If you love Black forest cake and cheesecake, you'll love this No Bake Black Forest Cheesecake. It's an easy, unique and delicious rich chocolate cheesecake with a cherry filling, and an Oreo cookie crust, simply decorated with whipped cream frosting and maraschino cherries.
Black Forest Cheesecake is especially popular during the holidays, but great for any time. It's an ideal easy dessert for summer since it doesn't require any baking, and it's perfect for special occasions. This cheesecake was inspired by my Black Forest Cake and my No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake.
🍒Reader Review
"I am not usually a fan of no bake cheesecake, but this cake was amazing! This is a must for the summer!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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If you love No Bake Black Forest recipes, give my No Bake Black Forest Trifle and No Bake Black Forest Tiramisu,
Tips for Success
- Mix gelatin with hot water, NOT boiling water
- Make sure you stabilize your whipped cream with piping gel or gelatin or it won't hold its shape
- Spray the springform pan generously with non-stick cooking spray
- Make sure the cookies are ground into a fine crumb
- Do not get water near anything you use for melting chocolate and melt chocolate at 50% power in microwave or it will seize
- Be sure the cherry layer is set before adding the cream cheese layer
- Pat the cocktail cherries dry before garnishing the cake or they will run
- Do not freeze this cake decorated with whipped cream; wait until the cake is completely defrosted before adding the whipped cream
🥘Ingredient Notes
You will need the following ingredients for this recipe:
- Unsalted butter. I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt (additional salt is not necessary).
- Oreo cookies. Crushing these in the food processor and adding butter forms the crust of this cheesecake. If you don't have a food processor, simply put them in a Ziploc freezer bag and crush them by rolling a rolling pin over them.
- Gelatin powder. Gelatin is mixed with water to set this cheesecake.
- Cherry pie filling. Using canned cherry pie filling is convenient and simple. Mixed with almond extract, it's a winning combo!
- Cream cheese. Cream cheese is the backbone of any cheesecake. Make sure it's at room temperature and you beat it with the sugar until fluffy.
- Sour cream. Adds richness and creaminess to the cheesecake.
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Using melted Baker's chocolate gives this cheesecake a rich and chocolatey flavor.
- Almond extract. This hint of almond gives the cherry filling layer a unique and delicious flavor and texture.
- Kirsh (optional). This has a cherry almond flavor, so it enhances and heightens the taste of those ingredients in the cake.
- Whipped cream. Use REAL whipped cream for best results!
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Crust -you can make a chocolate crumb crust using Oreo baking crumbs or chocolate baking crumbs, if you can find them.
- Cream cheese - You can use full-fat cream cheese, reduced fat or non-fat cream cheese
- Butter - you can use salted butter, but it will cut the sweetness a little
- Alcohol -you can make this with or without Kirsch. I made it without alcohol and it's amazing! You can also use cherry brandy instead of Kirsch, but keep in mind, cherry brandy is sweeter.
- Cherry pie filling - you can use a canned cherry pie filling or a homemade cherry pie filling
- Whipped cream- You can use a plain whipping cream topping, or a whipped cream frosting
- Cherries - alternatively, you can use fresh cherries to decorate the top of the cake
🔪How to Make Black Forest Cheesecake (No Bake)
Prep: Generously spray a springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Step 1: Melt butter, then place melted butter and Oreos in food processor.
- Step 2: Process on high until combined into a crumb.
- Step 3: Press the Oreo crumb mixture into a prepared 9-inch springform pan.
- Step 4: Stir 1-7 g pkg of gelatin into 2 tbsps (hot water- not boiling) water and stir until dissolved.
- Step 5: Combine cherry pie mixture with almond extract and gelatin.
- Step 6: Pour over the Oreo crust; chill in the fridge while you are doing the next step.
- Step 7: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy.
- Step 8: Melt chocolate in microwave at 50% power for 2-3 minutes, until just melted. Add melted chocolate to cream cheese and sugar mixture. Beat in sour cream. Repeat step #4: Dissolve the other 7 g package of gelatin in 2 tablespoon hot water and beat dissolved gelatin mixture. Add sour cream. If using, add Kirsch here.
- Step 9: Remove the pan from the fridge - the cherry pie filling should be set. (it takes about 15-20 minutes).
- Step 10: Spoon the chocolate cheesecake mixture over set cherry pie filling. Smooth cheesecake top with a butter knife or offset decorating spatula. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 3 -4 hours or overnight. Unmold and smooth sides and top with a hot cake decorating spatula (see equipment in recipe card) or butter knife. Garnish with whipped cream frosting, chocolate shavings and maraschino cherries with stems/cocktail cherries. Pipe the whipped cream frosting with a 1M tip and pastry bag. Pat cherries dry before placing on cake. Shave chocolate with a box grater or vegetable peeler (If you want curls).
