No-Bake Cheesecake Bites

Cheesecake, with its crunchy graham cracker crust and creamy filling, is by far one of my favorite desserts. However, making one can be time-consuming and require a little expertise — that’s why I love these easy no bake cheesecake bites.

 

With just a few simple ingredients you probably already have, or can easily pick up at the grocery store, you can whip these up in no time. You can also use all sorts of different toppings (or filling flavors) to add a fruity, nutty, or chocolatey twist to the standard recipe.

The best part of these mini cheesecake bites (besides how easy they are to make) is that they can be kept around for a quick sweet treat. Whether it’s an after-school snack or an evening indulgence while binge-watching, they’re perfect small bites of crunchy, creamy cheesecake goodness.

Why You’ll Love Cheesecake Bites

Super easy, no fuss- these have all the flavor of a traditional cheesecake without the trouble.

• No baking – These are no-bake cheesecake bites so they require little prep time and even less cleanup.
• Easy – With just a few simple steps you can get all of that cheesecake flavor without spending a whole afternoon in the kitchen.
• Portable – These are easy to take to a party, cookout, or picnic.
• Customizable – There are tons of options to use your own favorite toppings to make this your own!

Ingredients

This recipe for cheesecake uses simple ingredients ro make delicious two-bite balls.

What You’ll Need to Make Cheesecake Bites

• Cream cheese –  Using cream cheese that has been softened until it is at room temperature will make it easier to work with. Make sure to use full-fat cream cheese to achieve the perfect texture and flavor.
• Salted butter – Make sure that the butter is at room temperature so it is easy to incorporate.
• Powdered sugar – Make sure to use powdered and not granulated sugar to get the smooth consistency of creamy cheesecake.
• Graham crackers – These crushed graham crackers help to act as a binding agent so that the balls stay together. They also add the perfect level of crunchiness.
• Vanilla extract – This flavoring helps to round out all of the sweet flavors of the cheesecake balls.

Coating

• Graham crackers – Make sure to crush the graham crackers finely. This is accomplished most easily by placing the graham crackers in a plastic bag and rolling over them with a rolling pin or beating them with a mallet or meat tenderizer.
• Sprinkles – Use chocolate or make them colorful!

How To Make No-Bake Cheesecake Bites

Don’t preheat the oven- these cheesecake balls are no-bake!

1. Make Cheesecake Mixture. Cream together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and graham crackers in a large bowl until smooth. You can also use a food processor.
2. Chill. Cover the bowl and let the mixture chill for at least 1 hour.
3. Form Balls. When ready to form the cheesecake balls, use a miniature ice cream scoop or small cookie scoop. For best results, grease your hands to help you to roll them out uniformly. If the mixture is not maintaining its ball form, try mixing in more graham cracker crumbs.
4. Coat. Once the balls are formed, then roll them in sprinkles or graham cracker crumbs until they are completely coated.
5. Store. Place them on a parchment paper (or wax paper) lined baking sheet or serving tray. Enjoy the cheesecake balls immediately or return them to the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them. 

Variations

This base recipe is delicious as-is, but here are a few ways to amp it up and make these your own.

• Toppings – Try using crushed nuts, shaved dark chocolate, white chocolate, or mini M&Ms. You can also make Oreo cheesecake balls using crushed Oreo cookies.
• Fruit or juice – Lemon juice, blueberries, finely chopped strawberries can all be folded into the cheesecake mixture to add a fruity element. Lemon zest works well, too.
• More filling additions – Add cocoa powder, spices like nutmeg or cinnamon, or a dash of an extract you like (eg, lemon, coffee, or almond extract) for some additional or seasonal flavor. You can even add a bit of peanut butter (or pipe it into the center once the balls are formed).
• Liquor – To make an only-adult version, try adding a touch of your favorite liquor or liqueur — Kahlua, Frangelico, and Bailey’s are all good options. If you want to use a harder liquor, try a flavored vodka (like caramel) or rum.
• Lower carb/sugar – To make a lower carb version of these cheesecake balls you can use an alternative powdered sugar. To make them keto you can also try using coconut flour or almond flour instead of graham crackers in the cream cheese mixture (and omit them entirely from the topping).
• Drizzle – You can drizzle these with any melted chocolate you might like, or experiment with caramel as well.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Cheesecake Bites

Store cheesecake in the refrigerator in an airtight container or ziploc bag. You can also wrap them individually with plastic wrap (or put them in a freezer-safe container) and store them in either the fridge for up to 5 days. Remove when ready to serve. The warmer they are, the less they will hold their shape.

How to Freeze Cheesecake Bites

To freeze, place them all on a rimmed cookie sheet, covered and separated, then freeze for 24 hours. Remove and place into a airtight freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 6 months and thaw in the fridge. You can easily just pop one out for a nice snack. One will thaw at room temperature in about an hour.

If you just put the soft balls into the bag, they will lose shape and stick together.

Other Cheesecake Recipes

Who doesn’t adore creamy cheesecake? Here are a few more recipes to fit the bill.