No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: A fresh, melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake bursting with sweet and fruity strawberry flavor. This decadent No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake looks and tastes elegant, yet this dessert can be made in just under 20 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTE This recipe was updated and improved on 5/12/2023, to include the gelatin option, additional step-by-step photography, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and Pro-Chef Tips.

My elegant pink No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake is delicious anytime, especially perfect in spring and summer for picnics and parties. And it’s one of the best ways to take advantage of strawberries while they are in their peak season! Topped with fresh berries and vibrant flowers, this cake makes for an impressive treat.

Table of Contents

What is No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake?

Tools You Need for the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

Important Ingredients and Why

How to Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Can I Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake in Advance?

FAQs

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

Enjoy More No-Bake Cheesecakes

What is a No-Bake Cheesecake?

• A no-bake cheesecake has a mousse-like filling relying on whipping up cream cheese and cream and incorporating air to set.
• Gelatin is OPTIONAL in no-baked cheesecake recipes for a firmer texture.
• The filling is typically spread on a crumb crust, and the cheesecake is put in the refrigerator or freezer to chill and firm up.
• In Ireland, we eat a lot of cheesecakes like this one. My Mum made many for us growing up. She used to melt a tablet of strawberry or lemon jelly (similar to American Jell-O) and mix it in. Here’s the recipe for my ‘The Easiest No-Bake Lemon Cheesecake’. It’s still to this day one of my favorite desserts, jelly and all.

Tools You Need To Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Food processor or blender
• 9-inch springform pan (Gemma-approved!)
• Clingfilm (plastic wrap)
• Mixing bowls
• Stand mixer, hand mixer, or whisk
• Optional: resealable plastic bag, rolling pin, and fork

Important Ingredients and Why

Graham Crackers or Digestive Biscuits:

• In Ireland, I grew up on digestive biscuits, which are like a cross between graham crackers and buttery shortbread.
• You can make your own using my How to Make Digestive Biscuits recipe or Homemade Graham Crackers recipe as well.
• Alternatively, use Biscoff Cookies, Oreo Cookies, or other options from my cookies recipes! Make the crust gluten-free if needed!

Fresh Strawberries:

• Strawberries give this cheesecake its gorgeous pink color. I recommend using fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
• Frozen berries in a cheesecake can give you a too-soft result.

Granulated Sugar (aka white sugar or regular sugar):

• In no-bake desserts like this, you can use stevia or coconut sugar, or check out my Sugar Substitute Chart for more options!

Cream Cheese:

• Make sure you use room temperature block cream cheese with less water content than spreadable cream cheese from a tub.
• Using block cream cheese will help your no-bake cheesecake set firmer.

Heavy Whipping Cream:

• Heavy Whipping Cream is just natural cream skimmed from milk with a fat content of 36% to whip up well.
• Alternatively, use full-fat coconut cream.

Gelatin is optional in this recipe.

How to Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Prepare the Gelatin (OPTIONAL)

• To sponge or bloom the gelatin, sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the cold water and let it sit until the powder has soaked up all the water and expanded.
• Alternatively, you can use 2 sheets of gelatin. Soak gelatin sheets in cold water for about 5 minutes or until softened, then drain off excess water.

Make the Crust

1. Blend graham crackers or digestive biscuits in a food processor and mix with melted butter.
2. Use your hands or a spatula to press into a springform pan.

Make the Filling

1. Be sure to whip up the strawberry and cream cheese mixture until smooth before adding in the cream. This whipping will incorporate air to build up a structure to hold the cream.
2. With the food processor running, and the cream and the cooled gelatin if using.

Chill the Cheesecake

Cover with clingfilm and refrigerate for at least six hours.

Decorate the Cheesecake

Prepare this cheesecake up to 3 days in advance for convenient storage and readiness for that summer picnic or party.

Can I Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake in Advance?

Prepare this cheesecake up to 3 days in advance for convenient storage and readiness for that summer picnic or party.

FAQs

Should I use gelatin or leave it out?

• One of the best parts about this No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe is that it doesn’t contain eggs or gelatin, so it’s perfect for vegetarians!
• But you can add gelatin if: you need the cheesecake to firm up faster, to be easier to slice, or to serve it in hot weather.
• For extra sweetness and to enhance the strawberry flavor, you can use an equal amount of strawberry-flavored Jell-O instead of gelatin.

How do I make my No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake firmer without gelatin?

• Make sure you use block cream cheese with less water content than spreadable cream cheese from a tub.
• Make sure cream cheese is at room temperature to whip up until smooth before adding in cream. This will incorporate air to build up a structure to hold cream. Then whip up the mixture until it thickens up.
• Chill the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake at least six hours, preferably overnight, or freeze it to make it even firmer.

Can I make the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake if I don’t have a food processor?

• Place biscuits or graham crackers into a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag instead of a food processor. Crush the biscuits with your hands or with a rolling pin until they become fine crumbs.
• For the cheesecake filling, mash the strawberries with a fork in a mixing bowl and combine them with other ingredients.

What’s the difference between no-bake and baked cheesecake?

• Baked cheesecakes rely on eggs to set the custard.
• No-bake cheesecakes rely on whipping up cream cheese and cream to incorporate air and then chilling to set the structure. They’re egg-free with a lighter, fluffier texture.
• If you want to try a baked cheesecake, check out my Best-Ever New York Cheesecake or Burnt Basque Cheesecake.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• If you want to try a vegan and dairy-free substitute for whipping cream or heavy cream, try whipping coconut cream instead.
• Wrap the bottom piece of your springform pan with parchment paper or tin foil, then assemble the pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with tinfoil to further prevent leakage.
• I saw a gorgeous cheesecake decorated with flowers by ‘Call Me Cupcake’ on Pinterest. That’s where I got the inspiration to adorn my beautiful No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake. I adore Linda Lomelino’s recipes and think you should definitely check out her blog.
• If you’re looking for more ways to use fresh strawberries, check out my Strawberry Shortcake, Sublime Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler, Strawberry Cornmeal Quick Bread, and Strawberry 3-Ingredient Microwave Jam.

Enjoy More No-Bake Cheesecakes:

• Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Single Serve Funfetti Cheesecake
• Fudge Brownie Cheesecake
• Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
• Single Serve Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake

IMPORTANT NOTE This recipe was updated and improved on 5/12/2023, to include the gelatin option, additional step-by-step photography, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and Pro-Chef Tips.

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