. Make more whip. Prepare the second batch of whipped cream to decorate with. Use a large open round tip to pipe the whipped cream around the border of the cheesecake.
  2. Garnish and serve. Add thinly sliced lemons or fresh fruit prior to serving.
Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (3)

My Best Advice For No-Bake Cheesecake

  • Use full-fat cream cheese blocks. It’s the key to a rich and creamy texture and prevents the cheesecake from being too watery.
  • Bring the cream cheese to room temp. Room temperature cream cheese blends into the filling more smoothly for a creamier texture.
  • If you don’t have a springform pan, you can make it in a 9-inch square pan or double the recipe and make it in a 9×13″ baking dish for a large crowd. Slice and serve as bars.
  • When you’re ready to remove the cake from the pan, unhinge the spring then run a flat-edged knife around the outside of the pan to release the crust from the side.
  • To get the perfect slice, run a knife under hot water, dry it well, then slice. Repeat between slices for a super clean cut.

How to Store It

Once it’s fully chilled in the pan, you can slice it and transfer it to an airtight container, or you can leave it in the pan and tightly wrap the pan with plastic wrap.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheesecakes

How long does cheesecake last in the fridge?

Fully assembled no-bake cheesecake will last covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze cheesecake?

Yes. Prepare as instructed, and allow it to set in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours until set. Then double wrap the pan in plastic wrap. Freeze for one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, add toppings and serve.

How long does no-bake cheesecake take to set?

I recommend allowing a minimum of four hours to set. If you can touch the top without your finger sinking, it should be good to go.

Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (4)

More Lemon Desserts You’ll Love

  • Lemon Cupcake Recipe
  • No-Bake Blackberry Lemon Cheesecake
  • Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Lemon Ice Cream Pie

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Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (5)

No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Chill Time: 4 Hours
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 10 slices
  • Category: Cheesecake
  • Method: No-Bake
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This classic No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake is a light and airy lemon cheesecake filling made with lemon curd and an Oreo crust.

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1 package (15.25 oz) Lemon or Golden Oreos
  • 7 tablespoons (98g) unsalted butter

For the Filling:

  • 1 1/4 cups (295ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup (65g) powdered sugar
  • 16 ounces (452g) full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (95g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (96g) lemon curd
  • 1 medium lemon, zested

For the Topping:

  • 3/4 cup (177ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons (24g) powdered Sugar
  • Lemon Slices for garnish

Instructions

For the Crust:

  1. Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by lightly greasing the edges of the pan with cooking spray, and then wiping gently with a paper towel. Alternatively you can use a cake collar instead. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  2. Grind the cookies into a fine crumb using a food processor or blender. In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds. Pour the melted butter over the cookie crumbs and stir until the crumbs are well coated. Pour the crumbs in the prepared springform pan and press firmly into the bottom and up on the sides to create a thick crust. Refrigerate the crust while you are preparing the filling.

For the Filling:

  1. Prepare the whipped cream. Chill the bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes before starting. Beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until it reaches soft peaks.Add the powdered sugar and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
  2. Beat the softened cream cheese until it’s completely smooth, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Next add the granulated sugar continue beating until well combined. Then add the lemon curd and lemon zest and beat until well combined and smooth.
  3. Finally, fold the prepared whipped cream into the cream cheese filling and stir until well combined. Pour the filling in the prepared crust.
  4. Refrigerate 4-6 hours or until the filling has set.

For the Topping:

  1. Prepare a second batch of whipped cream following the same instruction of above.
  2. Pipe the border using a large open round tip and garnish with thin slices of lemons.

Equipment

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 538
  • Sugar: 27g
  • Sodium: 182mg
  • Fat: 44g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 161mg

Filed Under:

  • Cheesecakes
  • Easter
  • No-Bake Desserts
  • Recipes with Videos

This recipe originally appeared on Food Fanatic.

Easy Lemon Cheesecake - No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to the best cheesecake? ›

The main trick with cheesecake is gentle, coaxing heat. Just as you want them to cook slowly, you also want them to cool gradually. Quick changes of temperature upset the structure of the cake, causing cracks. For a moister, creamier cake, turn off the heat when the center's still loose and let cool in the oven.

