These beautiful No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes have a buttery graham cracker crust and an irresistible creamy filling. They are the perfect summer dessert to serve at home or on the go, easy to make, and perfectly sized. Top them with our Cherry Sauce for sweet perfection in every bite.
We love no-bake recipes like Banana Pudding and Chocolate Lasagna. If you are a fan of easy, no-bake desserts, you’ve got to try these No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes! Watch the video tutorial to see just how easy they are to make.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
If you like our No-Bake Cheesecake, you have got to try this No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes recipe. Similar to our traditional Mini Strawberry Cheesecake recipe, they’re made in cupcake liners or small ramekins- perfectly portioned, and no need to cut into a large cake to serve. They are perfect for entertaining because both the cheesecakes and the Cherry Sauce are simple, make-ahead recipes- just before your party, pop them onto a platter, decorate, and serve.
No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes Video
Watch Natasha make these Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes and see for yourself just how incredibly easy they are to make. We love the creamy texture and the endless possibilities for toppings. Get your ingredients ready because these are a must-make!
What are No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes?
No-bake mini cheesecakes are exactly as they say, individual-sized cheesecakes that do not require heating up the oven. Using only a few ingredients, they have an airy cream cheese and whipped cream filling and set in the refrigerator instead of baking in the oven.
I love cheesecake, especially during the summer months when fresh berries are in season to use for toppings. But on a hot day, the idea of turning on the oven can take the joy right out of that dreamy dessert. These no-bake recipes are the best of both worlds.
With the classic flavors of a traditional cheesecake, this recipe is decadent and creamy, just like my Perfect Cheesecake recipe, but this one does not require you to turn on the oven.
Ingredients for No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes
These petite treats come together so quickly and create fourteen individual-sized servings. The ingredients are simple for both the crust and the filling:
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- Graham Crackers – You can make your own or buy them pre-crushed. Use gluten-free graham crackers to keep this recipe GF.
- Sugar – adds a bit more sweetness to the crust
- Butter – Unsalted, melted to hold the crust together
For the No-Bake Cheesecake Filling:
- Cream Cheese – 2 blocks (not tubs), room temperature, and full-fat variety or it won’t set properly.
- Sugar – We use granulated sugar for just the right amount of sweetness.
- Sour Cream – Full-fat, creates a more dense and smooth texture.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed, cuts the sweetness and balances the cake.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – Be sure to use HEAVY whipping cream, which has a higher fat content than regular whipping cream, which is needed to get stiff peaks.
- Cherry Sauce
Pro Tip: Use any crisp cookie such as Vanilla Wafers, chocolate Oreo cookies (cream removed), or Biscoff shortbread for your crust.
How to Quickly Soften Cream Cheese
If your cream cheese is too cold, you could end up with lumpy cheesecake. Here are the best ways to speed-soften cream cheese:
- Dice the cream cheese: My favorite way to bring cream cheese to room temperature quickly is to cut the cream cheese into smaller cubes. You can cut the cubes right on the foil liner to save some clean-up. Set it on the counter for an hour, or until it is soft to the touch.
- Warm water method: Alternatively, you can place the wrapped block of cream cheese into a bowl of warm water and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave (least favorite): This can be tricky with uneven heating. Remove the foil and place the cream cheese block on a microwave-safe plate and heat it in 10-15 second increments for approximately 1 minute.
Our Favorite No-Bake Crust
There are some recipes out there for no-bake cheesecake that still require baking the crust but it’s totally unnecessary here. The butter holds the crust together perfectly.
- Line Your Muffin Pan – Place 14 liners into cupcake pans. If you do not have a pan with 14 spaces, you can use ramekins for the extras.
- Make the Crust – In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Stir to combine until the crumbs are moistened.
- Press – Spoon approximately 2 Tbsp of graham cracker mixture into each liner and press evenly to form the crust. If using ramekins, sprinkle a layer of crumbs into the bottom, but do not press firm.
How to Make No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes
- Mix Cream Cheese and Sugar – Using a hand mixer, combine cream cheese and sugar on medium/high speed until fluffy and completely smooth.
- Add Sour Cream and Lemon Juice – Continue mixing for 1 minute until well incorporated.
- Make Whipped Cream – Wash your mixer attachments and in a second mixing bowl beat heavy whipping cream on medium/high speed for 3 minutes (or until whipped and stiff peaks form).
- Combine – With a spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to thoroughly combine.
- Scoop – Divide the mixture evenly between the 14 cupcake liners, scooping directly onto the graham cracker crusts. The cream cheese should be about level with the top of the liner. Use a spoon to smooth the top.
Pro Tip: Use a trigger-release ice cream scoop to portion your cream cheese mixture into the cupcake liners.
Common Questions
No-bake cheesecake typically has a lighter, smoother, and creamier texture than baked cheesecake, which tends to be denser in texture. While slightly different in texture, no-bake cheesecakes still have the classic cheesecake flavor.
No-bake cheesecakes require at least 6 hours to set in the refrigerator. If you remove them sooner, they will be more like a mousse. If they are not quite set after 6 hours, give them a little more time in the fridge to firm up. Also, avoid substituting ingredients.
Full-fat blocks of Philadelphia cream cheese are best for this recipe. Cheesecake is not the time to skimp on fat content and using air-whipped tubs of cream cheese won’t give you the right texture.
