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This delicious no bake Vanilla Cheesecake is impressive but so easy to make. Serve it plain, or add your favourite toppings. This is the classic no bake cheesecake recipe!

A slice of plain vanilla cheesecake on a plate, with the rest of the cheesecake and bowl of strawberries behind it.

So many of you have asked for this recipe, here it is! A straightforward Vanilla Cheesecake, perfect for any occasion.

If, like me, you find vanilla is anything other than ‘plain’, but find this flavour for ice cream or puddings irresistible, I think you’re going to love this one!


Why you’ll love this Vanilla Cheesecake recipe

⭐️ No baking and easy method

⭐️ Add toppings if you fancy

⭐️ Make ahead of time for convenience


A bird's eye view of a cheesecake with a slice to the side on a plate, and a bowl of strawberries.

How we came up with this classic cheesecake recipe

Most of my no bake cheesecakes have a definite theme or flavour. Some that are ideal for summer like my strawberry cheesecake, or for Easter like my mini egg cheesecake, but I wanted to create a classic dessert that you could adapt however you fancy, for every occasion.

I knew vanilla was the way to go for this! 

Made with extract or pods (not the more processed and therefore less authentic tasting essence), the creaminess alongside the buttery, light crunch of shortbread biscuit base is mouthwatering.


Vanilla Cheesecake Ingredients Notes

The ingredients for vanilla cheesecake on a counter top.
  • Shortbread biscuits – Crush these up. Shortbread can be found outside of the UK, but if you’re struggling to get hold of it, you could swap these for another plain flavoured biscuit
  • Unsalted butter – Melt this quickly in a mug in the microwave 
  • Double cream – See tips below on the required whipping consistency. This is also called ‘heavy cream’ or ‘whipping cream’ outside of the UK
  • Full fat cream cheese – I like to use Philadelphia brand cream cheese for this recipe. You can use other brands, but I find they are slightly more difficult to combine
  • Icing sugar – This will need sifting
  • Vanilla extract – It’s important NOT to use vanilla essence instead. This is more synthetic and doesn’t taste as good. You can, however, use pods if you like (see notes below on quantities)

Using a vanilla pod instead of extract

One vanilla pod is equivalent to 3 tsp of vanilla extract. 

To remove the seeds from a vanilla pod, use a sharp knife to split the vanilla pod lengthways and scrape the seeds out. 

Add them to the cheesecake mixture at the same time as you would add the extract.


How to make Vanilla Cheesecake

Shortbread biscuits crumbled up in a food processor for step 1 in the recipe for Vanilla Cheesecake.

1. Crush the biscuits (as per the recipe measurements below) with a rolling pin or food processor. Mix with the melted butter.

A biscuit base for a cheesecake pressed into the bottom of a tin for step 2 in the recipe for Vanilla Cheesecake.

2. Press the biscuit mixture into your tin to make a base. Chill in the fridge while you make your filling.

Whipped cream in a bowl for step 3 in the recipe for Vanilla Cheesecake.

3. Whisk the cream, cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract until thick. Use an electric whisk if you have one. Make sure it is VERY thick.

A tin filled with creamy cheesecake filling for step 4 in the process for Vanilla Cheesecake.

4. Remove the base from the fridge and add the cheesecake mixture, smoothing the top. Pop into the fridge to chill (as per the recipe below). Remove from the tin before serving.

Hint: Whip the cream straight from the fridge (this helps to keep it stable) and whip it enough so it holds its shape (to the texture of ice cream).


Substitutions

  • To make gluten free – Simply use gluten free shortbread biscuits instead of standard ones. Always check the labels of your ingredients to double check they’re also gluten free

TO MAKE IN ADVANCE

You can store the cheesecake in the fridge for up to 3 days from when you make it. 

Leave it in the tin in the fridge and cover with a dinner plate or cling film (but make sure it doesn’t touch the surface of your beautiful cheesecake!)

Can I freeze cheesecake? 

Yes you can freeze in the tin for up to a month. Defrost in the tin, in the fridge, and serve it when fully thawed. Don’t defrost it at room temperature as the cheesecake will collapse!

Do not refreeze.

MORE no Bake cheesecake recipes…

Top tipS

How to crush the biscuits for the base

I use a food processor because it helps get a fine consistency. 

