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Home » Dairy Free Recipes » No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake

No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake

Puddings and Desserts, Recipes

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My daughter Bethany loves my cheesecakes and this gluten free No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake is her favourite with is rich creamy flavour packed with lots of vanilla bean paste. I used to make it for her with all the dairy – now it’s dairy free and she can’t even tell the difference!

In 2017 I found out that I can no longer tolerate diary and eggs (among other things) so slowly many of my recipes are being adapted so that I can still enjoy them too. The great news is that even if you can have dairy or eggs you’d struggle to tell the difference – most people who eat my sweet recipes have no idea it’s vegan.

No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake made gluten free and dairy free

Skip to the good bit

  • How do you make a no bake vanilla cheesecake?
  • Top tips for making a vegan cheesecake topping
  • How do you make dairy free condensed milk?
  • Other flavour inspiration for no bake cheesecakes
  • What’s the difference between a baked and no bake cheesecake?
  • Where does cheesecake originally come from?
  • Other gluten free no bake recipe inspiration
  • What is the best dairy free cream to use in baking?
  • No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe

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How do you make a no bake vanilla cheesecake?

There are three main stages to a dairy free cheesecake; the condensed milk, the base and the ‘cream cheese’ topping.

The condensed milk can be either made in advance (I tend to have a ready made jar in the fridge) or can be bought readymade like this Nestle Vegan Condensed Milk or my personal favourite the Natures Charm Vegan Condensed Milk (bought in bulk is cheaper)

To make you own see the next section.

The biscuit stage is super simple. Just smash up or blitz in a processor, 300g of suitable biscuits. I use own brand free from digestives but have been known to use up stem ginger biscuits, choc chip cookies, you name it!. Then you add 80g of fat to the crumbs to act as the binding agent.

The cheesecake topping is your condensed milk, cream cheese and cream with a bit of added fat to hold it all in place. That’s right, it really is that simple.

Top tips for making a vegan cheesecake topping

These tips don’t just apply to this Gluten and Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake, they apply to all my dairy free cheesecake recipes.

  • You need a high fat plant based cream cheese, don’t use low fat versions.
  • Use a dairy free cream that claims to whip well. Again, the higher the fat the better.
  • Add extra fat by way of plant butter or solid white fats (Trex for example)
  • Whip for way longer than you would a ‘normal’ cheesecake topping.
  • Chill for longer than a ‘normal’ cheesecake

Follow all these top tips and I promise you will have a dairy free/vegan cheesecake that behaves itself.

How to make a dairy free and vegan cheesecake topping
How to make a dairy free and vegan cheesecake topping
How to make a dairy free and vegan cheesecake topping

How do you make dairy free condensed milk?

Top tip when making your own vegan condensed milk, is to use a tin that has 50%+ coconut extract in it. The tins I use are from Aldi and Sainsbury’s here in the UK (own brands). They have 75% coconut extract in them, making them fatty enough to thicken, and achieve that tell-tale condensed milk consistency.

Dairy Free and Vegan Condensed Milk Recipe (makes approx. 250-300g)

Empty a 400ml tin of coconut milk into a medium saucepan, add 150g caster sugar and stir to combine. Place on a high heat and stir until bubbling. Turn heat down to a gentle rolling boil and leave for 15 minutes. Don’t leave unattended and stir occasionally, the condensed milk will halve in volume and go a wallpaper paste colour! Remove from the heat, pour into a glass heatproof jug and cool to room temperature, this will take about an hour.

For the full recipe, method and top tips head to my Easy Dairy Free Condensed Milk recipe.

Easy Dairy Free Condensed Milk
I promise you that making your own homemade dairy free condensed milk is simple, cheap and ideal for many free from recipes. Using only two ingredients and 30 minutes of your time you too can have a jar of vegan condensed milk to use immediately or store for later.
Check out this recipe
Dairy Free and Vegan Condensed Milk Recipe

Other flavour inspiration for no bake cheesecakes

This is a no bake vanilla cheesecake so obviously it has vanilla extract in it. I say extract, I go all out and add a vanilla bean paste as, I don’t know about you but, I love to see the little vanilla seeds dotted in the cheesecake topping.

