No-bake Cheesecake

No-bake cheesecake is a delicious dessert that does not require oven baking, ideal for hot days or when looking for something quick and refreshing. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 250g of dry biscuits (such as Digestive or shortbread cookies)
• 100g of melted butter
• 500g of cream cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 100g of powdered sugar
• 1 sachet of vanilla sugar or a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
• 200ml of whipping cream
• 1 sachet of sheet gelatin (about 10g) or 2 teaspoons of gelatin powder
• Fresh fruit or compote for decorating (to taste)

Preparation

1. Start by crushing the biscuits in a mixer to a sand-like consistency. Mix the crushed biscuits with the melted butter until you have a homogeneous mixture.
2. Press the biscuit mixture onto the bottom of a springform pan (preferably 22-24cm in diameter) to form a compact base. Put into the fridge to cool for about 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, soften the gelatin in cold water if you are using sheet gelatin, or prepare it according to the package instructions if using powder.
4. In a bowl, whip the cream cheese with powdered sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest until you have a smooth and homogeneous cream.
5. Heat a little cream (not all of it, just a tablespoon) and dissolve the squeezed gelatin in it. Let it cool slightly and mix it into the cream cheese mixture, stirring well to avoid lumps.
6. Whip the remaining cream and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture to keep it fluffy.
7. Pour the cream over the biscuit base in the pan and level the surface with a spatula.
8. Let the cheesecake rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, better if overnight.
9. Before serving, decorate with fresh fruit, compote, grated chocolate, or anything you prefer.

Curiosity

Cheesecake is a dessert with ancient origins, it seems that a primitive version was already served at the time of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. The modern version, especially the no-bake kind, is instead a classic of American pastry, which has been able to reinterpret and make this dessert famous all over the world.

Enjoy your meal!