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No Bake Lemon Cheesecake Recipe


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This no bake lemon cheesecake is the right summer time dessert. A easy, creamy cheesecake filling loaded with actual lemon taste sits atop a candy vanilla wafer crust. It’s tremendous straightforward to make and also you don’t even must activate the oven!

Side view of a slice of no bake lemon cheesecake on a plate.

Why You’ll Love This No Bake Lemon Cheesecake Recipe

Lemon is one in all my favourite flavors for this time of yr and relating to cheesecake, lemon is a must have. This lemon cheesecake has so many promoting factors however listed here are just a few of the most important.

  • No baking required. I really like that you just don’t even have to show in your oven for this recipe. It takes a lot of the effort and time out of the method and retains your kitchen good and funky as the times get hotter.
  • Contemporary lemon taste. I used a hefty quantity of recent lemon juice (and lemon zest to associate with it) in an effort to get the right, pure lemon taste. Each chew tastes like a vivid ray of sunshine.
  • Creamy and refreshing. The filling for this cheesecake is creamy, gentle and refreshing. It’s a cheesecake, so it’s wealthy by nature, however the tart, vivid taste of the lemon break that richness up and make it the right gentle dessert for hotter months.
No bake lemon cheesecake on a serving platter.No bake lemon cheesecake on a serving platter.

What Makes This Recipe Work?

Including lemon taste to a no-bake cheesecake could be a little tough, as a result of including lemon juice can skinny out the filling. Positive, you would use issues like lemon jello or lemon extract, however I wished real-deal recent lemon taste straight from the lemon. To realize that taste and nonetheless have the right cheesecake consistency, I used two issues: gelatin and the powder of acid mixed with cream.

  • Gelatin – I attempted to keep away from the gelatin, as a result of I do know it may well appear intimidating to make use of for those who haven’t used it earlier than and it provides a pair extra steps. However the cheesecake simply didn’t agency up as a lot as I like with out it. That mentioned, I actually don’t take care of cheesecakes which have an excessive amount of gelatin in them. You actually style it and also you not solely sacrifice taste, but in addition texture. So I used as little as doable.
  • Acid and Cream Combination – That’s the place the acid and cream are available and assist thicken the filling a bit with out wanted an excessive amount of gelatin. How does that work? Effectively, on this cheesecake the “cream” is sweetened condensed milk. When mixed, the acid in lemon juice mainly “spoils” the milk and due to this fact thickens it. This cheesecake makes use of simply sufficient sweetened condensed milk to assist issues thicken, however not a lot that the cheesecake tastes closely of sweetened condensed milk.

Find out how to Use Gelatin

Gelatin isn’t onerous to make use of, however you do have to comply with a pair steps. The primary is to permit the powdered gelatin to “bloom”, or activate. Gelatin wants a cool liquid for this step. So, sprinkle the powder over the lemon juice and let it sit for about 5 minutes. The gelatin will activate and the lemon juice will thicken like gelatin. Microwave it for 10-20 seconds to soften it after which you may add it to your cheesecake filling (or different desserts!). 

Elements and Substitutions

Right here’s what you’ll have to make this no bake lemon cheesecake recipe. It’s a reasonably easy checklist, so it is best to be capable to discover all of it at your native grocery retailer. Make sure you scroll to the recipe card under for exact measurements.

Ingredients for no bake lemon cheesecake.Ingredients for no bake lemon cheesecake.
  • Vanilla wafer crumbs – I really like the sweetness of the cookies, however you would use graham crackers right here as a substitute.
  • Contemporary squeezed lemon juice – Contemporary actually is finest right here. Lemon juice that comes from a bottle simply doesn’t have the identical brightness to it.
  • Unflavored gelatin – I used a variety of lemon juice on this recipe, which thins the filling out. The gelatin helps issues thicken again up. I used powdered gelatin.
  • Sweetened condensed milk – Make sure to not seize evaporated milk. They aren’t the identical.
  • Cream cheese – The cream cheese needs to be at room temperature. Whether it is too chilly, it gained’t combine easily and simply with the opposite substances and also you’ll find yourself with a lumpy filling. Additionally remember to use brick-style full-fat cream cheese. The sort within the tub is thinner, as is lowered fats. Since we would like the filling to thicken correctly, these gained’t work.
  • Bitter cream – The bitter cream provides creaminess and taste to the filling that makes it extra carefully resemble a baked cheesecake.
  • Lemon zest – For a little bit further actual lemon taste. Use recent lemon zest, not jarred.
  • Heavy whipping cream – The heavy cream should be chilly. Whether it is too heat, it gained’t whip up and maintain quantity correctly and also you’ll find yourself with a flat cheesecake.
  • Powdered sugar – The powdered sugar retains the whipped cream secure. It gained’t ever wilt. Don’t depart it out.