Other flavour ideas are achievable simply by adding a teaspoon of flavouring such as lemon, coffee or orange. Then to decorate you could add the fruit zest or a few chocolate coated coffee beans to nod towards the cheesecake flavour.

You may have a favourite fruit coulis in a jar or a squeezy bottle. If so, why not add this to the top of the cheese cake to add a fine top coat of flavour. Alternatively, you could get all creative and add a few random dollops of coulis. Then, using the handle of a teaspoon, make swirl patterns in the top of your cheesecake to add a masterclass marble effect.

Gluten and Dairy Free No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe
Gluten and Dairy Free ‘Biscoff’ Cheesecake
This gluten free, dairy free and vegan 'Biscoff-style' cheesecake is ever so simple to make and I promise no one will realise it's free from any ingredients at all. With the added spice from the festive Speculaas/Spekulatius biscuits this is perfect for seasonal party food
Check out this recipe
Gluten and Dairy Free Biscoff Cheesecake by Glutarama
No Bake Dairy Free Raspberry Cheesecake
This gluten free, dairy free and vegan raspberry cheesecake is ever so simple to make and I promise no one will realise it's free from any ingredients at all. Made within no time at all and finished with a vibrant raspberry jelly topping it will certainly make a statement on the tea table!
Check out this recipe
No Bake Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
This No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake is made gluten free with a delicious spiced biscuit base and it's also dairy free and vegan too. A delicate pumpkin flavour topping with that tell-tale warmth of Pumpkin Spice. Dairy-filled option available too.
Check out this recipe
No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake made gluten free with vegan option
No Bake Vegan Lemon Cheesecake
This gluten free, dairy free and vegan lemon cheesecake is (like all my recipes) so simple to make. No one will realise it's free from any ingredients at all. This delicious cheesecake can be whipped up with very little fuss in advance of guests or made in advance.
Check out this recipe
Easy No Bake Lemon Cheesecake made gluten free, dairy free and vegan
Vegan Crème Egg Cheesecake with Gluten Free Base.
A deliciously luxurious looking vegan crème egg cheesecake that is in fact relatively simple to make with the right tools. Grab yourself a mini chocolate silicone mould and you whip one of these up in no time at all and impress you family and friends.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Crème Egg Cheesecake made gluten free too.

What’s the difference between a baked and no bake cheesecake?

The two cheesecakes are in totally different categories if you ask me. In fact, during my research into the history of the cheesecake I’ve found that some old recipes don’t even have cheese in them! One such recipe is Mrs Beeton’s Apple Cheesecake which is more of a apple custard tart.

Baked Cheesecake – a cheesecake that is denser in texture, made with lots of eggs and not unlike a custard tart. It can be found with a pastry or biscuit base or no base at all. Some are baked in a water bath or Bain Marie, others are not.

No Bake Cheesecake – a lighter, almost mousse-like dessert. This tends to always have a biscuit base but recent times have seen the deconstruction of cheesecakes and the biscuit could be a scattering or crumbs on the top or at the side of the dish (why would you do that?)

No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake made gluten free and dairy free

Where does cheesecake originally come from?

Here’s the fun bit. I do so love to research the history of well known traditional bakes and dishes. I entered into my research totally open minded this time. In the past I’ve had preconceived ideas about how a recipe originated but this one I knew would be a tale that twists and turns – I was right!

If you think cheesecake started in New York in the 1900’s, you’d be wrong. If you though cheesecake cake originates in France circa 18th Century, you’d be wrong. And, if you though Italians were first to invent the cheesecake, you’d be lukewarm.

Before we get to the Romans though you need to whisk back a few more years to 2000BC. It was in fact the Greeks who first came up with cheesecake. As with many recipes I research, this one started with a humble beginning whereby cheese was mushed up, added to honey, flour and pressed into moulds then baked. These were often made for special occasions such as weddings (a catalyst for many recipes we know nowadays).