This recipe is easily doubled. If you don’t have multiple cupcake tins, you can also serve these in ramekins or small glasses.
How to Decorate and Serve
The possibilities for toppings are endless, from a dollop of whipped cream to fresh fruit. Find a few of our favorite toppings below:
- Fresh berries such as blueberries, cherries, raspberries, or strawberries, left whole or sliced
- Cherry Sauce
- Chopped nuts
- Strawberry Sauce
- Chocolate shavings
- Caramel Sauce
Serving Tip: I have found it’s best to unwrap the individual cheesecakes straight from the refrigerator and arrange them on a platter. The cheesecakes soften a bit as they stand at room temperature which makes it more challenging to remove the wrapper later.
How to Store Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes
- To Refrigerate: Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days before serving, though I don’t recommend adding your toppings until you are ready to serve the cheesecake.
- To Freeze: Cheesecake freezes really well and tastes just as good after thawing. After the cheesecakes chill in the refrigerator, wrap the cheesecakes, still in the pan, in several layers of plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- To Thaw: Unwrap and set in the refrigerator overnight.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a cupcake carrier with a lid, you can refrigerate the mini cheesecakes uncovered for a few hours and then loosely cover them with a sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate. This will keep the plastic wrap from sticking badly to the tops.
Love No-Bake Desserts?
If you love this No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes recipe, then you won’t want to miss these other crowd-favorite no-bake dessert recipes:
- Tiramisu Recipe
- No-Bake Strawberry Blueberry Trifle
- Strawberries Romanoff
- No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
- Eton Mess
- No-Bake Chocolate Lasagna
No Bake Mini Cheesecakes Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 12 whole crackers
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1 stick, melted
Ingredients for No-Bake Cheesecake:
- 16 oz cream cheese, (2) 8-oz blocks, room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Cherry Topping
Instructions
- Line your muffin tin with paper liners. If you don’t have a spare muffin tin to make 14 total, you can put the extra 2 into ramekins.
- In a medium bowl, stir together graham crackers and sugar then add melted butter and stir until crumbs are evenly moistened. Divide the crumbs between your paper liners (about 2 Tablespoons in each). Press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the liners to form the crust.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium/high speed for 3 minutes until fluffy and completely smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add sour cream and lemon juice and beat for another minute until well incorporated.
- Wash the mixer attachments and then in a second large mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, or until whipped and stiff peaks form.
- Using a spatula fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined, scraping from the bottom of the bowl as you mix. Divide the cheesecake mixture evenly between your cupcake liners (a trigger-release ice cream scoop makes this easy!). Even out the tops with the back of a spoon. The cream cheese should be about level with the tops of the cupcake liners.
- Refrigerate the mini cheesecakes for at least 6 hours or overnight (set a reminder to cover with plastic wrap after a couple of hours in the refrigerator).
- Make the Cherry Sauce and set it aside to cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve the cheesecakes.
- To serve, remove the wrappers from the mini cheesecakes (the cheesecakes soften as they stand so it’s easier to remove the wrappers right away). Spoon cooled cherry sauce over the mini cheesecakes and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I made these last night and just tried one today… they were delicious. The texture was creamier and fluffier than a traditional baked cheesecake, but still with that delicious, tangy, cheesecake taste. I love the hassle-free aspect of not having to bake it and then wait for the cool down period before refrigerating. I do agree with a previous comment that the paper muffin cups are now a bit damp, so I might try using my silicone ones next time. Thank you for this easy recipe!
Just wondered why you cannot put the heavy cream with the cream cheese and beat it all together? Thanks
Hi Jill, you need to beat the heavy whipping cream first to create stiff peaks prior to combining, the stiff peaks will not work when mixed with the cream cheese first. I hope that helps.
Hi, can you use a foil cupcake case rather than paper, as they are very damp when you remove the paper
Hi Myra! Yes, that would work too.
Made this recipe with strawberries and Blue Berries on top for 4th of July party. I put them in a red/white/blue cups. They were a big hit. Everyone loved them.
Hi from Canada,
I love all the recipes that I’ve tried on your website. Quick tip regarding whipping cream, when making your cheesecakes, whip the cream cheese first, then whip the cream cheese and sugar etc; no need to clean up your beaters that way. Works perfectly ..
Thank you for sharing your method!
I have tried many of your recipes and they never let me down. I’m in need of a new blender and the cherry pitter. I respect your opinion can you recommend one please.
Hi Polly! Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. At the top of the page in the menu section, there is a SHOP option which is my Amazon affiliate page with all of my favorite items. You’ll find the cherry pitter in the kitchen tools category and blender in the appliance category.
Hello Natasha.
I was wondering could I use mascarpone cheese for this recipe?
Thank you .
Hi Dinah, I imagine that will work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Natasha,
I made your no-bake cheese cakes with frozen cherrys – they came out so good – I followed your recipe to a “T”. You are a fabulous baker, cook, etc, etc, etc – I look forward to making another of your recipes – deciding will be the problem. You have a wonderful format and it makes everything easy to follow. Thanks for it all – I plan to do a let more on the stove. Janet
Hi Janet! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Love these! just like all your other recipes these turned out great. did I miss how to store them for freezing them ?
Hi Alicia! See my note in the blog above under “how to sore cheesecakes” for instructions. I’m glad you love the recipe!