🎥 Video
Here is a video of how to pipe with a 1M tip (I use a shell - the first one)
🥗 Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Black Forest Cheesecake:
Top tip
If you don't use Whipped Cream frosting, for best results, you still need to stabilize your whipped cream (or it won't hold its shape). I recommend using piping gel (2 tablespoon per cup of whipping cream, and 2 teaspoon white granulated sugar, per cup of whipping cream), as well as using whipping cream/heavy cream that's at least 33% fat.
🌡️Storage
Store this cheesecake in an airtight container for up to days in the fridge. You can use a large square container or cake carrier (affiliate link).
This cheesecake can be frozen for up to 3 months, but DO NOT add the whipped cream and maraschino cherries until fully defrosted. Defrost this cake in the fridge overnight.
👪 Serving Size
This recipe makes 12-16 servings, depending on how large you cut the slices. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You will need additional springform pans.
If you're looking for a simple, yet impressive dessert, this Black Forest Cheesecake is the one!
More No Bake Cheesecake Recipes
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📋 No Bake Black Forest Cheesecake recipe
Equipment
- springform pan 9 or 10-inch
Ingredients
Crust:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 35 Oreo cookies (439 gram package)
Cherry Filling:
- 7 g package of gelatin powder
- 2 tbsps hot water
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 14 oz can of cherry pie filling
Cheesecake layer:
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature 2-8 oz packages
- ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate squares (baker's chocolate) 1 oz each semi-sweet chocolate (melted)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Kirsh optional
- 7 g package of gelatin powder
- 2 tablespoon hot water
Garnish
- Whipped cream frosting (see recipe in notes) or whipped cream (see top tip) * about 2 cups
- shaved chocolate
- maraschino cherries with stems/cocktail cherries
Instructions
- Prep: Generously spray a 9 inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Crust:
- Place melted butter and Oreo cookies in food processor.¼ cup unsalted butter, 35 Oreo cookies
- Mix on high until combined into crumb.
- Press into a 9 inch spring form pan.
Cherry filling:
- Stir 1-7 g pkg of gelatin into 2 tbsps (hot- not boiling) water and stir until dissolved.7 g package of gelatin powder, 2 tbsps hot water
- Combine cherry pie mixture with almond extract and gelatin mixture from the previous step.Place in fridge to set while you are doing the next step.1 teaspoon almond extract, 14 oz can of cherry pie filling
Cheesecake layer:
- Beat cream cheese and sugar together until fluffy.16 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature, ⅓ cup white granulated sugar
- Melt chocolate in microwave at 50% power for 2-3 minutes, until just melted (or use a double boiler) and add to cream cheese and sugar mixture. Beat in sour cream. Dissolve the other 7 g package of gelatin in 2 tablespoon hot water and beat into chocolate cream cheese mixture. If using, add Kirsch or cherry brandy.8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate squares (baker's chocolate), 1 cup sour cream, 7 g package of gelatin powder, 2 tablespoon hot water, 1 tablespoon Kirsh
- Remove the pan from the fridge - the cherry pie filling should be set (it takes about 15-20 minutes).
- Spoon the chocolate cream cheese mixture over set cherry pie filling. Smooth chocolate cream cheese mixture on top of cherry layer.Cover and chill in the fridge for at least least 3 -4 hours or overnight.
- Unmold and smooth sides and top with a hot cake decorating spatula (see equipment in recipe card) or butter knife.
Garnish
- Garnish with whipped cream frosting, chocolate shavings and maraschino cherries with stems/cocktail cherries.Pipe the whipped cream frosting with a 1M tip and pastry bag. Pat cherries dry before placing on cake. *If you don't have a tip and pastry bag, just add the whipped cream as a 4th layer, once the cake is set. *Do this in the pan, then unhinge it. You can serve with addtitional whipped cream as well.Shave chocolate with a box grater or vegetable peeler (If you want curls).
Notes
-
- Mix gelatin with hot water, NOT boiling water
-
- Make sure you stabilize your whipped cream with piping gel or gelatin or it won't hold its shape
-
- Spray the springform pan generously with non-stick cooking spray
-
- Make sure the cookies are ground into a fine crumb
-
- Do not get water near anything you use for melting chocolate and melt chocolate at 50% power in microwave or it will seize
-
- Be sure the cherry layer is set before adding the cream cheese layer
-
- Pat the cocktail cherries dry before garnishing the cake or they will run
-
- Do not freeze this cake decorated with whipped cream; wait until the cake is completely defrosted before adding the whipped cream
Nutrition
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Susanne Sulkers
Made this recently, easy to make in very little time and always a great hit with everyone.
Terri Gilson
Hi Sue,
I'm glad you found it easy and everyone enjoyed it!
Terri
Ali Morton
I am not usually a fan of no bake cheesecake, but this cake was amazing! This is a must for the summer!
Terri Gilson
Hi Ali,
I'm so glad to hear you loved it!
Terri
Romson
Absolutely delish! Perfect to cap off the evening after a warm summer day!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Romson! I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Terri