Go Back

No-Bake White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake

Hannah Eaton
A gorgeously smooth and creamy no-bake white chocolate cheesecake, topped with homemade cranberry sauce, fresh whipped cream, and a dash of nutmeg.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Inactive time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 52 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 8

Equipment

  • Food Processor
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing Spoons
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Hand Mixer
  • Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients
  

Graham Cracker Crust:

  • 1 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs appox. 1 sleeve of crackers, processed
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Melted Salted Butter

Cranberry Sauce:

  • 6 oz. Fresh Cranberries
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Orange Juice appox. 2 oranges
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/8 tsp Ground Ginger
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon

White Chocolate Cheesecake:

  • 8 oz. Room Temperature Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 6 oz. White Chocolate Chips
  • 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream divided into a 1 Cup portion and a 1/2 Cup portion
  • 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Nutmeg for garnish

Fresh Whipped Cream:

  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • Splash of Vanilla

Instructions
 

To Make the Graham Cracker Crust:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a small bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch pie pan.
  • Using a flat-bottomed measuring cup, lightly spread and firmly press the crust mixture into the bottom of the pan, making sure to push the sides up over the edge of the pie pan by approximately one 1/2-inch, forming the graham cracker crust. This will be easiest to do while the mixture is still slightly warm from the melted butter.
  • Once your crust is formed, place it into your oven and bake it for 7-10 minutes until golden brown.
  • Once baked, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely.

To Make the Cranberry Sauce:

  • Combine all of the ingredients into a small saucepan, stirring well to combine, and place the pan over medium-high heat until it begins to boil and the cranberries begin to pop open.
  • Once the mixture is boiling, turn the heat down to low, and allow it to simmer for 20-25 minutes until the cranberries have broken down and the mixture has thickened.
  • Once thickened, remove the sauce from the heat and place it into a heat-proof bowl. Place the bowl of sauce in the fridge to cool while you make the filling for your cheesecake.

To Make the No-Bake Cheesecake:

  • Begin by heating your 1/2 cup of heavy cream in the microwave until it is very warm and steaming (but not boiling).
  • Once warm, place your white chocolate chips into a small bowl and pour the warm cream over the top of them. Allow them to sit without stirring them for 2 minutes.
  • After the 2 minutes are up, gently whisk the mixture together until a smooth, silky ganache forms. Set aside.
  • Next, into a small bowl, add the remaining 1 Cup of heavy cream and, using an electric hand mixer, mix on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  • After you have whipped your cream, place your room-temperature cream cheese and granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl and mix on high speed until completely smooth.
  • Once your cream cheese has been mixed, add in your white chocolate ganache and once again mix on high speed until the ingredients have all come together and no lumps remain.
  • Next, add in your fresh-made whipped cream, almond extract, and vanilla extract and gently fold it all together with a rubber spatula, making sure that your mixture remains as fluffy as possible.
  • Once your filling has been made, gently place it into your cooled graham cracker crust and smooth out the stop into an even layer.
  • Place your pie in the fridge to set for 1 hour.

To Make the Whipped Cream and Assemble:

  • To make your fresh whipped cream, combine all of the ingredients above into a medium mixing bowl, and whip on high speed with your electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
  • Once your pie has been in the fridge for 1 hour, remove it and pipe a decorative layer of whipped cream onto the top of your pie, and sprinkle it very lightly with nutmeg.
  • Slice your pie, put each slice on a plate to serve, and top each slice with 2 Tablespoons of your cranberry sauce (or more if desired). Enjoy!
QR Code linking back to recipe