Then the Romans conquered Greece, liked the recipe idea, and adapted it by adding the cheese filling to pastry (probably for easier transportation, cheesecake on the go!). They then set off to conquer Europe. Hence the reason the recipe travelled.

The English added their twist by adding milk and eggs and that recipe headed over to the shores of the USA. The cream cheese was successfully added later and there you have it – cheesecake!

Now let’s get back to making my version of a No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake made gluten free and dairy free.

No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake made gluten free and dairy free

Other gluten free no bake recipe inspiration

No Bake Cherry Chocolate Raw Squares
Cherry Chocolate Squares (GF, DF, Ve)
Chocolate Orange Ganache Tart - Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Vegan
No Bake Chocolate Orange Tart (GF, DF, Ve)
Apricot Cacao Raw Squares 1
Apricot & Cacao Squares (GF, DF, Ve)

What is the best dairy free cream to use in baking?

Dairy Free / Vegan Creams

I get asked ‘what is the best dairy free cream to use’ a lot, so I’ve added some advice here.

Baked recipes
If using cream alternatives in baked recipes the type of cream matters less but care needs to be taken when cooking it as dairy free cream can still split like dairy cream. Therefore you are free to use any of the following brands; Elmlea (single or double), Alpro (single), Food Heaven – Heavenly (Sweetened or Unsweetened), Coconut Cream (any % or coconut extract)

No Bake recipes
Usually in a no bake recipe the cream you add is part of the building block to add structure. For example whipped cream in a Victoria Sponge Gateau. For this reason you need to use a dairy free cream that has the highest fat content so a double cream (Elmlea produce double plant cream) or a Coconut Cream that has 60+ of coconut extract. However, Heavenly also behaves well when whipped.

Ice Creams
I have made my ice creams with all the dairy free creams mentioned above, single, double, high fat, low fat and all work because I always add a little dairy free butter to stabilise the structure so you can use all types of plant/soya/coconut dairy free creams.

No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe

If you make it and like the recipe I would be eternally grateful if you popped back and commented leaving a star rating as this will tell search engines that this recipe is worth checking out and others will get to find it in searches.

Gluten and Dairy Free No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe

No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake

Glutarama
This gluten free, dairy free and vegan cheesecake is ever so simple to make and I promise no one will realise it's free from any ingredients at all.
1.88 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
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Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
chilling time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Vegan
Servings 10 slices
Calories 492 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the biscuit base

  • 300 g gluten free biscuit(s) I use digestives
  • 80 g butter I use Flora plant butter

For the cheesecake topping

  • 400 g cream cheese I use own brand dairy free cream cheese
  • 200 ml cream I use Elmlea Plant Cream
  • 50 g vegan condensed milk [see notes on how to make your own]
  • 80 g fat (I use Trex white vegetable fat) I use Trex but Crisp n Dry works too.
  • 5 tbsp icing/confectioners sugar or as much as you desire to taste
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

Instructions
 

To make the biscuit base

  • Making the biscuit base could not be simpler. Crush the biscuits (this works out around two packets of gluten free biscuits) or blitz them in a food processor.
  • Melt the 'butter' in the microwave for 30 seconds and then pour into the biscuit crumbs and mix or blitz again to combine.
  • Pour the buttery biscuit crumbs into a 20cm loose bottom round cake tin. I use a circle to baking parchment to line the tin to prevent the biscuit base from sticking.
  • Using the bake of a metal spoon press down the biscuit crumbs and smooth flat until you have a solid biscuit base – possibly the most satisfying thing to do ever!
  • Pop the tin into the fridge to help the butter to harden and crack on with the cheesecake topping.

