Keto No Bake Cheesecake

An easy Keto No-bake Cheesecake recipe that’s so rich and creamy you’d never know it is sugar-free. Made with a super smooth filling and a light crust, our no-bake cheesecake is easy and perfect for the whole family. Oh and did I mention it’s based on our Classic Keto Cheesecake recipe?!

Making homemade cheesecake can be tricky, some might even say it can be temperamental. If you are one of those that feel that way, you are going to love our new recipe for NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE. 

When you don’t have to bake cheesecake, it’s way easier! No guessing as to whether the cheesecake has been set, if you overcooked it, or if it cracks. Simply put….it’s such an easy dessert! 

If instead you would like a traditional oven-baked cheesecake please check out our Keto Cheesecake and our Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake. They are also super yummy! 

What is No-Bake Cheesecake?

So a no-bake cheesecake is EXACTLY how it sounds….NO-BAKE! Yup that’s right it does not need to be baked at all including the crust.

The reason it can be a no-bake recipe is that we don’t use eggs in the filling. So because of that, it doesn’t need to cook at all. It doesn’t get easier than that!

Difference Between Traditional and No-Bake Cheesecakes

There are a lot of different kinds of cheesecake out there so here is a quick breakdown of what each kind is and what the differences are. As far as what kind is better, that’s completely up to you and your personal preferences.

No-Bake Cheesecake – As you might guess, this style of cheesecake doesn’t require any baking in the oven. Since you don’t need to cook it, it means that you do not add eggs to the filling. The cream cheese filling often has gelatin, condensed milk, whipped cream, or sour cream to help stabilize it and will leave you with a softer cheesecake.

Classic or Regular Cheesecake – A classic or regular cheesecake normally includes a water bath and is cooked at a lower to moderate temperature. Even though a water bath is usually done, it’s not a necessity. A water bath gives you brown edges on your cheesecakes.

One way of identifying this type of cheesecake is that you will find other ingredients in the filling such as sour cream or even heavy cream. Using other ingredients like these implies that, unlike other cheesecakes, cream cheese isn’t the only key ingredient used.

You can find classic cheesecakes all over the country and they are compared with a New York Style Cheesecake. Another reason they call it a classic cheesecake is by how simple and “classic” the graham cracker crust is.

New York Style Cheesecake – What comes to your mind when you think of New York-style cheesecake? If you are like me, then Junior’s in NYC pops into your head.

It is rich and has a smooth, dense, thick, and very creamy texture. Most New York cheesecakes go pretty heavy on cream cheese, it’s the most dominant ingredient.

Philadelphia Style Cheesecake – This is also called the “Philly Cheesecake” and is a cake with more flavor and a very light airy texture.

This cheesecake doesn’t have anything to do with the actual city of Philadelphia but according to experts, the name is a reference to the cheesecake version marketed by the Philadelphia cream cheese brand, the one we all love!

You need to use Philadelphia cream cheese…it’s a key ingredient in the filling. Philadelphia cheesecake does not contain any sour cream or heavy, which you find in New York cheesecake. 

French Style Cheesecake – In France, the classic cheesecake you find will not have any cream cheese but will have mascarpone, chevre, or Neufchatel cheese. 

Italian Style Cheesecake – In Italy, their classic cheesecake base is made mostly from ricotta cheese, but at times can be made with mascarpone. A mascarpone cheesecake will taste similar to a cream cheese cheesecake. But when it’s made with ricotta the cheesecakes are drier and a little less creamy.

Is No-Bake Cheesecake Keto-Friendly?

No, not all no-bake cheesecakes are keto-friendly. Why? Because most of them are made with a graham cracker crust and cane sugar. Both of those are not good on a low carb diet.

That being said, we have adjusted those ingredients to give you a delicious keto-friendly no-bake cheesecake that is just as good.

Carbs in Cheesecake

Let’s look at a comparison in carbs between a piece of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory and our low carb no-bake cheesecake. 

• 1 slice of Original Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory has 62 NET CARBS.
• 1 slice of our Keto Cheesecake has 4.7 NET CARBS.

What Ingredients are in Keto No-Bake Cheesecakes?

