Description
Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars: Make creamy chocolate goodness without an oven! My simple recipe satisfies your sweet craving fast.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10–12 full graham crackers)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- For the Creamy Filling:
- 16 oz (2 blocks) full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream, cold
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
- For Garnish:
- Chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust:: First things first, let’s get that crust ready, hon! In a medium bowl, combine your graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter. Stir it all together until it looks like wet sand, evenly moistened. Then, press this mixture firmly into the bottom of an 8×8 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper – leave a little overhang on the sides for easy lifting later, trust me on this! I usually use the bottom of a measuring cup to really compact it. Once it’s pressed in, pop it into the fridge to chill while you work on the filling. This is where I always get a little excited about the foundation for these Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
- Whip Up the Cream Cheese Base:: Now for the star of the show! In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until it’s super smooth and fluffy, no lumps allowed. Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Beat again until everything is well combined and the mixture is light and airy. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times; you don’t want any unmixed bits hiding out. This step always smells so good, like a chocolate dream, honestly. I’ve learned that really getting the cream cheese smooth here is key for the final texture of these Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
- Melt the Chocolate (Carefully!):: Next up, melt your semi-sweet chocolate. You can do this in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, or over a double boiler. Be super careful not to overheat it, or it’ll seize up, and that’s a sad, sad sight (I’ve been there, oops!). Once it’s smooth and glossy, let it cool for a few minutes. You want it still liquid but not piping hot when you add it to the cream cheese mixture, otherwise, things can get a bit weird. This is a crucial step for the rich flavor of your Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
- Combine and Fold:: Gently fold the cooled melted chocolate into your cream cheese mixture until it’s just combined. You’ll see this beautiful, rich chocolate swirl happening, which is always so satisfying. Don’t overmix, though, we want to keep that light texture. Now, in a separate, clean bowl, whip your cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Again, don’t over-whip it, or you’ll end up with butter, and while I love butter, it’s not what we’re going for here. I once got distracted and went too far, learned my lesson!
- Bring It All Together:: Carefully fold the whipped cream into the chocolate cream cheese mixture. Do this in two additions, using a spatula, just until no streaks of white remain. The goal is to keep as much of that airy volume as possible. This step always feels a bit like magic, watching the mixture transform into a light, fluffy chocolate cloud. It’s important to be gentle here to ensure the creamy texture of your Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars.
- Assemble and Chill:: Pour the glorious chocolate cheesecake filling over your chilled graham cracker crust. Spread it out evenly with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, making sure the top is nice and smooth. Now, for the hardest part: chilling! Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours, or even better, overnight. Honestly, the longer, the better. This is where the Easy No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars firm up and become sliceable. Once firm, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan, slice, and serve!