If you’d prefer to do it by hand, just put the biscuits in a food bag, seal the top, then bash with a rolling pin or something fairly heavy to get the fine crumble.

Whipping the MIXTURE

Be sure to whip the mixture very well. It needs to be extremely thick, almost the texture of ice cream.

Icing sugar sifting 

Do sift the icing sugar! It will give a much smoother texture to the cheesecake.

Ideal cheesecake consistency 

It should be sliceable but not solid (something like room temperature butter), and it should quiver but not wobble.

How to remove the cheesecake successfully from the tin

Use a tin with either a springform (unclippable sides) or removable base (I like these Masterclass 7″ Removable Base tins that I’ve had for years). 

➡️ Warm a regular dinner knife under a hot tap and then dry it. Use this to run around the outside of the cake, inside the tin, before removing it. 

➡️ Remove the knife and wipe as you work your way around the cake.

➡️ If you have a removable base, sit the tin on a tall glass and carefully press down so the sides of the tin can slip down lower than the cheesecake and you can easily remove it.

FAQs

Can I add my own toppings to the cheesecake?

Yes! You could add fruits, sweets, chocolates, decorations – whatever you fancy.

Can I make it in advance?

Yes, you can make and store the cheesecake in the fridge in the tin for up to 3 days.

What is double cream?

If you’re not in the UK, you may not have access to a product labelled ‘double cream’. The USA

Help my cheesecake isn’t set!

This almost always happens when either you haven’t whipped it sufficiently or when it hasn’t been chilled for long enough. 

If you didn’t whip it enough initially you may be able to rescue it and firm it up a little by putting it into the freezer for an hour or so. It really does need to be whipped until it is VERY thick.

Are cheesecakes made with real cheese?

Yes – cream cheese. But do they taste like cheese? No! They just have a certain kind of creaminess that is so good and honestly does lend itself to a sweet dish.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

5 from 3 votes

Vanilla Cheesecake {Easy No Bake Recipe}

This light and creamy no bake Vanilla Cheesecake is a simple but special dessert. Decadent, impressive and oh-so delicious, it can be made in advance and takes about 30 minutes to throw together. Follow the simple tips and tricks for a foolproof method!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients 

For the base:

  • 200 g Shortbread biscuits , Finely crushed
  • 80 g Unsalted butter, Melted

For the cheesecake filling:

  • 300 ml Double cream
  • 400 g Full fat cream cheese, See notes
  • 100 g Icing sugar, Sifted
  • 4 tsp Vanilla extract, See notes

Instructions 

  • Combine the finely crushed shortbread biscuits with the melted butter and press into a tin. Chill in the fridge while you make the topping.
  • Pour the double cream into a bowl, add the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract.
  • Whisk until it's very thick – almost the consistency of ice cream. Use an electric whisk if you have one.
  • Remove the base from the fridge and add the cheesecake mixture, smoothing the top.
  • Pop into the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight is much better if you don't need it until the next day).
  • Remove from the tin before serving.

Notes

Shortbread biscuits: There is no direct equivalent of these British classics, but you could use graham crackers instead if you can’t get hold of the imported goods
Butter: I use unsalted butter for this and just melt it quickly in a mug in the microwave
Cream cheese: Use full fat cream cheese and drain off any liquid before using
Whipping the cream: Whip the cream straight from the fridge and whip enough so it holds its shape (texture of ice cream)
Consistency: The consistency of the cheesecake should be sliceable but not solid. Something like room temperature butter (it will give a little quiver if you wobble it gently)
Removing the cheesecake from the tin: Run around the outside of the tin with a warm knife to easily remove the cheesecake. If you have a removable base, sit the tin on a tall glass and carefully press down so the sides of the tin can slip down lower than the cheesecake and you can easily remove it
 

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 4gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 171mgPotassium: 86mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 998IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
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5 from 3 votes

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Wow, this recipe looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try it out this weekend. Thanks for sharing🤗!

  2. 5 stars
    A no bake Cheesecake is simply the best and is the only one I ever use, after my mother made them while we were growing up.
    The only thing she didn’t use was icing sugar.
    I assume this is for added sweetness?
    I make mine without icing sugar aswell and it’s still creamy and the best, those baked ones are a right faff and look pretty awful aswell .
    I do like a small tin of mandarins ,drained & dried off slightly mixed through or anything actually , your so right this Cheesecake is the canvas of anything you can think of 😊