The Crust

• Almond Flour – Be sure to use fine almond flour, and not almond meal.
• Low Carb Sweetener – Using a granulated low-carb sweetener is perfect for the crust. We used granulated monk fruit. 
• Melted Butter – Melted butter is key to getting the crust ingredients to stick together. 
• Vanilla 
• Salt 
• Cinnamon 

The Filling

• Cream Cheese – 24 oz softened cream cheese, my favorite brand is Philadelphia Cream Cheese. 
• Sour Cream – ¼ cup full-fat sour cream. 
• Lemon Juice – 2 tsp lemon juice, adds the perfect tang that you want in a cheesecake. 
• Vanilla – 1 tsp vanilla extract. 
• Low Carb Sweetener – For this we used Powdered Swerve, it’s a must. You need the sweetener to be powdered otherwise you will end up with a gritty filling. 
• Heavy Cream –  Heavy whipping cream.

Best Cheese for Low Carb Cheesecake

There are a few cheese options for making a no-bake keto cheesecake or really any kind of cheesecake. However, we find that cream cheese and sour cream work the best.

We’ve found that using both of them combined makes this recipe come out the best. Now let’s briefly discuss the options below. 

Cream Cheese – Most cheesecakes in the United States and even Canada are made with a cream cheese filling, giving traditional American cheesecake the thick and creamy texture that we all know and love.

Sour Cream – While sour cream is not technically a cheese, it’s a dairy product that is made by fermenting cream. Sour cream is smooth and has a slight tanginess and oftentimes is added to the cream cheese base making it thicker and creamier. It doesn’t need to be added, but I really prefer it in my no-bake cheesecake recipe.

Sweetener Options for No-Bake Cheesecake

What are the best sweeteners to use when making the best no-bake cheesecake? I chose to use 2 different ones for this low carb cheesecake recipe. 

• For this keto no-bake cheesecake crust, I used granulated monk fruit. You also could use Swerve brown sugar replacement. Either one works great. 
• For the cheesecake filling, I used Swerve powdered sweetener. It blends very nicely and doesn’t leave you with any grittiness.

Different Variations

Cheesecake variations are absolutely endless. Just take a look at the menu at Cheesecake Factory, there are over 30 different flavors! I’m not going to give you 30 different recipes but here are a few different variations you can use when making a no-bake cheesecake. 

• Nut-free Crust – If you have a nut allergy then replace the almond flour with sunflower seed flour, a 1:1 ratio.
• Keto Chocolate Crust – Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the crust ingredients. 
• Espresso Keto Cheesecake – Add 1 teaspoon of espresso powder to the cheesecake filling. 
• Citrus Cheesecake – Replace the lemon juice with juice from an orange, and add in orange zest. Cara Cara oranges make the best citrus cheesecake.
• Chocolate Cheesecake – Add 8 oz melted and cooled unsweetened chocolate to the filling. 
• Add lemon zest for a more lemony flavor. 
• Add ½ cup natural peanut butter for a keto peanut butter cheesecake. 
• Add ½ – ¾ cup pure pumpkin puree for a no-bake pumpkin cheesecake. 
• No-Bake Cheesecake Bars: Line a baking dish with parchment paper. Assemble the cheesecake according to the instructions in the recipe card. 
• Cheesecake Cupcakes: Place cupcake liners into a cupcake pan. Fill each liner with the crust and the filling. Chill in the fridge. 
• Cheesecake Cups: Fill small mason jars or the cup of your choice with the crust ingredients and the filling. Chill in the fridge.

No-Bake Cheesecake Shapes

Don’t want to make a traditional no-bake cheesecake in a pan? That’s ok, you can make them in other forms if you want. 

• No-Bake Cheesecake Bars: Line a baking dish with parchment paper. Assemble the cheesecake according to the instructions in the recipe card. 
• Cheesecake Cupcakes: Place cupcake liners into a cupcake pan. Fill each liner with the crust and the filling. Chill in the fridge. 
• Cheesecake Cups: Fill small mason jars or the cup of your choice with the crust ingredients and the filling. Chill in the fridge.

Can I Make No-Bake Cheesecake Dairy-Free?

Ok so I have not personally tried making a no-bake cheesecake dairy-free but it is possible with several substitutions. Replace the following: 

• Cream cheese with vegan cream cheese. 
• Sour cream with vegan sour cream.
• Heavy cream with canned coconut cream.
• Melted butter with melted coconut oil.

Low Carb Cheesecake Toppings

Toppings can really enhance the flavor of this basic yet delicious and easy no-bake cheesecake recipe. Here are a few classic ideas:

• Fresh Berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries
• Low Carb Strawberry Sauce, or another type of low carb Berry Sauce
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Sauce
• Low Carb Whipped Cream
• Keto Caramel Sauce
• Chopped Nuts
• Shredded Coconut

No-Bake Crust Options

In this keto cheesecake recipe, I used almond flour as the main ingredient giving you a keto cheesecake crust. But there are a few other options for a low carb crust. 

