No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

This easy No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe is full of strawberry flavor! Made with gelatin and cooked strawberries, it has a thick and creamy texture that makes it a totally irresistible cheesecake. The perfect strawberry dessert for spring and summer.

Looking for no-bake cheesecake recipes in other flavors? Try my Perfect No-Bake Cheesecake recipe, or this No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake!

Collage of photos of no bake strawberry cheesecake

An Easy No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe

Strawberry desserts that depend on fresh strawberries for their flavor tend to present a bit of a problem. Pureeing enough berries to give you a good strawberry flavor ends up being a lot of liquid, which doesn’t always work well. In a no bake cheesecake, it’s a problem because in order to not have your cheesecake melt all over the place, you need to thicken that strawberry puree.

How to Make a Perfect Strawberry Cheesecake

To accomplish that in this cheesecake, I used both gelatin and cornstarch, which is cooked with the strawberry puree over the stove. I tried using just one or the other, but wasn’t happy with either result. You need to add so much of either that it starts to really effect the flavor of the cheesecake. I don’t know about you, but tasting gelatin when I bite into a cheesecake is not what I want. So I used just the right combination of both gelatin and cornstarch to get a firmer texture cheesecake without interfering with the flavor.

So to get started, combine the strawberry puree with some cornstarch and cook it over the stove. We are using a full pound of strawberries here. LOTS of flavor! Let the mixture come to a boil and then simmer for a couple minutes and it’ll start to thicken up nicely. Set it aside to being to cool a bit.

Close up of no bake strawberry cheesecake slice

Cheesecake with a slice cut out

While the strawberry mixture begins to cool, sprinkle a little water over some powdered gelatin and let it sit for about 5 minutes. It’ll get firm – just as you’d expect gelatin to do. Heat it up just until it’s melted and stir it into the cooked strawberry mixture. Let that cool a bit while you make the rest of the filling.

The remainder of the filling is pretty straightforward. Combine the cream cheese and sugar, then make the whipped cream. The strawberry mixture is stirred into the cream cheese and sugar mixture in three parts. It might be tempting to just add it all, but you’ll end up with some lumps if you do that. I found that it turned out best when added more slowly, in three batches.

Once the strawberry mixture is added, fold in the whipped cream in two parts. The whipped cream lightens up the texture of the cheesecake and adds volume.

The filling is added to a vanilla wafer crust, but you could also do a classic graham cracker crust if you prefer.

full no bake strawberry cheesecake
cheesecake with a bite taken out

Can You Make this Strawberry Cheesecake Ahead? Yes!

Let the cheesecake firm up for several hours, until firm. One of the great things about cheesecakes is that they can be made ahead, which is what I typically do. You could definitely make this the day before serving, or even a couple days before. Cheesecakes last really well, which is awesome.

The cheesecake is finished off with some whipped cream, which also stays sturdy and nice, and some strawberries.

The final result is truly the perfect No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake! With a little gelatin and cornstarch, a full pound of strawberries is pureed and turned into a thick and creamy cheesecake! So much strawberry flavor and so delicious! It’ll definitely be your new favorite cheesecake for summer.

full cheesecake overhead shot


Read transcript

More Strawberry Dessert Ideas to Try:

Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake
Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake
Easy Strawberry Cheesecake
Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes
Mini Strawberry Champagne Cheesecakes
Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Cups
Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake Cake
Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes

Print
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No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake image
Recipe

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

  • Author: Lindsay Conchar
  • Prep Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12-14 slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This easy No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe is full of strawberry flavor! Made with gelatin and cooked strawberries, it has a thick and creamy texture that makes it a totally irresistible cheesecake. The perfect strawberry dessert for spring and summer.


Ingredients

Crust

  • 2 1/4 cups (302g) vanilla wafer crumbs
  • 2 tbsp (26g) sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 10 tbsp (140g) unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake filling

  • 1 lb strawberries, washed and hulled
  • 2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp cold water
  • 2 1/4 tsp | 0.25 oz package unflavored gelatin
  • 24 oz (678g) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups (300ml) heavy whipping cream, cold*
  • 3/4 cup (86g) powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped cream topping

  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1/2 cup (58g) powdered sugar
  • 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • Strawberries

Instructions

For the crust

  1. Line a 9-inch (23cm) springform pan with parchment paper in the bottom and grease the sides.
  2. Combine the crust ingredients in a small bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the springform pan.
  3. Place the crust in the fridge while you make the filling

For the filling

  1. Add the strawberries to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
  2. Add the strawberry puree and cornstarch to a medium to large saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture begins to thicken and bubble, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Turn the heat to medium-low and allow to the strawberry mixture bubble and simmer for 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat, pour into a bowl and set aside to cool on the counter.
  4. Add the cold water to a small bowl and sprinkle the powdered gelatin over the water. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
  5. Heat the gelatin in 10 second increments, stirring between, until it is melted and smooth. Pour the melted gelatin into the warm strawberry mixture and stir well to combine. Set the mixture aside to cool a little while you work on the rest of the filling.
  6. In a large mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until well combined and smooth.
  7. Add about 1/3 of the strawberry mixture to the cream cheese mixture and beat until well combined and smooth. Add another third of the strawberry mixture and beat until well combined and smooth. Add the remaining strawberry mixture and beat until well combined and smooth. The strawberry mixture is added in parts to make sure it’s all incorporated fully without leaving any lumps. Set aside.
  8. In another large mixer bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  9. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese/strawberry mixture in two parts until well combined.
  10. Add the filling to the crust and spread into an even layer. Refrigerate cheesecake until firm, 5-6 hours or overnight.

For the whipped cream and assembly

  1. To finish off the cheesecake, remove it from the springform pan and set on a plate or serving platter.
  2. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract for the whipped cream topping to a large mixer bowl. Whip on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  3. Pipe swirls of whipped cream around the edge of the cheesecake. Top the cheesecake off with some sliced strawberries, if desired.
  4. Refrigerate cheesecake until ready to serve. Cheesecake is best for 4-5 days.

Notes

NOTE: If you’d like to use Cool Whip instead of homemade whipped cream, replace the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract with 8 oz of Cool Whip.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 445
  • Sugar: 28 g
  • Sodium: 393.9 mg
  • Fat: 31.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36.1 g
  • Protein: 6.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 93.5 mg

Keywords: no bake strawberry cheesecake (primary), best no bake strawberry cheesecake recipe, strawberry cheesecake

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slice of no bake strawberry cheesecake

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50 Comments
  1. Katherine

    Can you please describe the wafers you use for the base? I’m not sure what they are, and I’ll need to find something similar. Any others Australians baked this? Are they like ice cream wafers? Filled wafer biscuits? Or should I go with something like a digestive?

    1. Lindsay

      It’s like these cookies. I’m not really familiar with your options, but I’m thinking the digestive might be best. You just may need to adjust the amount of butter. I’m not sure.

    1. Lindsay

      I mean you could do it, but I wouldn’t really recommend it. The cheesecake is going to be far firmer and not be as tall and have a stronger cream cheese flavor.

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29