High in protein, low in fat, low in sugar, and roughly 150 calories per slice — this No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake makes a perfect cool and creamy summer treat!
At what point do you take a step back and admit that you might have a problem? A delicious problem, but a problem nonetheless… I was glancing through the most recent handful of recipes that I’ve posted here on Spoons, when I realized that every.single.one of them included almond butter, honey, and/or oats in some form. You’d think I liked those things or something…
Personally, I don’t see a problem with this (says the addict), but I realize that not everyone shares my enthusiasm when it comes to what I see as a perfect trifecta of foods, which is why I promised myself that I’d start seeing other ingredients. So I did…
Strawberries — delicious, in season, and most importantly, in this no bake strawberry cheesecake…
Look, Ma! No hands almond butter, honey, or oats! Aren’t you proud? Because I’m freaking proud! You have no idea how far out of my comfort zone I stepped with this one — so far that I can’t even call it a step; it was more like a leap. Not only was I working with a whole new set of ingredients (uhm… gelatin?… what?!?), but I also thought it’d be a great idea (please note the heavy use of sarcasm) to take it upon myself to make an entire cake as opposed to my regular cookies, muffins, breads, bars, and bites.
Oh, and I’d also like to take this opportunity to say I’m sorry and thank you to everyone who I texted in a frenzied state yesterday afternoon when I realized that I didn’t know how the heck I was supposed to dress up my naked cake and make it look all classy and presentable. I’m still not quite sure if I managed classy, but I think I did presentable alright…
So let’s talk about my questionably classy yet somewhat presentable cake. It’s a cheesecake… sort of… And by sort of I mean that it sort of has cheese in it, but it’s cottage cheese [and Greek yogurt] instead of the cream cheese [and eggs] that makes up most traditional cheesecakes. Err… that is how it works, right? Cheesecakes are made of cream cheese and eggs? Laugh all you like, but I’m honestly not sure — traditional cheesecakes are a bit too rich and cloying for my tastes, so I tend to avoid them and make a beeline for the chocolate cakes instead.
This no bake strawberry cheesecake, on the other hand? Totally different story…
First of all, it’s not in the least bit heavy thanks to the lack of cream cheese and eggs. It is just as creamy, though. Actually, I’m going to need a little bit of a refresher so that I can properly describe the texture to you guys; excuse me while I take another bite eat half the slice, apparently…
Okay, yeah… crazy creamy. That middle cheese layer? Whipped heaven. I actually ran a serious risk of not being left with enough of it simply because I couldn’t stop “taste-testing.” It’s easily good enough to eat on it’s own, but when sandwiched between a crumbly graham crust and a slightly tangy strawberry mousse? There are no words… only empty plates…
To make things even better, this cheesecake is actually pretty healthy! It’s high in protein, low in fat, low in sugar, and at roughly 150 calories per slice, basically guilt-free. It’s like a fruit-and-yogurt bowl in cake form! It also hangs out in the fridge and doesn’t require the use of an oven, making it perfect for those hot summer days… which just so happen to be right around the corner! So what are you waiting for?! Shimmy on into the kitchen and whip one up for yourself!
- 7-8 full sheets of graham crackers (about 1 1/2 cups crumbs)
- 2 Tbsp. butter, at room temperature*
- 2.5 tsp. powdered gelatin
- 3 Tbsp. cool water
- 1 cup 2% cottage cheese
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 4 tsp. powdered gelatin
- 4 Tbsp. cool water
- 1 lb. strawberries
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 5 Tbsp. powder sugar
- Place the graham crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add butter and continue processing until the mixture reaches the consistency of wet sand. Transfer to a 9-inch springform pan, pressing in firmly.** Cover with plastic wrap refrigerate while you prepare the next layer.
- Prepare gelatin. In a small saucepan, pour cool water over gelatin, mixing until the water is fully absorbed. Place saucepan on the stove and stir constantly until the gelatin is completely dissolved; 1 or 2 minutes. Do not let it reach a boil. Remove from stove and set aside to cool.
- Add cottage cheese and Greek yogurt to the bowl of a food processor and process until they form a smooth paste. Add powder sugar and continue processing. Finally, add prepared gelatine, processing until fully incorporated.
- Pour cheese mixture over the graham crust, using a spatula to ensure that it is evenly distributed. Return to the fridge while you prepare the final layer.
- Prepare gelatin. In a small saucepan, pour cool water over gelatin, mixing until the water is fully absorbed. Place saucepan on the stove and stir constantly until the gelatin is completely dissolved; 1 or 2 minutes. Do not let it reach a boil. Remove from stove and set aside to cool.
- Add strawberries to the bowl of a food processor and process until they become a smooth puree. Add Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and powder sugar and continue processing. Finally, add prepared gelatine, processing until fully incorporated.
