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Easy No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake

Published: / Updated: / 22 Comments

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My easy no bake gingerbread cheesecake is a festive Christmas holiday treat without the effort!

a no-bake gingerbread cheesecake with a slice missing

Cheesecakes can be fussy. Who wants that when you've got a million other things to do in December? That was my motivation to come up with this easy no bake gingerbread cheesecake.

The standard no-bake cheesecake recipe goes something like this: cream cheese is mixed with any number of things - I've seen Nutella, Cool Whip, whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk (that's what I used), and then you add in your spices and other flavorings. Since I was going for gingerbread, I chose ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.

The no-bake crust is typically cookie crumbs mixed with butter. I decided on gingersnaps for obvious reasons here. You simply press the crumbs into a springform pan, freeze it for a while, and Bob's your uncle.

close-up of crust of no-bake gingerbread cheesecake

I refrigerated the cheesecake for about five hours prior to removing it from the springform pan. It was quite delicate, but it won't come apart unless you try to move it off the parchment paper that lines the springform pan.

I don't know why you would need to do that, though. I admit I tried because I wanted to take some photos without the parchment paper. That did not work. 😛

no-bake gingerbread cheesecake with chocolate pearl decoration

Cheesecakes are best stored in a cool place (the fridge). If you choose, let it warm up for a bit prior to serving. You could certainly keep it in the freezer as well, especially if you're planning on transporting it somewhere.

I decorated this cheesecake with pretty chocolate pearls that I picked up at a baking supply store the other week. You can leave it bare or decorate it any fashion you like. It's what's inside that counts. 😉

whole no-bake gingerbread cheesecake next to gingerbread man ornament

Questions? Let me know!

My easy no bake gingerbread cheesecake is a festive Christmas holiday treat without the effort!

Easy No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake

My easy no bake gingerbread cheesecake is a festive holiday treat without the effort.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Chill time 4 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 4 hrs 50 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1.25 cups sweetened condensed milk see note
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Chocolate pearls for decoration (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Line a springform pan with parchment paper (either use pre-cut circles or simply tear off a piece of parchment paper and close the springform pan over it. Cut away excess.
  • Grind the gingersnaps using a food processor or place them in a ZipLoc bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Place the crumbs in a bowl and add the melted butter. Using your hands, mix until you've distributed the butter throughout the crumbs. Press the crumbs onto the bottom of the springform pan evenly. Freeze for 20-30 minutes.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese with the sweetened condensed milk (drizzle it in slowly). I used my hand mixer for this. Add in the vanilla and spices and mix until smooth.
  • Spoon the mixture on top of the crust and smooth until it's even. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight (I suggest covering it if you're leaving it overnight).

Notes

  • The sweetened condensed milk quantity is based on a standard Canadian-sized can (10 ounces/300 ml), but US cans are 14 ounces, so I recommend measuring out the 1.25 cups (equal to 10 ounces) if you're in USA.
  • I suggest waiting until after the cake is set before you decorate it. I used a 9" x 2" springform pan.
Keyword no bake gingerbread cheesecake
Author Natasha Bull
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  1. Hillary Chisholm says

    You say to use a standard 10 oz can of sweetened condensed milk BUT the standard size is actually 14 oz. Maybe this is why the consistency was off for some people? If you can clarify whether 10 ounces or 14 ounces is better by tomorrow for my holiday dessert that would be great! Thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Hi Hillary! Ok, I think I now know what the issue is here. I'm in Canada, and the cans here are 10 oz (300 ml). I published this recipe way back in 2016, and at that time I did not realize that many common products unfortunately are different sizes in US and Canada. I'm going to have to put a note in the recipe to explain that. In newer recipes I have learned to double check whether the Canadian and US products are the same size or not, and I try to go by US sizing since the majority of my audience is American. So yes, it's been tested at 10 oz so I would not use the full can (Google tells me it's 1.25 cups). Sorry for the confusion and thanks for catching this discrepancy.

      Reply

  3. Jo82 says

    I made this Cheesecake wondering why there was no gelatine required? But followed the recipe anyway as it says not required I then froze it for 8hrs to be safe and it still did not set! Very unhappy won’t be using this recipe ever again.

    Reply

  5. MochaBanana68 says

    Hi...your easy no bake gingerbread cheesecake sounds delish...just want to ask you, don't I need to add in some gelatin powder into the cheesecake filling so as to set it??

    Reply

    • Natasha says

      Thank you! Nope, that isn't necessary. The cold is what helps it set. With that said, if you usually add it, then it wouldn't hurt (especially if you're transporting it or leaving it in a warm area longer).

      Reply

  7. Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com says

    it's all about no fuss deliciousness wth holiday entertaining and this fits the bill. Beautiful photos Natasha!

    Reply

  8. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    Sounds so delicious Natasha! I love the creamy texture of no bake cheesecakes. And I just love how easy they are. Perfect for the busy holiday season! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply