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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake Cups

    First Published: April 12, 2022 . Last Modified: April 12, 2022 lisa2 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    lemon cheesecake parfait pin

    These easy Lemon No Bake Cheesecake Cups are sweet, creamy, and bursting with tart lemon flavor. Handheld cheesecake parfaits are beautiful and perfect for sharing. This refreshing no bake lemon dessert is ideal for spring and summer and stores well in the fridge or freezer.

    Top view of lemon no bake cheesecake cups topped with whipped cream and lemon wedges.

    If I had to pick a type of dessert that was my favorite, it would be hard to choose just one. But I will say that anything lemon is ahead of chocolate in my book. These light and lemony cheesecake mousse cups are comfort food in a dessert. And when I can make a dessert that is good enough for company without having to bake, I am one happy lady!

    The sweet-tart taste of lemon and the creaminess of the cream cheese and pudding make this no bake lemon dessert ideal for any time of the year. You can easily serve cheesecake parfaits for a baby shower, an afternoon tea party, or guests on the weekend. And if you can't resist a bit of chocolate, shave a bit of high-quality white chocolate on top of each no bake cheesecake cup for a fun twist that's not too overstated.

    Ingredients Needed

    ingredients for recipe
    • Instant Pudding – Lemon instant pudding is perfectly sweet and tart and makes these no bake cheesecake cups easy.
    • Cream Cheese – Use regular or low fat cream cheese.
    • Milk – Whole milk will make the cheesecake cups so creamy, but you won't be disappointed with lower fat milk.
    • Cool Whip Topping – Cool Whip is found in the freezer section. Thaw completely before adding to the recipe.
    • Graham Crackers – Crush Grahams in a food processor or a bag with a rolling pin.
    • Whipped Cream (optional) – Homemade or store bought whipped cream makes a beautiful garnish. You can also use more Cool Whip if that is what you prefer.
    • Lemon – Add thin slices of lemon to each no bake cheesecake cup.

    How To Make Cheesecake Parfaits

    1. Prepare the lemon cheesecake. Combine both pudding mixes and 2 cups milk (this is different from the box directions) in a large bowl. Cut the block of cream cheese into cubes, and add to the pudding mixture. Mix well with a hand mixer until thoroughly combined, then fold in the cool whip.
    2. Crush the graham crackers. Blend the graham crackers into crumbs using your food processor. You can crush them by hand or put them in a zip lock bag and crush them with a rolling pin if you do not have a food processor.
    3. Layer the parfaits. Add ⅛ of the crushed graham crackers to your 4 parfait glasses. Next, add a layer of the lemon cheesecake pudding mixture, followed by another layer of graham cracker crumbs and a final layer of the pudding mixture.
    4. Garnish and serve. Top with whipped cream and fresh lemon wedges before serving. (See recipe card below for full instructions.)
    steps to making lemon cheesecake parfaits

    Tips for the Best No Bake Cheesecake Cups

    1. Use Full Fat Dairy – While you can certainly make these with low-fat milk and cream cheese, these cheesecake parfaits will be incredibly dreamy and creamy when made with full-fat dairy.
    2. Add Extra Lemon Juice – Add the juice of 1 fresh lemon to make the lemon flavor pop!
    3. Use a Piping Bag – You can certainly use a spoon to fill your parfait cups and they will be beautiful. Using a piping bag takes the presentation to a whole new level.
    4. Use Room Temperature Ingredients – Bringing the ingredients to room temperature will make everything blend smoothly with no lumps. The cool whip should be completely thawed.
    5. Use less graham cracker crumbs if seems like too much. You may have extra leftover. You do not want the crumbs to be so thick that they make the dessert dry at the bottom.
    no bake lemon dessert on table with cut lemons

    Variations

    • Swap the Pudding – Lemon desserts are among my favorites, but you can make these with any flavor of pudding mix, from orange to chocolate, pistachio, or strawberry.
    • Swap the Graham Crackers – Instead of regular graham you can use chocolate or cinnamon grahams. You can also skip graham crackers entirely and use any type of cookie as a base.

    FAQs

    How to store no bake cheesecake?

    Store these cheesecake parfaits in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Can you freeze no bake lemon cheesecake?

    Yes! These easy no bake lemon dessert parfaits can be covered with plastic wrap and frozen for an easy single-serving dessert later on. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for 30 minutes for a still slightly-frozen dessert or an hour to completely thaw. Add the whipped cream topping right before serving.

    Serving Suggestions

    These light lemon desserts are a perfect option to serve as a sweet ending to a Mother's Day breakfast or brunch spread. Or serve them along side various appetizers and food at your next Superbowl or gameday party. I really don't need a special occasion as these desserts will make last minute weeknight dinners even feel special.

    More Easy No Bake Desserts

    • Nutella Cheesecake Dip - No Bake Dessert
    • Cannoli Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
    • Double Decker Chocolate Strawberry Fudge
    • Oreo Truffles from Herbs & Flour
    • Orange Fluff Salad
    lemon cheesecake parfait pin

    If you like Lemon No Bake Cheesecake Cups, please leave a 5-star rating.

    RECIPE

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake Cups

    A creamy decadent dessert that is easy to make and requires no baking.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 611kcal
    Cost: $11

    Equipment

    • 1 hand mixer
    • 4 parfait glasses (or small wine glasses)

    Ingredients

    • 2 3.4 ox boxes lemon instant pudding
    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 cups milk
    • 8 ounces cool whip topping
    • 12 to 16 graham crackers, crushed
    • whipped cream for topping
    • sliced lemon for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pudding mixes and 2 cups milk (this is different from the box directions). Cut the block of cream cheese into cubes, and add to the pudding mixture. Mix well with a hand mixer. Add cool whip, and mix until well combined and fluffy.
    • Add the graham crackers to your food processor, and blend into crumbs. You can crush them by hand or put them in a zip lock bag and crush them with a rolling pin if you do not have a food processor.
    • Line up four parfait glasses and add a layer of crushed graham crackers to each, followed by a layer of the lemon cheesecake pudding mixture. Add another layer of graham crackers, and a final layer of the pudding mixture.
    • Top with whipped cream and fresh lemon wedges or wheels. Enjoy!

    Notes

    This recipe makes 4 smaller parfaits or 3 larger ones.
    Depending on the size of your graham crackers and glasses, you might not need to use all the graham cracker crumbs. When sprinkling on the bottom of the glass, make sure they are not too thick where they make the bottom of the dessert dry.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 637mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1099IU | Calcium: 317mg | Iron: 2mg

    Thanks for stopping by! Subscribe to Jersey Girl Cooks if you would like more recipes and cooking tips sent to your email. You can also order my Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners and follow me on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

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    Comments

    1. Pat Harmon says

      July 21, 2023 at 5:23 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today for a luncheon and everyone loved it. However, I substituted crushed coconut cookie crisp crumbs for the graham cracker crumbs & added toasted coconut on top of the whipped cream. I like that combination with lemon.

      Reply
      • lisa says

        July 21, 2023 at 5:55 pm

        That's a great idea Pat! Thabks for thr review and trying my recipe!
        Lisa 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

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