With a buttery biscuit base and a creamy Baileys flavoured filling, this no-bake Baileys cheesecake is an ideal make-ahead festive dessert!
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This is my last festive recipe post of 2020! And although this has been a year truly like no other, I’m hoping I’ve helped make you feel a little more festive with my recent recipes.
Other festive recipes of mine include my No-Bake Mint Chocolate Cheesecake, No-Churn Mince Pie Ice Cream Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake, Christmas Berry Pavlova Wreath and Gingerbread Latte Cake. I’ve also created an eBook of Christmas recipes called 12 Treats of Christmas which includes an exclusive selection of baked and no-bake recipes!
This no-bake Baileys cheesecake is one of my most indulgent festive recipes. It’s so smooth and creamy with that unmistakable taste of Baileys. It would be the ideal make-ahead dessert for your Christmas or New Year celebrations!
Best no-bake Baileys Cheesecake with no gelatin
I am really proud of this recipe as I feel the flavours and textures are everything you’d want and expect from a Baileys cheesecake recipe!
The biscuit base is slightly crumbly and buttery, and the cheesecake filling is super smooth and creamy. Plus, it sets firmly without the need for gelatin! I’ve tried to put as much Baileys into the filling as possible without making it too soft. I feel the Baileys taste comes through well without being overpowering!
Drizzled with melted chocolate and topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, this easy no-bake Baileys cheesecake recipe will impress any guests and can be made the day before so is a great no-stress dessert option!
No-Bake Baileys Cheesecake Ingredients
So, what do you need to make this easy no-bake Baileys cheesecake? Full ingredient amounts can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but to summarise you’ll need:
Cheesecake biscuit base
- Digestive biscuits (or Graham crackers) crushed to make the biscuit base
- Melted butter helps to bind the biscuit base together
- Light brown sugar is added to help the base set up firmly in the fridge
Cheesecake Filling
- Double cream is whipped to create a firm yet soft cheesecake filling
- Full-fat cream cheese gives it that delicious tangy cheesecake flavour
- Icing sugar for sweetness and helps a little with thickening the filling
- Baileys for that classic Baileys flavour!
Cheesecake Decoration
- Double cream is whipped to create swirls around the cheesecake
- Dark or milk chocolate is melted to drizzle across the top and grated over the cheesecake to finish!
How to make a no-bake Baileys Cheesecake
Full step-by-step instructions with photos can be found in the recipe card below, but in summary:
- Set your cream cheese aside first to allow it to come to room temperature. This is important as cold cream cheese can lead to a lumpy cheesecake mixture!
- Mix your crushed digestive biscuits/Graham crackers, melted butter and light brown sugar in a medium bowl until well combined
- Pour your biscuit mixture into a 20cm/8inch deep springform pan, making sure to press it down as tightly as possible into the base of the pan. Place in the fridge to chill
- Using an electric stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the cold double cream until nice and thick; thickly whipped cream creates a firmer base for your cheesecake filling! Pour the whipped cream into a smaller bowl and set aside
- Beat the room temperature cream cheese, icing sugar and Baileys until smooth and well combined
- Now by hand, fold the whipped cream into this cream cheese mixture with a spatula until well combined
- Pour the mixture into your 20cm/8inch deep springform pan and level out the top with your spatula
- Place in your fridge to chill for at least 8 hours to set firmly. I always make mine the night before to give it plenty of time to firm up though!
Tips for making the best no-bake Baileys cheesecake
- I recommend using a springform cake pan as it can then be removed and placed onto a serving plate or cake stand!
- It’s best to use cold double cream for whipping as it whips up best at this temperature. This will then lead to a firmer cheesecake filling!
- Conversely, your cream cheese should be at room temperature as cold cream cheese can lead to a lumpy cheesecake filling
- Be sure to use full-fat cream cheese as the lower fat version won’t work the same and you’ll end up with a sloppy cheesecake that doesn’t set firmly
- I recommend chilling the cheesecake for at least 8 hours, but I always make my cheesecake the night before so that it would have chilled for at least 10-12 hours. This way I’m confident it has set up firmly before serving!
No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe FAQs
Why has my no-bake cheesecake not set firm?
You may not have left it to chill in the fridge long enough; I recommend at least 8 hours to give it plenty of time to firm up!
Other causes include not whipping the double cream until thick or using reduced-fat cream cheese.
How should I store a no-bake cheesecake?
Keep the cheesecake stored in your fridge between servings.
How long will a no-bake cheesecake keep for?
Stored in the fridge your cheesecake can keep well for up to 5 days. However, check the expiry dates on your double cream and cream cheese as if they expire in less than 5 days, so will your cheesecake!
Can I freeze a no-bake cheesecake?
This cheesecake will freeze well once you’ve allowed it to chill and set firmly in the fridge first. Once set, keep it in your cake pan and double wrap it in film. It should keep well in your freezer for up to 3 months.
Why is my no-bake cheesecake lumpy?
This might happen if your cream cheese didn’t come to room temperature before making the cheesecake filling. Cold cream cheese won’t incorporate well into your cheesecake mixture, leading to a lumpy mixture!
Why is my no-bake cheesecake sticking to the pan?
The biscuit base can be a little awkward to lift from the cake pan base after chilling. To help with this, I usually run a sharp knife under warm water, dry it and then run the warmed knife slowly and gently under the cheesecake base all the way around. Then push the cheesecake base onto your serving plate gently and slowly!
