Name: No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 18 full size crackers); 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 2/3 cup melted butter; 3 packages (8 ounce each) cream cheese, room temperature; 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk; 2 lemons, zested and juiced; 12 ounce Cool Whip, thawed

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This No Bake Lemon Cheesecake is a creamy, easy dessert! You’ll love the graham cracker crust topped with a tart citrus cheesecake filling!

Love cheesecake? Our vanilla cheesecake recipe is flavorful and baked to perfection. I’ve got all the tips and tricks too. Readers love our easy Oreo Cheesecake recipe for a no-bake treat.

Slice of lemon cheesecake on a white plate.

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Why Make No Bake Cheesecake

Regardless of the time of year, a cheesecake is always a delicious idea for dessert.

However, sometimes you don’t want to run your oven for an hour, like you do with my lemon cheesecake recipe.

What you REALLY want is a creamy LEMON cheesecake that takes only a few minutes to whip up in the morning and have it ready by dinner time dessert.

Using my favorite no bake cheesecake recipe as a starting point, I got to work creating a lemon version!

What I love about this recipe

No gelatin needed
Bursting with lemon flavor
Makes TWO cheesecakes

Check out all our no bake desserts when you need more ideas! Or give our no bake strawberry cheesecake next! Everyone begs for our no bake nutella cheesecake recipe!

How to Make No Bake Lemon Cheesecake

Ingredients needed to make no bake lemon cheesecake.

Crust. For my no bake cheesecakes I usually use a homemade graham cracker crust. Buttery and delicious, they’re easy to make.

You could certainly buy the pre-made crusts, or swap out the graham crackers for Nilla Wafers, butter cookies, or Golden Oreos!

Filling. Beat softened cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk for about 3-4 minutes. This creates the creamy, sweet base.

Add in lemon juice and zest, beating until smooth. Use my tips and trick on how to zest a lemon!

Fold in Cool Whip and pour into two crusts!

Chill. Refrigerate cheesecakes for about 3 hours (or more). This allows the filling to set up and the lemon flavors to mingle!

How to Serve

To serve, slice cheesecake and enjoy.

No bake lemon cheesecake cut into slices.

Topping options:

Lemon zest mixed with granulated sugar and sprinkled over the top.
Homemade whipped cream.
Top the cheesecakes with a thin layer of homemade Lemon Curd for extra citrus flavor!
Add some toasted coconut to the top for a flavorful twist.

Tips and Tricks

Start with softened, room temperature cream cheese for the creamiest, no lump, filling. Be sure to choose the block of cream cheese, not the spreadable kind in a tub.
When adding the condensed milk, keep mixing until smooth!
For best results, store cheesecake in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze cheesecake. Wrap the top in plastic wrap and cover the entire cheesecake in foil (or airtight container). Freeze for up to 30 days. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, slice and enjoy.
Make one in a square baking dish instead! Line a 9-inch square baking dish with foil, press the crust mixture in the bottom (not on sides). Add filling and chill. Cut into squares!
Want a 13×9 instead? Press all the crumbs into the bottom of a foil lined 13×9, top with all the filling, chill, and enjoy.

More Easy Dessert Recipes

Lemon Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
S’mores Cheesecake
Lemon Meringue Pie – classic dessert!
Almond Bars
Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
Instant Pot Cheesecake

Yield: 16 servings

No Bake Lemon Cheesecake

Prep Time 15 minutes

Chill Time 3 hours

Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

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This No Bake Lemon Cheesecake is a creamy, easy dessert! You'll love the graham cracker crust topped with a tart citrus cheesecake filling!

Ingredients

for the crust

2 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 18 full size crackers)
¼ cup granulated sugar
⅔ cup melted butter

for the filling

3 packages (8 ounce each) cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
2 lemons, zested and juiced
12 ounce Cool Whip, thawed

Instructions

In a food processor, pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs. Add sugar and melted butter.
Press crumbs into bottom of two pie plates. Use the palm of your hand to press firmly.
In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk. Beat for 3-4 minutes until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add in zest and juice from two lemons, beating until smooth.
Fold in Cool Whip. Pour filling into prepared crusts.
Refrigerate cheesecake for 3 hours (or overnight). ENJOY.

Notes

Start with softened, room temperature cream cheese for the creamiest, no lump, filling. Be sure to choose the block of cream cheese, not the spreadable kind in a tub.

When adding the condensed milk, keep mixing until smooth!

For best results, store cheesecake in refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze cheesecake. Wrap the top in plastic wrap and cover the entire cheesecake in foil (or airtight container). Freeze for up to 30 days. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, slice and enjoy.

Make one in a square baking dish instead! Use half in a pie plate, and half in a square dish. Line a 9-inch square baking dish with foil, press the crust mixture in the bottom (not on sides). Add filling and chill. Cut into squares!

Want a 13x9 instead? Press all the crumbs into the bottom of a foil lined 13x9, top with all the filling, chill, and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 236Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 164mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g

*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.