Recipe video above. Based on my classic no-bake cheesecake, this Christmas cheesecake is designed for sizzling Aussie summers because there's no need to turn on the oven, it's no bake! Excellent one to feed lots of people, this captures the light yet lusciously creamy qualities of a classic baked cheesecake, but it's considerably easier to make.New to gelatine powder? Don't worry! It's affordable, easy to find, easy to use and gives the cheesecake a superior texture that’s smooth and stable, unlike denser or sloppy versions made without it. See FAQ above for rantings!Decorate with whipped cream, berries and rosemary sprigs for a festive look that's effortless to do.This will serve 24 people as a smaller dessert (ideal after a big meal) or 18 generous pieces.
Prep Time40 minutesmins
Fridge setting12 hourshrs
Course: Sweet
Cuisine: Western
Keyword: Cheesecake recipe, christmas cheesecake, No bake cheesecake
Servings: 18- 24 people
Calories: 288cal
Author: Nagi
Ingredients
Biscuit crust:
300g/10 ozBiscoff(38 pieces) or other plain biscuit/cookies 1 1/2 cups crumbs) (Note 1)
Blitz crumb. Press into 33 x 23 cm / 9 x 13" lined pan with paper overhang (important). Bloom gelatine in the water, re-melt. Whip cream. In separate bowl whip cream cheese + sugar, then vanilla, lemon, salt and gelatine. Fold in 1/4 cream, then remaining cream. Fill pan, fridge 12 hours, decorate!
FULL RECIPE:
Line pan with overhang:
Line - Grease a 23 x 33 cm / 9 x 13" can VERY lightly with butter or spray with a plain oil (I use canola). Line with parchment/baking paper with lots of overhang on the long side to lift the cheesecake out once set (see photos).
Biscuit crust:
Blitz - Break up biscuits roughly by hand and place in a food processor. Blitz until it becomes fine crumbs (~30 seconds).
Add butter - Add the butter, cinnamon and salt. Blitz until it resembles wet sand (~ 10 second). It should stay together when pinched between your fingers.
Press - Pour into the prepared pan. Spread then use your hand or something flat to press it in firmly (firmer = more stable base). Refrigerate until required.
Gelatine (Note 2):
Bloom gelatine - Put the water in a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatine across the surface (don't dump it in one place. Whisk until dissolved then set aside for 3 minute or until it firms up like rubber.
Melt - Microwave for 15 seconds on high or until it melts (do not let it boil). Cool for 5 minutes while you make the filling (make sure it's still liquid when you use it, if there's a skin on surface or walls, warm for 5 seconds to liquify).
No-bake cheesecake filling:
Whip cream - Put the cream in a bowl and whip it with an electric beater on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes until firm peaks form (ie not softly whipped, we want good aeration!).
Whip cream cheese - Put the cream cheese and sugar in a separate large bowl. Using the same beater (no need to clean), beat on high for 1 1/2 minutes just until it's soft and smooth. Add the vanilla, lemon and melted gelatine, then beat for 10 seconds on high to mix it through thoroughly. Don't beat excessively as we don't want too many air bubbles in the cheesecake (unsightly).
Fold - Add about 1/4 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Gently fold through using a rubber spatula or large spoon (don't mix aggressively, you'll knock all the air out of the cream!). Then fold in the rest of the cream.
Refrigerate - Pour into the pan and smooth the surface. Refrigerate for 12 hours+ to set.
Decorating:
Remove - Use the paper overhang to lift the cheesecake out of the pan and transfer it onto a serving platter. Then slide the paper out from underneath. Refrigerate until ready to decorate.
Whip cream - Put the ingredients in a bowl and whip on high for 2 to 3 minutes until softly whipped. (Use an electric beater or stand mixer fitted with a whisk. Also, see Note 6 for stabilising to assemble ahead).
Decorate - Spread the cream in big swirls across the surface of the cake. Pile on the berries and cherries, tuck in the orange slices and rosemary. Dust with icing sugar then cut into slices and serve!
Notes
1. Biscoff base - You'll need to get 2 standard Biscoff packets (250g / 8.8oz each, 32 biscuits in each), and to use 1 full packet plus 6 extra biscuits (this is 300g/10 oz).Substitute with any other plain sweet biscuits (ie no chocolate coating or filling like Oreos), like Marie crackers, digestives, graham crackers. If the biscuit you use doesn't hold together when pinched after mixing in the butter, just add a bit of extra butter until it does (some types are a little drier).For holiday spice flavour (built into Biscoff), add 1/8 tsp each nutmeg, all spice and ginger powder (or an extra 1/2 tsp cinnamon).Packet crumbs (eg Graham Cracker Crumbs) - 2 1/2 cups crumbs = 300g / 10 oz2. Gelatine - Sold in small containers or little sachets in the baking aisle. See in post for gelatine using tips. Needs to be liquid when used so re-melt again if needed, but make sure it's not hot!Other recipes that use gelatine: Mango Cheesecake, Trifle, Nutella cheesecake, Mirror glaze.3. Cream - Make sure the one you get can be whipped! Not all cream is made for whipping. Label will say if it can be whipped. Also ensure you use the cream straight out of the fridge, cold, so it whips properly. Warm cream will not whip.4. Cream cheese blocks are firmer than tubs (softer, for spreading). If you can only get the tubs, it's fine, but increase the gelatine to 4 tsp.Ensure the cream cheese is well softened at room temperature so it is easy to whip until smooth and for the gelatine to mix through - nobody wants lumps of gelatine in their cheesecake!5. Sugar - If you only have regular white sugar / granulated sugar, beat the cream cheese + sugar for longer or until there's no sugar grains (rub between fingers). Filling might have some air bubbles but that's a minor sacrifice for no sugar grit!Sweetness note - This cheesecake is not overly sweet, it is French patisserie/Japanese cakes level sweet. If you want American-level-sweet, increase the sugar to 1 3/4 cups.6. Stabilised whipped cream - To assemble the day before or 3+ hours ahead, it's best to stabilise the whipped cream (else it deflates/weeps).Method: Sprinkle 2 tsp gelatine across surface of 2 tbsp water then follow the same steps in this recipe to bloom, re-melt then cool. While cream per recipe, adding the gelatine halfway through whipping. Spread on cake, refrigerate until serving, cream will be like freshly whipped for 2 - 3 days.Alternatively, you can use my mascarpone method (recipe here) but it's richer than I'd opt for this recipe, plus you need to go out and get mascarpone (whereas we already have gelatine!).Storage - Keep it in the fridge and serve cool or cold. Cream is best spread as close to serving as you can as it will deflate a bit after a few hours, though if you beat it a little stiffer it holds better or you can stabilise it (see note 6 above). Cheesecake base is at its best 12 - 36 hours after putting it in the fridge, then softens a little bit (not very noticeable) on days 3 and 4, then a bit more at the 4 day mark (but not anything people complain about). Cheesecake filling keeps the shorter of the cream shelf life, or 7 days (though cream does deflate). Not suitable for freezing (filling gets sloppy).Nutrition per serving assuming 18 servings, excluding cream (I cannot be responsible for how much cream you smother on top!). Lower than I expected! It's practically diet food! 😉