How do you keep a no-bake cheesecake firm? ›

Sometimes, a no-bake cheesecake filling can turn “soupy” in texture. Don't worry, we can rescue it! If your cheesecake filling goes soupy in texture, don't worry—you can fix it! Just add a little gelatin to the mix, and it will set up in the fridge just fine.

Why didn't my no-bake cheesecake set overnight? ›

The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

Is no-bake cheesecake as good as baked cheesecake? ›

They both are great in their own way. It all narrows down to your personal preferences. If you enjoy dense and velvety cake, a baked cheesecake is the one for you. Or if you crave some light and airy dessert post-dinner, go for the no-bake one.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

Cold ingredients are a big no-no when it comes to cheesecake. If your ingredients are cold you will have to mix them longer which will whip too much air into your batter. If the cake has too much air, it will rise too much in the oven and then the middle will sink when cooling. Nobody wants a sad, sunken cheesecake.

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

Why is my no bake cheesecake base so hard? ›

If your cheesecake base is too hard – this can be down to a few things, such as brands of biscuits, too much butter, or a really cold fridge (or if you froze the cheesecake). Generally I stick to a rule of about 100-150g of butter in a biscuit base.

How to tell if no bake cheesecake is set? ›

Try this: The cheesecake should be shiny and firm to the touch when set. You can move the cheesecake to the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing, but freezing any longer will make for a frozen cheesecake without the same delightfully creamy texture as the just-refrigerated version.

Can you leave no bake cheesecake out overnight? ›

Thus, cheesecake is perishable. Even if your recipe is traditional in that you bake your cheesecake (no-bake recipes don't contain eggs), once it has had a chance to cool outside the oven (about an hour), it must go back in the fridge.

How to thicken no-bake cheesecake filling? ›

Gelatin is great for adding firmness, while cornstarch can thicken the mixture without making it too firm. Just make sure to dissolve the gelatin or cornstarch in a little bit of warm water before adding it to the filling.

Can you eat a no-bake cheesecake straight away? ›

No-bake cheesecakes may not need an oven, but they do need a refrigerator and several hours to chill before serving.

Will my no-bake cheesecake set faster in the freezer? ›

Obviously, the goal is to create a firm cheesecake filling, similar to a baked cheesecake filling. After the chill time, if your cheesecake still isn't firm enough, you can freeze it to help it set up. Be careful not to freeze it too long unwrapped though; it can cause the texture to become gritty.

Should you bake the crust of a no bake cheesecake? ›

While a traditional cheesecake does call for pre-baking the crust, I find it isn't necessary for a no-bake cheesecake because the melted butter works as glue to hold the graham cracker crumbs together for neat and tidy slices. The melted butter hardens in the refrigerator and works perfectly.

Can you eat Philadelphia no bake cheesecake filling? ›

Yes, Philadelphia makes a 24-ounce tub of pre-made cheesecake filling that you can use directly from the fridge—no baking necessary. The tub has everything you want from the sugary, sweet, cream cheese filling of a cheesecake, and it's ready to serve as-is.

How do you get a no bake cheesecake out of the pan? ›

place your hand underneath the springform tin and just open the clip. then use your butter knife and run it all around the edge of the cheesecake. as it starts to loosen from the edge. fully release the springform tin.

What makes cheesecake taste so good? ›

The major component of this dessert's delicious flavour is undoubtedly high-quality cream cheese. After that, you add sugar, full cream, or sour cream. For a baked variant, some recipes ask for eggs and flour, while those for unbaked cheesecakes call for gelatin or its plant-based equivalent (agar-agar).

What's the difference between a New York style cheesecake in a classic cheesecake? ›

New York cheesecake is heavy on the cream cheese which is why it's so dense and rich. Extra cream cheese isn't the only thing that makes New York cheesecake so special. It also includes extra eggs and egg yolks to provide and smooth consistency.

What are the qualities of a good cheesecake? ›

One of the best things about cheesecake is the texture: velvety, smooth, thick, creamy, and with a beautiful melt-in-the-mouth sweetness. Without these characteristics, cheesecake would miss the air of indulgence we know and love.

Which baking method is best for cheesecake? ›

Classic Cheesecake Recipe. Look no further for a creamy and ultra smooth classic cheesecake recipe! Paired with a buttery graham cracker crust, no one can deny its simple decadence. For the best results, bake in a water bath.

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