This easy no-bake Cheesecake Recipe is made with just SIX ingredients! it’s a make ahead friendly no bake dessert for summer, perfect with so many different toppings!

I know this is no surprise.
With all the cheesecake recipes on The Recipe Rebel, I hadn’t yet shared the perfect easy no bake cheesecake recipe — the recipe that serves as the basis for so many of my no bake cheesecake recipes!
As fun as White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake and Key Lime Cheesecake are, sometimes you just want good old vanilla.
Simply sweetened, with just a handful of ingredients.
The perfect cheesecake for serving up with a variety of sauces and toppings: caramel, chocolate, fresh berries, citrus curds — the options are really endless!
Like many of my cheesecakes around here, this one uses minimal bowls, with minimum prep time and headache.
Even though we have big love for the The Best Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe, this one has a lot of the same great qualities but almost none of the work.
Baked cheesecake requires a few more ingredients, a few more steps, and a lot more waiting around impatiently.
With this easy cheesecake recipe, you’re going to have to wait a good long time for it to chill (that’s one step we just couldn’t take out), you’re still ready to dig in hours before you’d be slicing into a baked cheesecake.
And even though it looks like you spent a lot of time on it, you don’t need to share the truth with anyone.
But you might have to share the recipe 😉
Easy Cheesecake Recipe Ingredients
This easy cheesecake recipe is made with the simplest of ingredients! No specialty products here 😉
- Graham cracker crumbs — you can use any finely crushed cookie crumbs for the crust!
- Butter (unsalted) — is the glue that holds our crust together.
- Cream Cheese (full fat, room temperature) — is the base for our cheesecake filling. Light cream cheese has more water in it so it won’t hold up as well.
- Powdered Sugar — sweetens and thickens our cheesecake filling.
- Vanilla — simple but so good!
- Heavy whipping cream (cold!) — beat to stiff peaks, this helps our filling to hold up perfectly.
How to make this easy cheesecake recipe:
A quick recipe overview with extra tips! See the detailed recipe in the pink recipe card below.
- Start with your crust — press it in firmly so it holds up nicely.
- Beat your cream cheese — room temperature is essential for no lumps! Then beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Whip your cream and add it in: If you know me at all, I’m not going to tell you you need an extra step unless you absolutely do. In this instance, whipping the cream first separately is more fail-proof and helps the cheesecake filling to hold up.
- Fill and chill: fill the crust and chill thoroughly — this step can’t be skipped!
What are some cheesecake toppings?
This cheesecake is perfect for a party! Just set up a cheesecake topping bar and let everyone come up with their own creations.
- Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- Lemon curd
- Strawberry Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
- Rhubarb Sauce
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate chips or toffee bits
- Crushed Oreos or other cookies
- Reese’s pieces, Smarties and M&M’s
- Whipped cream (mix up the flavors if you liked)
Tools you’ll need for this cheesecake:
- I make this cheesecake in a 9″ Springform pan, but you could also make it in an 8″ Springform pan or a 9″ square baking dish.
- With no bake cheesecakes it’s very important that you use an electric mixer, but it doesn’t need to be fancy! I use the KitchenAid handheld mixer for most of my recipes.
- An offset spatula is essential for getting the top super smooth, but this is totally optional and won’t affect the way it tastes 😉
More no bake desserts you’ll love:
- Chocolate Lasagna — for the chocolate lovers!
- No Bake Biscoff Cheesecake — with warm spices and brown sugar notes.
- No Bake Mint Chocolate Cheesecake — we love this one year round!
- Peanut Butter Pie — this one never lasts long.
BEST Easy Cheesecake Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 250 grams)
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Filling
- 3 packages cream cheese (8oz each for a total of 24 oz or 750g)
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (165 grams)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream 30-35% fat ONLY
Instructions
- Line a 9″ Springform pan with parchment paper for easy removal if desired (totally optional!).
- Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a medium bowl. Press into the bottom of the pan and about 1″ up the sides.
- In a large bowl, beat room temperature cream cheese with an electric or stand mixer until it is smooth.
- Add the sugar and vanilla and beat on high until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cream cheese with a spatula or an electric mixer on low. Taste and adjust sweetness to taste.
- Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust, cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours, or overnight.