- Pour strawberry mixture over the cheese layer, using a spatula to ensure that it is evenly distributed. Return to the fridge for several hours until it is fully set, preferably overnight.
** you can press down with a flat bottomed cup to make sure it's packed in tightly.
Are you a fan of cheesecakes? What kind? Not the traditional kind, but I do love the lighter ones!
What are three things you eat a lot of? Almond butter, honey, and oats 😉
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I'm Amanda - health coach, cookbook author, recipe developer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and the author of Running with Spoons - a blog dedicated to healthy eating.
Yummmmmmmmmmm.
You are so rocking this gelatin thing
I harbor a hoooge crush on Cheesecake, but it IS so laden with cream cheese and eggs and just stuff that makes me wanna take a nap after consuming so this cheesecake of yours oooh – I could just gobble a slice or 6 up in 0-60 seconds ( ok so am exaggerating a tad – I got so excited at seeing this I got carried away) Thanks a gazillion for sharing this one lady!
Um, wow, this looks insane. With an almond meal crust I might be all over this
Oooo good call on the almond meal! That’d actually be an awesome idea!
You just made my week! Definitely trying this this weekend!
Tim loves cheesecake and we have been looking for a healthier alternative. I might try this and add some cocoa powder and see how it goes! Thanks for sharing!
Wow the colours captured in these photos are amazing! This looks really yummy! I do love a good cheesecake, heavy or light!
Yummy! I don’t do typical cheesecakes but this I think I would love!
I love chocolate + peanut butter cheesecake 😉 But that should be expected, hehe! And things I eat a lot of include bananas, avocados, chocolate (haha!) and peanut butter.
I LOVE cheesecake…any form, any time! This one looks really good, love the healthier alternative.
So, I need to be honest, when I first saw your post pop up on my bloglovin’ feed, I was like, “Huh, I don’t really like cheesecake. It’s way to heavy, rich and sweet.” But, I knew I had to give it a chance because your recipes haven’t failed me before, so after reading through your post, I’m quite impressed. This one is everything I don’t like in a cheesecake, which is pretty much perfection in my book! It seriously looks amazing and I’d be more than willing to give it a try!
I know -exactly- what you mean about the cheesecake because I feel the same way — this one is nothing like it though. Apple needs to come up with some kind of teleportation system so I could give out samples!
Cheesecakes I can take or leave, but this looks like one I could definitely take. I agree that they can feel really heavy and cloying, so this looks perfect!
Three things I eat a LOT of: kabocha, eggs, chocolate. Probably my three favourite foods right there.
Are you still on your kabocha kick?! I took a small break and -just- picked one up the other day. Omg I missed them.
Oooh man, I love me some cheesecake. I like the fluffy kind, but I also really like the dense, thick NY cheesecake!
Yum! I love cheesecakes and I never find anything too rich.. haha!
Three foods I eat the most – oats, eggs and chocolate/cocoa… is it any wonder my favourite breakfast is cocoa eggy oats?!
I love cheesecake but avoid it because of the fat/calorie content. If i do decide to go for a bite of cheese cake, I love key lime or traditional with strawberries on top. Sometimes classic is the best..
Your cheesecake recipe looks great and I’m thinking I’ll have to make it for my family at our next gathering! I love tricking my family into eating heathy substitutions and seeing if they notice! Haha!
Three things I eat all the time are eggs, oatmeal, and apples. I hate going a day without one of those things!!!!
I loveLOVElove cheesecake!! I have ever since it was served as brunch dessert on New Years Day – I’m hooked! Although I’d rather not *look* like I eat cheesecake every day, so this seems wonderful.
The strawberries on top are exactly how I was imagining you should arrange them! I guess I somehow conveyed that through text? Lol. I love strawberries but not cheesecake. Not ever….I live on oatmeal, peanut butter and fruit and see nothing wrong with it : )
Why do you think you’re the first person I turned to for decoration inspiration? 😛 And I was -this- close to having oats for dinner tonight, but I settled on leftover stir fry. I have a feeling oats for lunch might be happening tomorrow.
Gelatin… Shudder. Not because I was afraid of working with it in theory – hey, I’ve tackled agar-agar before 😉 – but for obvious dietary preferences. Still kudos to you for working with it because I know it’s a tricky thing. Plus, your cake looks great And sssh: why not sub some almond butter for the butter in the crust ;)? I honestly thought you’d added it before reading the first lines.
Three foods I eat a lot of/ run out of on the regular: creamy* almond butter, chickpeas, chocolate. Or let’s make it four: champignons/ mushrooms.
* yes, I totally just added this to align this with the alliteration but it’s true I prefer smooth nut butters.
