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A slice of creamy cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, topped with bright yellow lemon curd and whipped cream, sits on a white plate. A fork holds a bite of cheesecake in the foreground, with lemons in the background.

Fresh & Tangy No Bake Lemon Cheesecake

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5 from 1 review

This no-bake lemon cheesecake is the kind of dessert that looks fancy but comes together with ease. The graham cracker crust is buttery and crisp, while the filling is lusciously smooth, light, and tangy thanks to fresh lemon juice and extract. Since it skips the oven, it chills in the fridge until set, making it the perfect make-ahead treat topped with whipped cream and lemon curd.

  • Total Time: 8 Hours 25 Minutes
  • Yield: 8-12 Slices 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Crust

  • 150 grams (1 1/2 Cups) Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons Granulated/ Caster Sugar
  • 6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted

Cheesecake Filling

  • 12oz (1 1/2 Cups) Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 24oz Cream Cheese, completely softened to room temperature
  • 150 grams (1 1/4 Cups) Confectioners/ Powdered Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Zest
  • 2oz (1/4 Cup) Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 2oz (1/4 Cup) Sour Cream
  • 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Pure Lemon Extract

Topping

Instructions

Crust

  1. In a food processor pulse the graham crackers until a fine crumb is reached, and pour into a large bowl. Whisk in the sugar until evenly combined, then stir in the melted butter. The butter should be evenly distributed, and the mixture should look like wet sand.
  2. Lightly spray a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray, then pour the crust inside. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to gently press the crumbs into an even layer and up the sides of the pan. Place the pan in the freezer to set while you prepare the filling.

Cheesecake Filling

  1. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
  2. Scoop the whipped cream into a clean bowl, then add the softened cream cheese to the dirty cream bowl. With the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until softened, 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all of the cream cheese is softened.
  3. Add the confectioner's sugar and lemon zest and mix on low until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Then add the lemon juice, sour cream, vanilla extract, and lemon extract, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so everything is evenly combined.
  4. Add half of the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and use a spatula to gently fold the whipped cream in. When combined, add the remaining whipped cream and fold again. Be careful not to overfold, as this will deflate the cream.
  5. Pour cheesecake filling into the prepared crust and use an offset spatula to spread it into an even layer. Cover the cheesecake with foil or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Topping

  1. Release the cheesecake from the springform pan and use a spatula to transfer the cheesecake from the bottom of the pan to a serving plate. Add a layer of lemon curd, then top with fresh whipped cream. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Author: Elizabeth Waterson
  • Prep Time: 25 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 Minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American
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