Find out how to Make No Bake Lemon Cheesecake

Able to hop within the kitchen? Right here’s a fast overview of the right way to make this gentle, vivid no bake cheesecake. In search of extra detailed directions? Scroll to the recipe card under.

  • Make the crust. Combine collectively the substances for the crust till effectively mixed and press the combination into the underside and up the perimeters of a 9-inch springform pan. Chill within the fridge.
  • Bloom the gelatin. Add the lemon juice to a mixing bowl and sprinkle with powdered gelatin. Let stand for 4-5 minutes. Pop the combination within the microwave for 10-20 seconds.
  • Add the sweetened condensed milk. Stir the sweetened condensed milk into the lemon juice combination and put aside.
  • Beat. Beat collectively the cream cheese and sugar till easy. Combine within the bitter cream and lemon zest adopted by the cooled lemon juice combination.
  • Add quantity. Whip the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar on excessive velocity till stiff peaks kind. Fold the whipped cream into the remainder of the filling.
  • Chill. Unfold the filling into the crust and chill within the fridge for at the least 5-6 hours.
  • Put together to brighten. Free the set cheesecake from the springform pan and place it on a serving platter.
  • Make the whipped cream. Whip the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla on excessive velocity till stiff peaks kind.
  • Enhance. Pipe swirls of whipped cream across the fringe of the cheesecake and prime nonetheless you see match. I used lemon slices, raspberries, and mint leaves.
  • Chill. Refrigerate the cheesecake till able to serve.
Overhead image of no bake lemon cheesecake on a serving platter.Overhead image of no bake lemon cheesecake on a serving platter.

Suggestions for Success

  • Use a springform pan. Whereas you should use a normal pan lined with plastic wrap, a springform pan makes issues 1,000,000 occasions simpler when it comes time to take away the cheesecake from the pan.
  • Room temperature cream cheese. Begin with room-temperature cream cheese. Whether it is too chilly, it would have a troublesome time smoothing out and also you run the chance of a lumpy filling.
  • Bloom the gelatin. It is likely to be tempting to combine all the substances for the filling collectively and name it a day however, for those who don’t bloom the gelatin first, your filling gained’t thicken. Check with the part above titled “How To Use Gelatin” to be taught the way it’s performed.
  • Chilly heavy cream. The heavy cream (for the filling and the whipped cream topping) must be chilly. Whether it is too heat, it gained’t whip up and maintain quantity correctly. If it doesn’t whip up correctly, your filling and your whipped cream topping will fall flat.
  • Fold gently. When folding the whipped cream into the filling, achieve this gently in order to not knock the amount out of the whipped cream and, thus, the filling.
  • Don’t skimp on chill time. After filling the crust, you really want to relax the cheesecake for at the least 5 hours (most likely longer) till it has totally set. In any other case, if you take away it from the springform pan, it would crumble.
A slice of no bake lemon cheesecake with a bite taken out of it.A slice of no bake lemon cheesecake with a bite taken out of it.

Serving Ideas

I really like serving this no bake cheesecake with some recent fruit. However for those who’re feeling further fruity, go forward and drizzle my Strawberry Sauce, Raspberry Sauce or Blueberry Sauce excessive of your slice. This Lemon Curd could be a enjoyable addition to the highest of the cheesecake, as effectively.

How To Retailer No Bake Cheesecake

  • Fridge. Seal the totally set, chilled cheesecake in an hermetic cake provider or wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap (use toothpicks to prop the plastic away from the whipped cream topping). You can even organize slices in a single layer in an hermetic container. Retailer the leftover cheesecake within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
  • Freezer. Pop the cheesecake within the freezer for a few hours to agency up earlier than wrapping the entire thing in a double layer of plastic wrap. In any other case, organize particular person slices in a single layer in an hermetic container. This cheesecake will preserve within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Enable it to thaw within the fridge earlier than diving again in.
A slice of no bake lemon cheesecake on a plate.A slice of no bake lemon cheesecake on a plate.

Extra Lemon Desserts

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Side view of a slice of no bake lemon cheesecake on a plate.Side view of a slice of no bake lemon cheesecake on a plate.