1. Replace the almond with any other kind of nut flour such as macadamia nut flour, pecan flour, or hazelnut flour. 
2. If you have a nut allergy, replace the almond flour with sunflower seed flour, it’s a 1:1 ratio.

Best Pan to Use

The best pan to use for any cheesecake including a no-bake cheesecake is a springform pan.  I do really recommend getting a springform pan if you don’t have one already. It just makes it way easier to cut the pieces out. 

There are a few common sizes you will find: 8”, 9”, and 10”. For this exact no-bake keto cheesecake, I’m using an 8” springform pan.

A quality springform pan makes it very easy to get the cheesecake out of the pan without damaging it. One thing to keep in mind is to make sure you properly tighten the pan. If it’s not tightened the right way it will leak and I guarantee you will be very unhappy with a leaky cheesecake. 

What if you don’t own a springform pan and you can’t get one right away but you really want a cheesecake? We can make it work, but keep in mind you might not be getting a photo-worthy cheesecake but it’s still gonna taste good. 

Here are a few options you can use when in a bind:

• Cake Pan – Like I said it’s not gonna be picture perfect but will work when in a pinch. Just slice the keto cheesecake into slices or squares. Be sure to spray the bottom and sides of the pan before adding the crust, or cut a piece of parchment paper and place on the bottom of the cake pan. 
• Pie Plate – This will work if you don’t have a cake pan. It would be better if you used a deep-dish pie plate. Your cheesecake may be thinner when using a pie plate but will still do the trick.

How to Make Keto No-Bake Cheesecake 

Let’s go over the step-by-step instructions on how to make a delicious no-bake cheesecake.

The Crust

STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl add the almond flour, sweetener, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, and melted butter.

STEP 2: Stir all the ingredients together.

STEP 3: Add the mixture to the 8” springform pan and press down evenly. Set aside.

The Filling

STEP 4: In a chilled bowl, add the heavy cream. Beat the heavy cream until whipped cream consistency. Set in the fridge.

STEP 5: Grab another large bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat the mixture until smooth.

STEP 6: Add in half of the powdered sweetener, beat until combined, then add the remaining powdered sweetener. Mix again.

STEP 7: Scoop the whipped cream into the cheesecake filling. Beat on high until the filling is smooth and well combined. You want the filling to be completely free of lumps.

STEP 8: Pour the filling on top of the crust. You may need to scoop it out and tap the pan to make sure the filling is evenly spread out.

STEP 9: Smooth the top with a spatula to get a nice even surface.

Chilling It

STEP 10: Place the no-bake cheesecake into the fridge to chill. 

STEP 11: Make sure you let the cheesecake firm up for at least 4-6 hours, but preferably overnight.

STEP 12: Decorate the cheesecake with fresh fruit or any sauce you have prepared. Then serve and enjoy!

How to Tell When No-Bake Cheesecake Is Done Setting

It’s kind of hard to tell when exactly your no-bake cheesecake is done setting. But obviously, it’s best to give it as much time as possible. I recommend chilling it for at LEAST 4-6 hours, but overnight is even better.

Making a Low Carb Cheesecake Sauce

A lot of people love eating their no-bake cheesecakes or really any cheesecake with some sort of fruit sauce on top.

Here is how to make a delicious low carb strawberry sauce and a low carb blueberry sauce: 

• 2 cups fresh sliced strawberries, or 2 cups blueberries 
• ¼ cup low carb sweetener, monk fruit or swerve
• ½ cup water
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan add all the ingredients. 
2. Heat over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 
4. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.  
5. Pour over the no-bake cheesecake after both the cheesecake and the sauce have been properly chilled.

Cutting No-Bake Cheesecake

It can turn ugly real fast when cutting a no-bake cheesecake or really any cheesecake for that matter.. Here’s how to do it the right way:

1. Get a good sharp chef’s knife. 
2. Pour hot water into a glass or jar, and dip the knife into the hot water. 
3. Once the knife is warmed up, wipe it with a paper towel and slice through the cheesecake. 
4. Be sure to dip and wipe your knife between cutting each slice.

FAQs and Best Tips

• Chill the bowl you are using for the heavy cream. 
• Make sure the cream cheese is softened, not right out of the fridge. It makes a difference. 
• You can replace the almond flour with macadamia nut flour, pecan flour, or hazelnut flour. 
• NUT-FREE OPTION: Replace the almond flour with sunflower seed flour. 
• DAIRY-FREE OPTION: Replace the cream cheese with vegan cream cheese, sour cream with vegan sour cream, and melted butter with melted coconut oil. 
• Best to make this no-bake keto cheesecake ahead of time. It needs 4-6 hours in the fridge but preferably overnight.

Should I Use Gelatin?

There is no need for adding gelatin. When using gelatin you need more liquid, and our keto no-bake cheesecake doesn’t require a lot of liquids at all. So skip the gelatin!

My Cheesecake Didn’t Set Correctly

No-bake cheesecake doesn’t need to be set the same way as other cheesecake recipes because it doesn’t get baked in the oven. Instead, it needs time in the fridge to set correctly.

I recommend at least 4-6 hours setting in the fridge but overnight is best to ensure perfect results. 

If it didn’t set the way you wanted, put it back into the fridge for another hour or two.

How to Thicken a No-Bake Cheesecake

There is plenty of cream cheese in our no-bake keto cheesecake so there is no need to add more to thicken it. Instead, just keep it in the fridge for a few extra hours to make sure the creamy cheese filling solidifies more.

Can I Bake the Crust?

Baking the crust first is an unnecessary step. When I say this is a no-bake cheesecake I mean literally NO-BAKE!

Make-Ahead Options and How to Store?

Making Ahead – You are going to want to make this no-bake keto cheesecake ahead of time because it needs plenty of time to set in the fridge before diving into it. Plan for it to take at least 4-6 hours to set in the fridge, but letting it sit in the fridge overnight is even better.

Storing – I will usually store my no-bake cheesecake with plastic wrap loosely covering it. If I only have a piece or two left then it’s best to put it in an airtight container so it stays fresh longer.

This keto-friendly cheesecake will last about 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.

Can I Leave No-Bake Cheesecake Out Overnight?

NOOOOOOO!!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT! DO NOT EAT CHEESECAKE IF IT SAT OUT OVERNIGHT!!!

Cheesecake is all dairy and will make you very very sick if you leave it out overnight and don’t keep it refrigerated.

Can You Freeze Keto No-Bake Cheesecake?

Freezing this low carb no-bake cheesecake recipe is a great idea, in fact, all cheesecakes freeze very well. You can freeze the entire cheesecake or freeze individual slices, it’s up to you.

FREEZE THE ENTIRE CHEESECAKE:

1. Allow the cheesecake to fully set in the refrigerator as you normally would. 
2. After it’s completely chilled, wrap the entire cheesecake thoroughly in plastic wrap and then wrap it again in foil.
3. Store in the freezer for 3 months.

FREEZE BY THE SLICE:

1. Allow the cheesecake to fully set in the refrigerator as you normally would. 
2. Cut the cheesecake into slices.
3. Place each slice of cheesecake on pieces of individual pieces of plastic wrap. 
4. Wrap them tightly, then place the slice in a freezer bag.
5. Store in the freezer for 2 weeks. **Freezing by the slice does not hold up as well as freezing the entire cheesecake. 

THAWING INSTRUCTIONS: 

Option 1 – Place the frozen no-bake cheesecake into the fridge and let thaw overnight. 

Option 2 – Place the frozen no-bake cheesecake on the counter and let thaw. Do not let it sit out for more than an hour or so.

Tools to Use

• Mixing Bowls 
• Springform Pan – 8”, 9”, or 10” 
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer 
• Spatula 
• Measuring Cups and Spoons

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Gluten-Free: We use an almond flour crust recipe in our no-bake keto cheesecake making it completely gluten-free. Finding a gluten-free cheesecake can be tough, but finding a low carb cheesecake that is also gluten-free can be even tougher, but we’ve got you covered! 
• Egg-Free: When making a no-bake cheesecake, you don’t add eggs into the filling. 
• Nut-Free Option: Replace the almond flour with sunflower seed flour to make the crust nut-free. 

Other Keto Dessert Recipes

If you’re in the mood for some other Keto-friendly Desserts, check out our:

• Perfect Keto Cheesecake 
• Keto Cheesecake Bars 
• Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Keto Cheesecake Fat Bombs
• Keto Chocolate Cake 
• Keto Lemon Bars 
• Keto Almond Joy Bars 
• Healthy Keto Apple Crisp

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!

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