Easy no-bake vanilla cheesecake
This wonderful no-bake vanilla cheesecake with natural cream cheese tastes nothing short of amazing. Its filling is creamy and dense without being heavy, and the vanilla and lemon-flavored wonder is deliciously decadent. The richness of the natural cream cheese filling works wonderfully with the toppings of berries and herbs, and the crispness of the buttery, golden biscuit crust rounds off the experience. Our simple vanilla cheesecake recipe is easy to follow, and since you can prepare it in advance, serving it to friends and family is hassle-free.
In case this vanilla cheesecake recipe has made you eager to try more desserts like it, have a look at our no-bake strawberry cheesecake.
Enjoy a delicious vanilla and lemon filling
There is a reason vanilla is one of the most popular flavors to use in desserts – it is aromatic and has a sweet, subtle flavor profile with floral undertones that is great at enhancing the natural sweetness of desserts and baked goods. In the filling, the tropical vanilla spice is complemented by tangy citrus fruit. The lemon zest and juice bring a freshness to the dense, creamy, naturally sweet filling that rounds off the flavor profile of this soft and smooth cream cheese cheesecake.
If you are in the mood for more vanilla-flavored desserts, have a look at our recipes for a soft and creamy vanilla pudding or a delicious and elegant vanilla ice cream dessert with bake plums and buckwheat brittle.
Get a smooth cheesecake with natural cream cheese and sour cream
With a wonderful array of dairy products like natural cream cheese, sour cream, and whipping cream, the vanilla cheesecake filling makes for a deliciously soft and smooth experience. Natural Cream cheese in cheesecake especially helps ensure an indulgently rich mouthfeel as it gives the cake a dense but creamy consistency that is almost mousse-like in texture. If you enjoy beautifully smooth desserts with a lot of flavor, you cannot go wrong with a vanilla cream cheese cheesecake balanced by fresh, tangy lemon juice and zest.
Decorate with berries and fresh herbs
The golden biscuit crust and cream-colored filling with flecks of vanilla looks beautiful topped with an assortment of fresh berries and herbs. Garnishing with red forest sorrel, red berries like raspberries and redcurrants with the contrast of dark berries like blueberries or blackberries break the monochrome look, giving the vanilla cheesecake an elegant appearance that is sure to be the star of any dessert table.
The herbs as well as berries not only look stunning placed along the edge of the crust, but they also add richness to the vanilla cheesecake's flavor profile. The berries add a sweetness and freshness that, along with the bright, tangy flavor of the forest sorrel and lemon balm, complements the rich and decadent natural cream cheese cheesecake beautifully. Using the berries and herbs that are in season will give you the tastiest result.
Add your own touch
A way to experiment with this vanilla cheesecake recipe is to incorporate the berries into the filling itself rather than using them solely as a garnish. The berries can either be folded evenly into the filling before it is poured into the biscuit crust and chilled or you can cook a berry purée to which the warm lemon juice and soft gelatine leaves are added before folding it in the rest of the filling mixture.
The first option will ensure that you get bright berry bits in every bite, while the second will change the vanilla cheesecake flavor more as the entire filling will taste like berries. The look will also change as the natural cream cheese filling will take on the color of the berries. Using fresh or frozen blueberries, for instance, will give it a vivid, eye-catching purple color, while using raspberries will give the vanilla cheesecake a soft romantic-looking pink hue.
You can add a pinch of salt to the biscuit crust or use salted butter. This will enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