Oddly enough, I’ve been meaning to create an egg-less single-serving cheesecake for a while though I’m not a fan of the real thing. It must be the current spirit of trying new dishes and I’m rolling with it. It’s never to late to discover a fondness of foods I didn’t like before.
Oh oh oh oh I can’t wait to have an occasion for which to make this! My spouse is a lactard, but he can definitely stomach yogurt and cottage cheese. Happy day for all! Also, I think you made this look tres chic for its photo shoot.
Looks sooooo pretty! I know I say this about all your recipes, but I can’t help it!
Almond Butter, Berries, Chocolate
This is awesome Amanda! It reminds me of those vintage jello cakes, actually (that’s what it looks like!). Cheesecake is one of my fave desserts, so I know I’d love this. Plus, with strawbs you just cannot go wrong!
Three things I eat a lot of are: oats, eggs, and baby carrots. Lol. Easy to please.
Ha so I’ll admit I was one of those people who was like “does Spoons eat anything besides almond butter, bananas, honey and oats”? Well you blew me out of the water with this one! It looks GORGEOUS and I love strawberry everything (even though they weirdly make my mouth go numb). Glad to see you stepping out of your comfort zone
I honestly think they make me break out, but ugh! They taste so good that I can’t help myself!
Oh I have loved cheesecake since I can remember! It is my favorite dessert!
Oooo!! First of all, this definitely looks very appealing aesthetically. Secondly, I love that it’s made with cottage cheese and Greek yogurt and strawberries! One of my favorite proteins and one of my favorite summer fruits in a sweet cake form— perfection.
But don’t worry, I’m on team almond butter-oats-honey still whenever you post those recipes too! 😉
You are a GE NUIS!!! I thought this was for SS because it looked so indulgent, but the fact that you were able to healthify it a bit blloooooowwwwsss my mind! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
These photos are incredibly beautiful! I just want to reach in my computer screen and gobble it right up. Looks like the perfect summer dessert!
Oh my gosh are these pictures amazing!! This is calling to me for Fourth of July. Mmm. I am not into the almond butter or peanut butter, so this is perfect
haha
No kidding, no oats, almond butter, or honey? I am so proud of you Amanda!
No seriously, this is gorgeous and stunning and just hands down amazing. Haha, naked or not, you had me hooked with the description. I cannot believe this is no bake and low cal! Pinning!
Thanks, Mary Frances! <3
So yesterday you mentioned doing some Q & A posts. I’m always curious how many tries it usually takes you to nail a recipe like this. Everything I’ve tried of yours always comes out so delicious! I would like to hear about the behind the scenes of recipe creating.
Strawberry cheesecake is actually one of my favorite desserts! This looks incredibly delicious and I’m sure I would love it!
Mmm this looks delicious! I love strawberries and actually have a box in my fridge right now. I love cheesecake. I’m more of the traditional kind of cheesecake. And I eat a lot of peanut butter and bananas…and peanut butter haha.
Yuuuuum, LOVE strawberry cheesecake..well any cheesecake for that matter. I might even deem it as just about my favorite dessert! Although I love the real deal, yours sounds right up my alley too! Three foods which I’ve been eating loads of lately is avocado, almond milk, and blueberries.
This was definitely worth the step out of your comfort zone, because it looks delicious! I think you dressed up the cake perfectly with all the strawberries on top, and your photos are amazing! Kudos to you on this one – I want a slice.
Wow amazing pictures…this looks fantastic
WOW! Not what I expected to see here. Looks so amazingly delicious!
Wow! Love this! In not a fan of cheesecake but is love all the healthy ingredients in this one.
I am with you on the cheesecakes! If someone has cheesecake for dessert (unless it’s like triple chocolate or something) I’ll pass on even taking a bite. I’m definitely not a New York cheesecake kind of girl. GIVE ME ALL THE CAKE!
I eat a lot of peanut butter, bananas, and Chipotle. :o)
Especially jealous about the Chipotle 😛
Those strawberries look so amazingly fresh and ripe! Yum!
This seriously looks amazing! Love frozen and no-bake cheesecakes recipe. Gorgeous photographs too!
OMG that looks amazinggggg!
This is sooooo Beautiful! I could see it on a picnic table for sure.
yummmmm this looks so freaking good!! No bake is the name of the game in my house right now! And cheesecake anything holds a special place in my heart
I love cheesecake and this one looks perfect for summertime! I eat a lot of cereal, homemade pizza, and veggie burgers!
First of all , this cheesecake looks as pretty as you !
Your pics are so nice, I am going to try to make this but I am going to use just like sugar
Thank you so much
Holy moly, that’s just too beautiful! I wouldn’t be able to eat it hahaha! Looks great though, definitely would make this!
