Name: No Bake Cheesecake With Cool Whip
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 135 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar; 8 ounces cream cheese; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 8 ounces Cool Whip; Prepared graham cracker crust (see notes below); Fresh fruit for topping

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This quick and easy No Bake Cheesecake with Cool Whip is a smooth and creamy dessert that’s perfect any time of year. Top with seasonal fresh berries or your favorite fruit pie filling and you’ll have a crowd-pleasing cheesecake without even having to open your oven door.

This post was originally published in April 2022

Craving a big slice of homemade cheesecake but don’t feel like cranking up the oven? I totally get it! Baking traditional cheesecakes can take a lot of work, which is why you’re going to love this simple no-fuss version!

This easy no-bake cheesecake takes just 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients. I mean, don’t you just love it when the best desserts are also so simple to make. I know I do, and no bake desserts are my absolute favorite!

These Cheesecake Bites, Peanut Butter and Coconut Cookies and Cool Whip Pineapple Pie are a few of my other go-to dessert recipes for when I need a sweet treat in a snap.

Table of Contents

Why We Love this Recipe?

Easy dessert: This is truly one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make. It’s a great recipe to get the kids involved in too. Just let them mix up all the ingredients, pour it into prepared pie crust and chill!
Versatile: This cheesecake recipe acts as a blank canvas for any of your favorite fresh fruit or pie fillings to make a delicious dessert that takes very little effort.
Perfect summer dessert: Even though you can make it anytime of the year, it’s especially great on hot summer days when you don’t want to heat up your oven just to make a dessert.

What’s Needed for this Easy Cheesecake Recipe?

Ingredients for Cool Whip Cheesecake labeled

Cream cheese-for best results, use full fat cream cheese and let it soften to room temperature

Sugar-white granulated sugar sweetens everything up as it breaks down in the cream cheese

Vanilla– you can use real vanilla extract or almond extract

Cool Whip-full fat cool whip is recommended

Prepared graham cracker crust -you can use store bought or homemade graham cracker crust

Fresh fruit or pie filling– to garnish your cheesecake

How to Make No Bake Cheesecake

Step 1. Combine sugar and softened cream cheese in a large bowl.

Step 2. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until well combined.

Step 3. Mix in vanilla extract until well incorporated, making sure to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.

Adding vanilla extract to cream cheese and sugar

Step 4. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the Cool Whip. Mix will until the cream cheese filling is well blended.

Folding cool whip into cream cheese mixture

Step 5. Pour the filling into prepared graham cracker pie crust and use the back of a spoon to smooth out the top.

No bake cheesecake in graham cracker crust

Step 6. Top with fresh fruit and if you like, more Cool Whip. Cover with plastic wrap and chill the cheesecake in the refrigerator for two hours.

No bake cool whip cheesecake with berries

How Long Does Cheesecake Last?

Fridge: Cover the cheesecake with the lid that comes with the crust, or a double layer of plastic wrap and it will stay fresh 5-6 days in the fridge.

Freezer: You can either freeze the whole cheesecake or individual slices. Double wrap the cheesecake in plastic wrap, followed with a layer of aluminum foil. Place it in the freezer for up to a month, or two at the most.

No bake cool whip cheesecake with berries and striped napkin

Can I Make Mini Cheesecake with this Recipe?

You sure can! All you have to do is buy a package of store-bought mini pie crusts (or make your own from graham cracker crumbs) and add the creamy cheesecake filling. Allow them to chill until they’ve set up and are ready to serve!

Want to make it even easier? Make this cheesecake like normal, then pipe it into phyllo shells like I did with these Oreo Cheesecake Bites. Then you don’t have to worry about a crust at all.

No bake cool whip cheesecake with strawberries and blueberries

Tips for Making the Best No Bake Cheesecake Dessert

If you prefer, you can make your own whipped cream instead of using Cool Whip. Make sure you start with really cold heavy whipping cream and beat with a hand mixer or a stand mixer until it forms stiff peaks. If the whipped cream isn’t firm enough, your cheesecake won’t be able to hold its form when sliced.

Cream cheese is a key ingredient. Be sure you use full fat cream cheese, not light cream cheese or cream cheese spread.

Avoid over mix the filling. You’ll want to use an electric mixer, not a food processor to mix everything up. Mix the ingredients just until everything comes together. Over mixing may break down the Cool Whip and will make your filling runny.

To prevent a lumpy cheesecake filling, be sure that you use room temperature cream cheese. You want the cream cheese and Cool Whip to blend together easily for a smooth and creamy filling.

The hardest part about this Cool Whip cheesecake recipe is allowing it to chill for a couple hours. It’s so hard to wait but in order to get nice, clean slice of cheesecake, you won’t want to hurry this step.

Can I Make this Dessert in Advance?

Absolutely! One of my favorite things about this easy recipe is that it’s great made up to several days in advance! This is a huge time saver during the holidays or for special occasions when you’re tied up preparing other dishes.

Slice of no bake cheesecake on white stacked plates

No-Bake Cheesecake Variations

Once you see how amazing this no bake cheesecake filling is, have fun changing up the toppings to make countless variations. The following flavor options are some of our favorites…

Cherry cheesecake: If you love cherry, all you have to do is add 1/2 can of cherry pie filling over the top and you’ll have a rich and fluffy cherry cheesecake.

Caramel apple cheesecake: Pour 1/2 can apple pie filling over the top of the cheesecake, then drizzle caramel syrup over the apples and finish it off with a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers. SO good!

Christmas Cheesecake: This recipe makes the best fluffy cranberry cheesecake using whole berry cranberry sauce! Loosen up the can of cranberry sauce with a little fresh lemon juice or orange juice and use it just as you would any other fruit topping.

Banana Split Cheesecake: Top the cheesecake with a layer of freshly sliced bananas, then a 1/2 can drained, crushed pineapple. Drizzle the pineapple with chocolate syrup. The finish it off with maraschino cherries and chopped nuts. It’s like a banana split in pie form!

Lemon Cheesecake: While mixing the Cool Whip into the cream cheese, you can add about 1/2 lemon curd. For a more subtle lemon flavor, you can add lemon extract to the filling mixture. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and dust with a little powdered sugar.

Blueberry cheesecake: Blueberry pie filling makes a great topping. Strawberry pie filling is amazing with this no bake cheesecake recipe as well.

Chocolate cheesecake: Add some chocolate chips to the cheesecake mixture then drizzle the top with a little chocolate syrup. You could even use a chocolate graham cracker crust for even chocolate flavor.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake: Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter to the cheesecake mixture, then top it off with mini-Reese’s cups.

Caramel pecan: It is so easy to make this no bake recipe into a fluffy caramel pecan cheesecake by just folding in some chopped pecans, then topping it with caramel syrup and additional chopped pecans.

Want More Tasty Quick and Easy Desserts?

If you liked this easy no bake dessert recipe, you’ll want to give these a try too:

No bake cheesecake with berries for recipe card

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