To make the cheesecake topping

  • Pop the measured solid white vegetable fat into the microwave for 30 seconds to soften, it probably won't melt to a liquid, don't worry, you just need to soften it.
  • In a large bowl or food mixer add the 'cream cheese' and softened white vegetable fat and beat for a minute or until you see no fatty lumps in the mixture.
  • Add the vegan condensed milk, cream and vanilla paste and whip with a whisk, hand whisk or food mixer for at least 3 minutes. You want the mixture to thicken so you have firm peaks.
  • Now you can add your icing sugar to taste. 5 tablespoons should be plenty so maybe add 1 tablespoon at a time and test until you have the desired sweetness.
  • Remove the cake tin from the fridge and pour the mixture into the tin smoothing flat with a silicone spatula.
  • Pop back into the fridge for a minimum of 60 mins or until you wish to serve it. This cheesecake will keep for 2-3 days no problem if kept in a sealed container in the fridge (to prevent soaking up fridge smells).
    TOP TIP: this can be made in advance and I personally think it just keeps getting better with age.

Notes

Top tip when making your own vegan condensed milk is to use a tin that has 50%+ coconut extract in it. The tins I use are from Aldi and Sainsbury’s here in the UK (own brands). They have 75% coconut extract in them, making them fatty enough to thicken, and achieve that tell-tale condensed milk consistency.
Dairy Free and Vegan Condensed Milk Recipe
Empty a 400ml tin of coconut milk into a medium saucepan, add 150g caster sugar and stir to combine. Place on a high heat and stir until bubbling. Turn heat down to a gentle rolling boil and leave for 15 minutes. Don’t leave unattended and stir occasionally, the condensed milk will halve in volume and go a wallpaper paste colour! Remove from the heat, pour into a glass heatproof jug and cool to room temperature, this will take about an hour.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
No Bake Dairy Free Vanilla Cheesecake
Amount per Serving
Calories
492
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
38
g
58
%
Saturated Fat
 
25
g
125
%
Trans Fat
 
0.3
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Cholesterol
 
127
mg
42
%
Sodium
 
239
mg
10
%
Potassium
 
92
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
33
g
11
%
Sugar
 
20
g
22
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
1046
IU
21
%
Vitamin C
 
0.3
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
88
mg
9
%
Iron
 
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Cheesecake, Dairy Free, Easy, Egg Free, Gluten Free, No Bake, Simple, Vegan
Have you tried this recipe?Let me know how it was & I will be super grateful. Take a picture & tag me @glutarama on your social media posts – I love seeing your photos more than you will ever know x
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No Bake Vanilla Cheesecake made gluten free, dairy free and egg free

*disclaimer: I use affiliate codes on my website, the vast majority are to Amazon. If you click on any of the links or images in the post and make a purchase my family will benefit from a small % of that purchase at no extra cost to you.

For full transparency, in 2020 I made my first £25, and in 2022 I reached my next £25 (Amazon don’t transfer the money until you reach £25). Recently I got paid a whopping £27.10 for 2023.

So to date I have made £78.58 since I first started the scheme in 2017. It won’t pay the bills, that’s for sure but it does help to pay for ingredients or little treats to cheer me up!

30/06/2021 · 2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Carol Hickman says

    26/09/2022 at 11:30 am

    Do not try and make this, I can’t imagine how you could print this, because I followed the recipe , bought all the correct ingredients, and had to throw the lot away as it didn’t set……. Such a waste of time and money.

    Reply
    • Glutarama says

      27/09/2022 at 12:56 pm

      I am mortified you’ve had such a horrible experience Carol. I would be furious too. I’ve made this many times but used my handwritten notes and can see immediately what the problem is. I make my own vegan condensed milk and the process makes approx. 250g condensed milk with reduction of coconut milk and sugar. For this recipe you add 50g to sweeten the cream cheese NOT the whole 250g as this recipe states. Please accept my apologies. I have amended the recipe which I appreciate is too late for you.

      Reply

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Hi I'm Rebecca, slightly bonkers but can you blame me! Mum to two teens with additional needs and a great combination of dietary requirements. With over 15 years experience of cooking gluten free from scratch. Please note: whilst we are not a vegan family, many of my bakes are vegan or have a vegan alternative as I cannot tolerate dairy or eggs. Welcome to my site you lovely person, now learn how to make anything gluten free with me!

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