To conclude, this no-bake Baileys cheesecake is:
- Made up of a buttery biscuit base and creamy Baileys cheesecake filling
- Unbelievably smooth with a crumbly biscuit base
- Ideal for making ahead the night before for a stress-free dessert
- Very quick and simple to make with no oven needed
- The perfect festive dessert for Christmas or New Year celebrations!
If you try this recipe I’d love to see! You can show me by tagging me @bakerjoblog or using #bakerjoblog!
Other festive recipes to try:
- No-Bake Mint Chocolate Cheesecake
- No-Churn Mince Pie Ice Cream
- Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake
- Christmas Berry Pavlova Wreath
- Black Forest Swiss Roll
- Gingerbread Latte Cake
Other no-bake cheesecakes to try:
Other desserts to try:
- Lattice Apple Pie
- Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
- No-Churn Biscoff Ice Cream
- Lemon Bars
- No-Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
- Strawberry Pavlova
- No-Churn Oreo Ice Cream
- No-Bake Fresh Fruit Tart
MY CHRISTMAS EBOOK!
An eBook of exclusive Christmas baked and no-bake recipes, with a few extra bonuses included too! Find out more by clicking the image above or clicking here! 😊
No-Bake Baileys Cheesecake
Equipment
- 20cm/8inch deep springform cake pan
- Electric stand or hand mixer
- Spatula
Ingredients
Biscuit Base
- 250 g digestive biscuits/Graham crackers
- 130 g unsalted butter melted
- 30 g light brown sugar
Cheesecake Filling
- 310 ml double cream cold
- 650 g full-fat cream cheese (I use Philadelphia) room temperature
- 140 g icing sugar sifted
- 140 ml Baileys Irish cream liqueur
Decoration
- 200 ml double cream cold
- 50 g dark or milk chocolate melted
- 1 square of dark or milk chocolate grated over the cheesecake to finish
Instructions
- Firstly, cut your cream cheese into rough small cubes and set aside in a small bowl to come to room temperature.
- Crush your digestive biscuits/Graham crackers by pulsing in a food processor. Alternatively, you can place them in a sandwich/ziplock bag and bash into crumbs with the end of a rolling pin!
- Pour the biscuit crumbs and light brown sugar into a medium bowl and whisk or stir to combine.
- Add the butter and fold through the biscuit mixture with a spatula until well combined.
- Pour the biscuit mixture into your 20cm/8inch deep springform cake pan.
- Pack the biscuit crumbs as firmly as possible into the base of the cake pan as this ensures your biscuit base sets firmly in the fridge. I do this by using the base of a glass to press firmly down into the pan base.
- Place the cake pan in the fridge to chill while you make the cheesecake filling.
Cheesecake Filling
- Using an electric stand or hand mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk your cold double cream on medium-high speed until thick as shown. This takes around 1-2 minutes with my stand mixer. This step is important to ensure your cheesecake sets firmly!Pour the whipped cream into a smaller bowl and set aside. You can now use the same mixing bowl for the next step; don't worry about washing it!
- Add the room temperature cream cheese and sifted icing sugar to the mixing bowl and now swap to your beater attachment. Beat the mixture on medium speed until combined and smooth. This takes around 30 seconds with my mixer.
- With the mixer still running on medium speed, slowly pour the Baileys into the mixing bowl. Once all added, continue mixing for around 20 more seconds to ensure it's thoroughly combined.
- Now by hand, fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula until thoroughly combined.
- The mixture should be thick enough that your spatula stands upright in it!
- Pour the mixture into your springform pan and level the top with your spatula; the mixture will come almost to the very top of your pan.Chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours or ideally overnight to allow it to firm up well.
- Once firm, slowly remove it from the springform pan and place onto your serving plate or cake stand.The biscuit base can be a little awkward to lift from the cake pan base after chilling. Run a sharp knife under warm water, dry it and then run the warmed knife slowly and gently under the cheesecake base all the way around. Then push the cheesecake base onto your serving plate gently and slowly!
- You can smooth out the sides and top of your cheesecake by going around it with a small pallet knife.
Cheesecake Decoration
- Whip some more double cream on medium-high speed until thickened and pipeable.
- Melt some dark/milk chocolate and drizzle it across the cheesecake. I simply dipped a fork in the melted chocolate and quickly ran it across the top of the cheesecake in different directions to make this pattern!
- Pipe swirls of whipped cream around the edge of your cheesecake and then finely grate a square of dark/milk chocolate across the cheesecake to finish.
- Keep your cheesecake in the fridge between servings. Best eaten within 5 days (though check the expiry dates on your double cream and cream cheese as if they expire sooner, so will your cheesecake!)
Notes
MY CHRISTMAS EBOOK!
An eBook of exclusive Christmas baked and no-bake recipes, with a few extra bonuses included too! Find out more by clicking the image above or clicking here! 😊
I made this for a St Patrick’s day meal and it went down a storm. One person who eats out a lot at posh restaurants said it was the best cheesecake he had ever eaten. The only thing I did differently to your recipe was to drizzle toffee sauce and sprinkle a broken up flake on top instead of the whipped cream and melted chocolate. Oh I also used dark chocolate digestives instead of plain ones but omitted the sugar from the base.
This week I will be trying the lemon version of you no bake cheesecake, 😋 can’t wait to try it.