Whether you need a dessert for Valentines Day or Sunday Supper, this no bake cheesecake is the best.  A fun easy dessert that your family will love. This cheesecake recipe makes a smooth and creamy dessert that sets up beautifully in the refrigerator.  The outside of the 6″ cake looks like a normal cheesecake, but.. there is a surprise in the middle. As you cut into the cake, bright squares of cherry and orange jello squares peep through. When you eat this dessert, it is smooth and creamy but with a kick of cherry and orange spongey jiggly, gel-like texture.  It is unique and a current food trend.

How to make this easy dessert.

Let’s start with the jello.  You will need a package of your favorite gelatin flavors, I used cherry and orange. Following the directions on the box of jello, stir up a batch, then pour into a 9″ x 13″ shallow pan with 2″ sides. Chill the jello until firm then cut out squares or other shapes.  I made one heart for the top center of the cheesecake just for Valentines day dessert.   While the jello is setting up, make the cheesecake filling.

Because this recipe is no bake, the crust is graham crackers, however you can use crushed cookies instead. I used a 6″ round springform pan lined with parchment on the sides of the pan and bottom.

Making the crust:

Tip:  Lining the pan with parchment will ensure that the crust holds the sides together.  Lightly spray with cooking spray.

Process the crumbs then add sugar, and melted butter. Process until crumbs are coated.

Tip:  I also added sugar to the crumbs and baked the crust for 5 minutes at 350. But.. if you chill the crust for 30 minutes before you add the filling, you should be ok.  The sugar helps hold the crust together.

Push the crumbs up the sides of the springform pan, this is the hardest part.  Use a small cup to help push the sides and bottom of crust to the pan.  Form the top edge with fingers.  Chill at least 30 minutes or bake.

Making the no bake cheesecake filling.

I used 2-8 ounce packages of softened cream cheese and cut into 1″ pieces.  Process until smooth and creamy, then add softened unflavored gelatin.   You will need a 1/4 cup boiling water and two packages of unflavored gelatin like Knox or other brand. There is no color or flavor to this gelatin, it just helps set the cheesecake since we are not baking and there are no eggs in the filling.

Add one can of Sweetened Condensed Milk to cream cheese mixture and 2 teaspoons orange extract.

All ready to put in your prepared graham crust.

Add jello pieces to bottom of crust, pour enough cheesecake filling to cover the pieces.

Add more jello pieces, repeat process until pan is full.  Add one jello heart or desired cut out on the top of the cake.

Chill cheesecake up to 3 hours or longer.  The longer it is chilled the better.  Actually the cheesecake tastes better after the 24 hours. 

Now for the fun part… removing from pan.

Seriously this is the easy part.  Unlock sides of springform pan, and remove the parchment.  Look how great this is.  Your cheesecake sides will stand so pretty for you.

Remove the parchment paper. How about that heart jello shape.  So cute.  I thought about adding Valentine sprinkles but discovered they bleed so… I opted out of that idea.

Hindsight:  should have added whipped cream dollops and squares or additional heart shaped jello pieces on the dollops.  Next time I make this I will do that.

The cake is small 6″ so you can run a sharp knife under the crust to remove it from the bottom pan. Looks better without the bottom cake pan when serving on cake stand.

You will love the texture and flavor of this light and creamy dessert.  It is light even though there is sweetened condensed milk inside.  Jello adds so much fun to the look and taste. Hope you will make one.

Here’s the recipe instructions.

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Here’s what you can make with leftover gelatin pieces. Light dessert. Super easy!

Other Ideas you might like to try:

Strawberry Cheesecake Strawberry Cheesecake Tart