Description

A rich, tangy, and creamy no-bake strawberry cheesecake that requires zero oven time. Perfect for summer, this dessert features a buttery graham cracker crust, a light cream cheese filling, and a fresh strawberry topping that sets beautifully.

Ingredients

Scale

1 ½ cups (150g) graham crackers, crushed
6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons (25g) sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
24 ounces (680g) full-fat brick-style cream cheese, room temperature
1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy whipping cream, very cold
1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 pound (450g) fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
1 packet (2 ½ teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons water

Instructions

Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. Mix with melted butter, sugar, and salt. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and refrigerate.
Hull and chop 1 cup of strawberries, then blend into a smooth puree. Heat puree in a saucepan until warm (not boiling).
Bloom gelatin by sprinkling it over 3 tablespoons of cold water and letting it sit for 5 minutes. Stir bloomed gelatin into the warm strawberry puree until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, whip cold heavy cream with confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
Beat room-temperature cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon zest and mix until silky.
Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the cream cheese to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream until just combined. Pour over the chilled crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Pour the cooled strawberry puree over the set cheesecake. Refrigerate for another 2-3 hours until the topping is firm.
Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries. Slice with a warm knife for clean cuts.

Notes

Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature to avoid lumps. Cool the strawberry puree completely before pouring to prevent melting the filling. Use a warm knife for slicing to ensure clean cuts. Do not freeze as the texture may become grainy.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 380
Sugar: 28
Fat: 24
Saturated Fat: 14
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 1
Protein: 6

Keywords: no-bake cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, summer dessert, easy dessert, gluten-free dessert, crowd-pleaser