Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe

Southern Living Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake sliced on a platter to serve — Photo:
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Active Time:

35 mins

Total Time:

4 hrs 50 mins

Servings:

10 to 12

A true no-bake dessert, this is the recipe to reach for when it's sweltering but you still want to enjoy something sweet. Even the graham cracker crust sets in the freezer, not the oven.

Meanwhile, the filling simply combines cream cheese, whipped cream, and sour cream to create a cheesecake-like texture without any baking. The result is a light and creamy treat perfect for a summer get together.

Just make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature before mixing or you’ll risk a lumpy cheesecake. (Seriously, let it sit out on the counter for a couple hours.) You can even cut the blocks down into cubes and arrange them into a single layer on a plate to help the cream cheese soften faster.

Our main recipe is topped with berries because in the summer they’re in season and often too good to pass up. Stick with your favorite berry or choose an assortment.

If you want to get a little fancy, use some edible flowers on top—they’re the kind of effortless finishing touch that instantly makes any dessert look extra impressive.

The other two variations provide even more ways to enjoy this no-bake dessert. One has a chocolate wafer cookie crust, swirls of cherry preserves, and cherries on top. The other uses peak season peaches and gingersnaps in the crust. Whichever flavor you choose, you’ll be happy you didn’t have to turn the oven on to make it.

Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 15 graham cracker sheets)
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar, plus 1/4 cup, if desired, sifted
1/4 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest plus 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups assorted fresh berries (such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries)
Edible fresh flowers (optional)
Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions

Coat a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Stir together graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar in a large bowl; add melted butter, and stir until well combined.

Press graham cracker mixture into bottom and about 3/4 inch up sides of prepared pan. Freeze, uncovered, while preparing filling, about 15 minutes.
Beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup of the powdered sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low speed just until combined, 30 seconds to 1 minute; scrape down sides. Add additional 1/4 cup powdered sugar, if desired. Increase mixer speed to medium; beat until smooth and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add sour cream, lemon zest and juice, vanilla, and salt; beat on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Set aside.
Whisk heavy whipping cream in a large bowl by hand until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture just until combined. Spoon cream cheese mixture into chilled crust, smoothing top. Chill, covered, until set, at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
To serve, carefully remove sides of springform pan, and place cheesecake on a plate. Top with berries; garnish with flowers and mint, if desired.

Chocolate-Cherry No-Bake Cheesecake

Prepare recipe as directed, substituting 2 cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies for graham cracker crumbs in Step 1. Swirl 1/4 cup cherry preserves into cream cheese mixture in chilled crust in Step 3. Substitute 1 cup fresh or jarred pitted Bing cherries for berries in Step 4; omit flowers and mint.

Peach-Ginger No-Bake Cheesecake

Prepare recipe as directed, substituting 2 cups crushed gingersnaps for graham cracker crumbs in Step 1. While cheesecake chills, stir together 2 Tbsp. honey and 1 pitted and thinly sliced large (8-oz.) fresh peach in a medium bowl; let stand for 30 minutes. Substitute peach mixture for berries in Step 4; omit flowers and mint, and garnish with chopped candied ginger.

Any-Berry No-Bake Cheesecake

Ingredients

Directions

Chocolate-Cherry No-Bake Cheesecake

Peach-Ginger No-Bake Cheesecake

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