Mom’s No Bake Cheesecake

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My Mom’s No Bake Cheesecake is a classic dessert from my childhood that’s always a hit at every bbq and holiday.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

This cheesecake has been a summer staple for as long as I can remember. My mom always made this several times a summer, especially for birthdays or picnics because it’s so nice and portable. It’s also a no-bake dessert which is essential in the hottest weeks of the year.

You’ll find 2 different ways to make this below in the recipe. First up there’s the traditional way my mom always made it in a glass baking pan. But I also did a version in little mason jars which is so perfect for picnics, or anytime you need a dessert that’s already portioned out to serve.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

Let’s jump in and my Mom’s No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake!

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

For the crust, to mimic the flavor of the traditional graham crackers my mom used, I stirred together a combination of almond flour and coconut sugar that does the trick.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

The filling has a touch of gelatin in it which really helps this cheesecake set up into sliceable pieces if you make it in a baking pan.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

Fruit Topping Options:

Even though there’s a sour cherry topping pictured here, the sky really is the limit for toppings. Anything you’d normally love on plain cheesecake is also perfect with this no-bake version.

Also since sour cherries can be hard to find, don’t feel limited to cherries alone. When sweet cherries are in season, they’re perfect served fresh with this. Or any kind of berry or juicy sliced peaches are fantastic as well. I even have a recipe for a Triple Berry Fruit Sauce that is great for when you only have frozen fruit available.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!
Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!
Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

Whatever fruit you choose, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with this cheesecake. Also it’s a big bonus when you don’t have to turn on the oven in the heat of summer.

Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

That probably also explains why this has been such a popular recipe in my family during my lifetime. My mom made it often of course, but my Aunt also made it regularly as well as my friend’s moms too. So it’s safe to say I ate quite a bit of this cheesecake growing up, and it never gets old!

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Mom's No Bake Grain Free Cheesecake | Get Inspired Everyday!

Mom’s No Bake Cheesecake


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5 from 11 reviews

  • Author: Kari
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 81 cup mason jar cheesecakes or 19x13″ pan 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This no-bake dessert has been a staple in our house for as long as I can remember, and it’s always a hit!


Ingredients

Scale

Crust:

1 1/2 cups fine almond flour

1/4 cup coconut sugar

6 Tablespoons ghee, or butter, melted

Filling:

2 1/2 Teaspoons gelatin, or 1 package

1/4 cup cold water

1 cup heavy whipping cream

18 ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons maple syrup, I used Grade A amber

2 Teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of sea salt

Cherry Topping:

4 cups frozen sour cherries, thawed with their juices

1/4 cup organic cornstarch or tapioca

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 Teaspoon almond extract


Instructions

For the crust, mix together the almond flour, coconut sugar, and melted ghee/butter until a sandy mixture forms. Set the mixture aside.

To make the filling, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water, stir to combine, and let it stand about 10 minutes. Then place the gelatin mixture over a bowl of hot water and stir until the gelatin mixture completely dissolves. Let it cool slightly before adding it to the cheesecake mixture below.

In a mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Remove the whipped cream from the bowl and set it aside. Beat the cream cheese in the mixer until no lumps remaining, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and sea salt, and beat again until completely smooth. Add the gelatin and beat again to combine. Then fold the whipped cream in using a spatula.

Portion the crust out evenly between 8 – 1 cup mason jars, patting it into the bottoms. Spoon the filling over the crust, about 1/3 heaping cup per jar. Place the lids on the jars and refrigerate while you make the fruit topping. Or to make this in a 9×13″ pan, very lightly grease the pan. Then evenly pat the crust over the bottom of the pan and about 1/2-3/4″ up the sides. Pour the cream cheese filling over the top, then cover the pan and refrigerate until set, about 4-6 hours.

For the fruit topping, whisk together the cornstarch/tapioca and maple syrup together in a large saucepan until no lumps remain. Add the thawed cherries and cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Once the topping has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the almond extract. Place the topping into a container with a lid and refrigerate to cool slightly, about 1 hour. 

When the sauce is no longer hot, and the tops of the mason jar cheesecakes have set up, portion the fruit topping out between the jars. Then place the lids back on and refrigerate until completely set, about 3-4 hours for a total of 5 hours. For the 9×13″ pan, either serve the fruit sauce on the side or pour the sauce over the top of the filling after it’s cooled down to room temperature, and the cheesecake filling has set up in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Chill again until it’s completely set, 3-5 more hours.

Serve when the cheesecake filling has set, about 5 hours total. These keep well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American

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