Gluten-Free No-Bake Cheesecake

Name: Gluten-Free No-Bake Cheesecake
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 260 min
Ingredients: 5-6 oz gluten-free graham crackers (I like Schar Honeygrams); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 4 tablespoons salted butter (melted); 16 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature, 454 grams); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 cup powdered sugar (114 grams); ½ cup sour cream (113 grams); ¾ cup cold heavy cream (see note)

Jump to Recipe

This gluten-free no-bake cheesecake is the ultimate easy, decadent dessert. It’s rich and cream and —no baking (or heating the kitchen) required!

This is one of my favorite gluten-free summer desserts! It is the BEST no-bake cheesecake I’ve ever had. A combination of sour cream, cream cheese and whipped cream make the perfect filling and everyone always asks for the recipe!

A whole gluten-free no-bake cheesecake on a serving dish

It’s hard to beat a creamy, whipped no-bake cheesecake for dessert in the middle of summer! I love this classic gluten-free cheesecake, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to turn your oven on when it’s hot.

This is guaranteed to be the easiest gluten-free no-bake cheesecake you’ll ever make, with a simple crust and unbeatable filling. Really, the filling is some of the best I’ve ever had (no-bake or not), and it comes together quickly when whipped together in one bowl.

A slice of gluten-free no-bake cheesecake on a plate with blueberries on top

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

No oven required!
Perfect summer dessert
Easy to make
Rich and creamy filling
Made with simple ingredients

For more no-bake desserts these strawberry popsicles! You also might like this gluten-free peanut butter pie with gluten-free Oreo pie crust. This gluten-free key lime pie is another refreshing favorite.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this winning no bake cheesecake recipe:

Ingredients for gluten-free no-bake cheesecake on a counter top

Cream cheese: For best results, use full-fat cream cheese in this gluten-free no-bake cheesecake. It will produce a more rich, flavorful cheesecake!
Heavy cream: Be sure to choose the cream labeled “heavy cream” (not heavy whipping cream, half and half, or dairy topping), because it contains a milk fat percentage of 35% or higher. Many brands of heavy whipping cream only have 30-35% milk fat, and this mousse needs the extra milk fat to be sure it turns out thick and creamy. I prefer Darigold heavy cream (40% milk fat). Not all brands or cartons label the milk fat percentage, so to be safe, look for a brand that has 35% (or higher) written on the carton.
Gluten-free graham crackers: I recommend Schar Honeygrahams for gluten-free graham cracker crust —they provide great flavor and texture!
Sour cream: Full-fat sour cream is best for this gluten-free no-bake cheesecake recipe!
Vanilla: Use real vanilla extract to get the best flavor.

How to Make Gluten-Free No-Bake Cheesecake

Make the Crust

Crust ingredients in a bowl, and crust ingredients pressed into a cheesecake dish

Place the graham crackers in a large resealable bag. Use a rolling pin or the back of a glass to crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs. (You can also use a food processor to blent the graham crackers!)
Pour the graham cracker crumbs into a medium bowl. Stir in the sugar and melted butter until well-combined.
Press the mixture into the bottom and 1- or 2-inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan or into the bottom and sides of a 9.5-inch pie plate. (You can use the bottom of a measuring cup to evenly spread the fine crumbs.)
Refrigerate until the cream cheese mixture is ready.

Make the Filling

gluten-free no-bake cheesecake ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and the same ingredients with sour cream mixed in

In a large bowl of a stand mixer, (or use a large bowl with an electric mixer), add the room temperature cream cheese, vanilla and powdered confectioners’ sugar. Mix on medium-speed until smooth and light, 2-3 minutes.
Add the sour cream and mix to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

A bowl with cream whipped into the cream cheese, and a pie dish with the filling spread inside

With the mixer running on low, slowly drizzle in the whipping cream. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until very thick and creamy, 4-5 minutes.
Spread the filling in an ever layer into the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
Serve plain, with fresh fruit or a fruit sauce.

What to Serve with No-Bake Cheesecake

This cheesecake tastes great plain, but you can also jazz it up with fresh strawberries, other fresh berries, or a homemade fruit compote! Here are my favorite gluten-free compote recipes:

Storage Instructions

Wrap the gluten-free no-bake cheesecake in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to five days.

FAQs

Is Philadelphia no bake cheesecake filling gluten-free?

No, Philadelphia no-bake cheesecake filling is not certified gluten-free. The label lists several ingredients that may contain gluten.

Can people with Celiac’s disease eat cheesecake?

People with Celiac’s disease can eat cheesecake that is made with a gluten-free graham cracker crust.Since traditional cheesecake recipes rely on graham crackers (made with wheat flour) for the crust, many types of cheesecake are not gluten-free.

Why is cheesecake not gluten-free?

Usually, the cheesecake found at the grocery store has gluten in the crust (graham crackers that are made with wheat flour). However, most cheesecake filling is naturally gluten-free. If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you can make your own cheesecake using gluten-free graham crackers for the crust.

A slice of gluten-free no-bake cheesecake on a plate

Expert Tips & Tricks

You can make this gluten-free dessert in a springform pan, in individual glass containers, or in a muffin pan lined with parchment liners. When making them for kids, I like to make these in a muffin pan. My kids think its so fun to get their very own cheesecake for dessert!
This cheesecake is great with any topping cheesecake topping you like. I’m definitely partial to cherry topping on cheesecake (you can use the cherry topping recipe from this vegan cheesecake – a great option if you can’t eat dairy!) but any kind of berry topping will work.

A whole gluten-free no-bake cheesecake in a dish, with a slice taken out

More Gluten-Free Desserts

I hope you love this cheesecake for a gluten-free summer dessert as much as I do! If you try this no-bake recipe, be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!

Hungry for more? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for all of the latest updates.