No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes Recipe – Rachel Cooks®

No Stress Cheesecake!

Making conventional cheesecake will be fraught with nervousness. Making no-bake cheesecake? EASY. These no-bake mini cheesecakes are the right low effort dessert recipe as a result of though they’re easy to make, they’re scrumptious sufficient to impress.

Now, there are occasions when making a conventional cheesecake is completely value it. But when I need one thing I can whip up easy-peasy, these no-bake mini cheesecakes are at all times my first alternative. I’ve made them for many particular events and they’re at all times a success.

No-bake vs. conventional. No-bake cheesecakes depend on refrigeration to set, they usually’re most frequently made by combining whipped cream and cream cheese. Conventional baked cheesecakes get their construction from eggs they usually additionally require a considerably fussy baking course of, normally in a water bathtub, to make sure the right creamy texture. Get it fallacious and your cheesecake will crack—yikes! I’m glad to inform you right here aren’t any worries with these mini cheesecakes.

No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes

Wealthy and creamy texture. No-bake cheesecake has a unique texture in comparison with common cheesecake—equally scrumptious, however it’s a little bit like evaluating apples and oranges. The whipped cream offers the filling a creamy texture that’s fluffier than dense baked cheesecakes. It’s nonetheless wealthy, however extra mousse-like. I discover that lots of of us choose the lighter texture of those no-bake cheesecakes.

No oven required. As you’ve in all probability guessed from the identify, no-bake cheesecakes don’t require any baking time, making them good for decent summer time days or whenever you’re entertaining and oven area is at a premium! (I additionally love these no-bake peanut butter bars and this chocolate tart recipe after I need to keep away from the oven.)

Versatile flavors. You’ll be able to swap up this recipe together with your favourite add-ins and toppings and make it your individual—or set out a tray with just a few completely different taste choices at a celebration.

Ingredient Notes

• Graham crackers: Every mini cheesecake has a straightforward graham cracker crust on the underside. You’ll be able to crush your individual graham crackers (it’s simple!) or purchase a package deal of graham cracker crumbs on the grocery retailer. I discover that the DIY methodology yields coarser, extra flavorful crumbs.
• Granulated sugar: When mixed with the melted butter, sugar helps maintain the crust collectively. You don’t want so much, simply ¼ cup.
• Unsalted butter: Melted butter binds the crumbs collectively to type the crust. When the crust is chilled, the butter corporations up and so does the crust!
• Heavy cream: Whipped cream is a necessary a part of the filling. The heavy cream will whip finest if it’s well-chilled. Don’t take it out of the fridge forward of time.
• Cream cheese: In distinction to the heavy cream, the cream cheese needs to be taken out of the fridge forward of time to melt. You’ll want two 8 oz. blocks of standard cream cheese, not lowfat or Neufchâtel cream cheese which has a softer consistency.
• Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar “melts” into the filling. Common granulated sugar would have a extra grainy texture.
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice: We examined this recipe each with and with out lemon juice. For that signature cheesecake tanginess, we extremely suggest together with it.
• Vanilla extract: I like to recommend pure vanilla extract, not imitation, for the perfect taste.
• Garnish choices: Berries, pie filling, whipped cream, or chocolate shavings.

Find out how to Make No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes

Type the graham cracker crumbs. Should you’re utilizing graham crackers, place them in a meals processor and pulse till effective crumbs type. 

Combine the crust elements. Stir collectively the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Whenever you pinch the combination between your thumb and forefinger, it ought to maintain collectively.

Make the crust layer. Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners and calmly press a heaping tablespoon of the crust combination into every cup. I discover that it helps to make use of the again of a spoon or the underside of a small measuring cup. Put the pan(s) into the fridge whilst you make the filling, so the crust begins to agency up.

Make the whipped cream. Use an electrical mixer to whip the heavy cream till it kinds stiff peaks. What are stiff peaks? Whenever you elevate the beaters, the whipped cream stands straight up and the guidelines don’t fold over.

Beat the remaining elements. In one other mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract till easy and well-blended.

Mix. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese combination, being cautious to not overmix. The whipped cream needs to be blended into the cream cheese combination however if you happen to stir it vigorously, it would start to deflate.

Assemble. Spoon the filling evenly onto the crusts. I’ve discovered {that a} cookie scoop works properly to do that. Clean the tops a bit. Chill for at the least 2 hours.

Serve. Take away the no-bake mini cheesecakes from the pan. I normally peel the paper liners off however that’s completely as much as you. Garnish with desired toppings, then serve.

Recipe Variations

Modify the scale. You can also make bite-sized no-bake cheesecakes in a mini muffin pan, or serve them in shot glasses for a fancier presentation. 

Make no-bake cheesecake parfaits. As a substitute of assembling in a muffin pan, use ornamental glasses. I like to make use of a straight-sided whiskey old style glass. Add the crust, then cheesecake filling, then berries, after which repeat crust/cheesecake/berries for a reasonably parfait look. You’ll find yourself with fewer servings, relying on the scale of the glasses and the way a lot you place in them.

Make a lemon berry model. Add a candy and flavorful layer with raspberry jam or preserves like these lemon berry cheesecakes; to amp up the lemon taste, add lemon zest to the cheesecake filling.

Make forward: I don’t suggest making these no-bake mini cheesecakes greater than a day prematurely for a celebration; whereas they do last more within the fridge, they style finest inside 24 hours of assembling. 

Refrigerate: Retailer leftover no-bake mini cheesecakes in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. 

Freezer: Freeze these cheesecakes in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Allow them to thaw within the fridge earlier than serving. Should you’re making these to freeze for later, I like to recommend leaving off the toppings and including them after thawing. 

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Non-obligatory garnishes/toppings:

For the crust:

• Place graham crackers within the bowl of a meals processor; course of the crackers till they’re effective crumbs (see notice). You must have 2 cups of crumbs.

  18 complete graham crackers

• In a small mixing bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Stir till the combination resembles moist sand and holds collectively when pressed.

  ¼ cup granulated sugar, 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• Line 24 cups of a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the crust combination into every liner. Use the again of a spoon, your fingers, or the underside of a measuring cup to press the combination firmly into the underside of every liner.

• Place the crusts within the fridge to agency up whilst you put together the filling.

For the filling:

• In a big mixing bowl, with an electrical mixer, whip the chilled heavy cream till stiff peaks type.

  1 cup heavy cream, chilled

• In a separate mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract till easy and creamy.

  16 ounces (2 packages) cream cheese, softened, ½ cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese combination till well-combined and easy.

• Take away the muffin pan from the fridge. Spoon the cheesecake filling evenly over the crust in every liner, filling them virtually to the highest. I like to make use of a cookie scoop. Clean the tops of the mini cheesecakes with a spatula or the again of a spoon.

• Place the muffin pan within the fridge and chill the mini cheesecakes for at the least 2 hours, or till agency.

• As soon as chilled, take away the cheesecakes from the muffin tin. The paper liners will be left on or fastidiously eliminated if you happen to choose. Serve instantly or refrigerate the mini cheesecakes (with out toppings) in a lined container till able to serve.

• To serve, garnish the mini cheesecakes together with your alternative of recent berries, pie filling, whipped cream, and/or chocolate shavings, if desired

• Graham cracker crumbs: Should you don’t have a meals processor, put the crackers in a sturdy resealable bag. Seal it, eradicating as a lot air as doable. Use a rolling pin or wine bottle to crush the crackers contained in the bag. You can even buy graham cracker crumbs however we discovered that they weren’t as flavorful. 
• Storage: Cheesecakes will maintain within the fridge in a lined container for as much as 3 days however they’re finest if eaten inside 24 hours. They are often frozen in a freezer secure container for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge earlier than serving.
• Recipe retested and revised 11/2024. Beforehand posted as Pink Lemonade No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes.

Serving: 1cheesecake with out toppings, Energy: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fats: 9g, Saturated Fats: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fats: 2g, Trans Fats: 0.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 205mg, Potassium: 82mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 272IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 82mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Vitamin data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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