Description
This No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake is a festive and creamy dessert featuring a cinnamon graham cracker crust and a rich gingerbread-spiced cream cheese filling. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it requires no baking and is chilled overnight for a smooth and luscious texture, garnished optionally with gingerbread men cookies.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups cinnamon graham cracker crumbs
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
Filling
- 24 ounces (3 blocks) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons gingerbread spice
- 2 cups whipped topping, thawed (such as Cool Whip)
Optional Garnish
- Gingerbread men cookies
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the cinnamon graham cracker crumbs, melted salted butter, and granulated sugar. Mix thoroughly until fully blended to create the crust mixture.
- Chill the crust: Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of a nonstick 9-inch springform pan. If your pan isn’t nonstick, lightly coat it with nonstick spray beforehand. Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for one hour to set the crust.
- Mix the cream cheese base: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream together using an electric mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add flavorings: Add granulated sugar, molasses, vanilla extract, and gingerbread spice to the cream cheese mixture. Mix again until well combined and evenly blended.
- Fold in whipped topping: Gently fold the thawed whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, keeping the texture light and fluffy.
- Assemble the cheesecake: Remove the crust from the refrigerator. Spoon the creamy filling onto the chilled crust and use the back of a spoon to spread it out evenly.
- Chill to set: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, ideally overnight, to allow the cheesecake to fully set and develop flavors.
- Serve: When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator. Garnish with dollops of leftover whipped topping and optionally decorate with gingerbread men cookies. Slice and enjoy.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature to avoid lumps.
- If you don’t have gingerbread spice, you can make your own by mixing ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Use a springform pan for easy removal; if you don’t have one, line a regular pan with parchment paper.
- Leftover whipped topping can be stored in the refrigerator and used as garnish later.
- This cheesecake requires refrigeration time to set properly, so plan ahead.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
