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The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf
This super-quick and easy cheesecake will give you the texture and flavor you're looking for without a big investment in time and effort. It only requires a few simple ingredients, so it's best use the highest quality items you can find. For best results, it's important that you use full-fat cream cheese and full-fat sweetened condensed milk. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice, too—the stuff from the fake lemons doesn't have enough acid.
This cheesecake can be topped with any flavor of canned pie filling for a finishing touch or try fresh raspberries or strawberries. From start to serving time, it takes a little over an hour. The texture is perfectly light and fluffy, making it a great warm-weather dessert. Plus, you never even have to turn on the oven!
This is a soft-set cheesecake, so the finished product won't have the texture of a baked cheesecake if that's what you're looking for. If, in spite of everything, it doesn't set, simply freeze it. If you have time, make your own cookie crust. You can swap the standard graham crackers for gingersnaps or crispy chocolate cookies for a different flavor.
"This cheesecake was delicious and perfectly smooth and creamy, and it sliced nicely. I used a store-bought graham cracker crust, and it took no more than 10 minutes to mix the ingredients. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, or the cheesecake might not set properly and will be lumpy." —Diana Rattray
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Ingredients
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11 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
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1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
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1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
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1 (9-inch) graham cracker pie crust, or chocolate cookie pie crust
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf
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In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Make sure you take the time to do this properly since the cream cheese has to blend thoroughly with the sweetened condensed milk to set up properly.
The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf
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Gradually add most of the sweetened condensed milk while beating constantly. Add the lemon juice and continue to beat. Add the remaining sweetened condensed milk and beat until the mixture is smooth. Scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf
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Pour the filling into the crust and chill at least 1 hour before serving.
The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf
Tips
- Please make sure you are using sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated milk, in this recipe. It should set up perfectly with sweetened condensed milk. The mixture should already be thick when you pour it into the crust; if it is thin at this point, you used the wrong kind of milk.
- Do not use low-fat or nonfat cream cheese or low-fat or nonfat sweetened condensed milk; the recipe will not work with those ingredients. Make sure you use real freshly squeezed lemon juice, too; the bottled lemon is not as acidic and won't thicken the mixture as well.
- Similarly, don't try to use vegan cream cheese, because the cheesecake won't set up.
- Avoid overmixing the cheesecake filling—beat just until the mixture is smooth.
Recipe Variations
- Add some lemon zest along with the lemon juice for a citrus flavor. Or use orange or lime juices and zests.
- Top with chocolate or caramel sauce, cherry or other fruit pie filling, or fresh fruit and whipped cream.
How to Store a No-Bake Cheesecake
- Cover and refrigerate leftover no-bake cheesecake and consume within 4 to 5 days.
- To freeze the cheesecake, cover it and freeze it for up to 3 months. Defrost the cheesecake in the refrigerator overnight.
- To freeze individual slices, place them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Wrap the frozen slices in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer container. Label with the name and date and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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566 | Calories |
30g | Fat |
65g | Carbs |
10g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 8 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 566 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 30g | 39% |
Saturated Fat 14g | 72% |
Cholesterol 62mg | 21% |
Sodium 405mg | 18% |
Total Carbohydrate 65g | 24% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
Total Sugars 43g | |
Protein 10g | |
Vitamin C 6mg | 28% |
Calcium 239mg | 18% |
Iron 1mg | 7% |
Potassium 358mg | 8% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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