Not gonna lie — I definitely cringed a little when I had to slice into it 😆
I love cheesecake! Especially my mum’s. It’s made with quark (kind of cream cheese but fat free and high protein) and eggs and it’s baked. It’s a German recipe! I love it!
3 things I eat a lot: quark, eggs and some sort of greens! Not in combination (not necessarily) but I do eat these every single day.
I like this recipe a lot btw . I hope to find an occasion to make it!
Wow girl! This looks fab! And in this hot Alabama heat I’m all about things that don’t involve turning the oven on. Ha ! Also, your photos look great!
I think your presentation is gorgeous; way better than any suggestion I made. Just beautiful and I love the use of fresh and seasonal strawberries. We got our first batch in last Thursday’s CSA, and I have been loving on them.
This cheesecake looks lovely! If strawberries weren’t so expensive where I live, I’d be all over it.
Things I eat a lot of: smoothies, eggs and cheese. The vegan lifestyle is clearly not for me!
I want to sign up for photography class from you!!! Those pictures are gorgeous and make me feel like I’m actually sitting right across from this cheesecake. You are my blogger hero!! 😉
Ohhh soooo prettyyy!!!! It’s so festive looking, and I really do commend you for veering away from your regular ingredients. 😀
Wow, this looks amazing. I mean seriously, when it comes out looking this good, do you just stand back and think, yea, I’m awesome, or what???? I looooove strawberries, but only in the summer. That’s when they’re meant to be enjoyed, sweet, soft and juicy!
I wish! By the time I’m done styling and shooting, I’m usually so flustered that all I want is a glass of wine 😆
Say What?? YUM!! By the way, I chuckled at your “look, ma!” rendition! Loved it:)
Holy macaroni!? And what a leap 😯 ! Bravo Amanda.. I am boggled. And drooling. <- means its a winner 😉 .
I've always loved a good "fridge" cheesecake..actually never had the baked kind (I don't believe I'm missing much), and I think it was fabulous work on your part to not have a glassy gelatin layer on the top – which I strongly believe is the downfall of every successful cheesecake.
And heck, there is no way that this masterpiece falls under 'questionably' classy. Its classy!
The 3 foods you eat the most shocked me 😆 ..its just so weird to have a recipe without them after a beautiful stream which contained them.
This is so pretty! I’d be so happy if I visited a friend and they brought out that beauty.
Three things I eat a lot of? Hummus, protein flapjacks/bars, broccoli.
I’m stoked to have gotten a sneak peak- and they even MORE amazing. I don’t mind cheesecake but there is one absolutely sinful one my mum once brought me from a gathering- it was an Oreo cheesecake and it nearly made me pass out in happiness.
You eat oats, AB and honey? No. Way.
I adore cheesecake! Especially the super rich kind haha. This looks like such a nice light alternative for the summer though!
And hey, I’m not complaining about you using almond butter, honey, and oats in most of your recipes – those are some of my favourite ingredients! 😉
i definitely have a “delicious problem.”
i will probably make this cheesecake and pay for my sins at the gym
No need to do that! There’s nothing sinful about this
I love how healthy and full of protein this is! Especially how little sugar there is in it… pinning now to hopefully make (and enjoy!) this weekend!
it looks delicious!
Your photos are gorgeous, Amanda. Love cheesecake and I’m always willing to try a new spin on it. Don’t think I’ve ever had it made with cottage cheese but sounds great to me. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe. P.S. I think your trio of favorite ingredients sound delish! No need to stray from the healthy and tasty, right?
This strawberry cheesecake looks gorgeous! I love that it’s layered!
These photos are UNREAL! I wish I had a few slices of this right now
Pinned and featuring on SNF this weekend! Just gorgeous!!
Thanks so much, Chelsea! 😀
stopping by from SITS and I love all things no bake cheese cake! Its even better than cheese cake in my opinion! So I had to stop in and check this out! Yum!
Okay, so if I fly you down to Charlotte, will you (a) teach me your photography skills and (b) make one or two of these for me??? Mmmmkaythanx
I just bought four pounds worth of fresh picked strawberries that I need to use up today or tomorrow. Do you think that I could make up the layers in advance (thinking of the upcoming 4th) and not put it together until the day of? Or do the layers separate if made too far in advance?
Hi Nikki! All the layers need to be put together at the same time because of the gelatin — they set in the shape of whatever container they’re put in, so you can’t change them later on. The only thing I could think of is if you blended up the layers without putting in the gelatin, left them as a puree, and added it in the day you wanted to make it.
No bake, strawberry and cheesecake all in one! There is nothing more perfect than this. And the outcome is just so heavenly. Can I just have a slice of it now? Thanks for a wonderful creation.