- Serve with sweetened whipped cream and toppings as desired. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Want to save this recipe?
Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.
Tried this recipe?
Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel — I love to see what you’re making!
Tag @thereciperebel
ybassile@hotmail.com says
No i i haven’t tried making this cheese cake yet. I just subscribed today, i still have to buy the ingredients. I will let you know in the future when i make it how it turned out.
Ashley Fehr says
I’d love to hear what you think!
Angela Watkins says
What else can be used for the base. I don’t think we have graham crackers in Australia
Ashley Fehr says
Any ground or crushed dry cookie crumbs will work!
Tina Maher says
Hi Ashley,
I’m making this yummy cheesecake recipe for easter, I’m going to decorate it with mini easter eggs and strawberry flowers, I’ve made the flowers out of strawberries before and they look really pretty, I’ll also put little chicks on it.
I’ll let you know how it goes.☺️🌞
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you! That sounds delicious!
Laura says
I don’t have heavy whipping cream. The container says whipping cream only, can I still use that?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes whipping cream and heavy cream will both work
Emilija says
465 calories for the whole cake or one slice?
Ashley Fehr says
Per slice
Michelle says
Delicious! And super simple. I’ve made this recipe twice and each time everybody loved it.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Michelle! I’m so glad to hear that!
Xiomara says
I Tried and is a hit, im no baker and was so easy to make, yummy!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear that!
Wendi says
Love this recipe! I decrease by one third (2 bricks cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2/3 cups cold cream) for smaller pre-made graham cracker crust. Great quick versatile dessert!!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Wendi! I’m so glad!
Betty says
I had no problems with this recipe. Followed recipe it came out good .
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Betty!
Jenny says
Is possible to make this cheesecake ahead of time, freeze, then defrost the day you need it? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
It is possible, but it may be softer after being frozen. It is best made the day before serving.
Tina says
I made this cheesecake today. I followed the recipe. No changes. It did not firm up at all. I let it set for over 6 hours. It can’t be sliced and is best served as a spoon.
Ashley Fehr says
The only reason that would happen is if the cream was not whipped to stiff peaks.
Ana Robinson says
What kind of whipped cream did you top it with?
Ashley Fehr says
Just plain sweetened whipped cream
Cassaundra says
Just asking why powder sugar vs regular sugar?
Ashley Fehr says
It helps to thicken and dissolves easily so no grainy texture
Starla Howard says
Can you make this into smaller portions, in a cupcake or mini cupcake tin?
Ashley Fehr says
You definitely can! I would probably freeze them to remove as it may be difficult to get out
Susan says
This was delicious and easy , I used the Keebler graham cracker already made pie crust I felt there was a little tooo much cream for that pie crust … but it was stillll delicious how can I show a photo of my cheese cake
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Susan! Unfortunately I don’t have a way to upload photos, but I’m glad you liked it!
Joyce Hiebert says
This is a delicious cheesecake. It would probably last 3 days in the fridge in someone else’s house….not mine. ?
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! It doesn’t last long here either!
Lori says
Do you think that half of this recipe will fill a pie crust? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes I think that would work perfectly!
Lori says
Thank, Ashley, it did work perfectly! I would have liked it a little higher, maybe two thirds would have been better, but then again I didn’t have to “taste” it ten times before I filled the crust! I used a ready made shortbread crust made by elves this time but I’ll probably make the whole recipe next time with a cookie crust. Not a big fan of graham crackers…thanks for this simple delicious recipe!
IMG_4209.jpg
Lori says
Tried to post a picture but I am technically challenged, I guess!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for sharing Lori! I’m so happy to hear you liked it! I don’t think pictures will upload properly, but I’ll have to look into adding the feature in the future!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
That looks really amazing and so easy to make!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Toni!
Suzy says
This is so creamy but so easy! Love how it came together!
Ashley Fehr says
It’s my favorite summertime dessert!
Lori says
Such and easy recipe, and it turns out perfect!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Lori!
Jessica says
Okay this is gorgeous! And I can’t believe how easy it was!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica! Easy is the way to go!
Sara Welch says
I have always loved cheesecake, but this turned out so beautifully and was so delicious! Your presentation is gorgeous, too!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sara!