These no-bake cheesecake cups are a simple, gluten-free dessert made with a naturally sweetened pecan crust and a smooth, creamy cheesecake filling. With no oven required and minimal prep, they're an easy option when you want an individual dessert that looks impressive but comes together quickly.
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A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: No-Bake Cheesecake Cups
🕒 Ready In: ~20 minutes (plus chilling time)
👪 Serves: 4 individual cheesecake cups
🍽 Calories: ~310 per cup (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Pecans, cream cheese, honey, heavy cream, lemon juice
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free; naturally sweetened
👌 Difficulty: Very easy - blend, layer, chill
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The pecan crust replaces traditional graham crackers, keeping the cheesecake cups naturally gluten-free while adding a subtle nutty flavor. The filling is light, creamy, and gently balanced with lemon juice and honey, giving these cups a classic cheesecake taste without relying on refined sugar.
If you enjoy easy no-bake desserts like this, you may also like our Strawberry Mousse, Kiwi Lime Popsicles, or Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Bars that are perfect for make-ahead treats and simple entertaining.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look at the Recipe
- Why You'll Love No-Bake Cheesecake Cups:
- Key Ingredients:
- Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- How to Make No-Bake Cheesecake Cups:
- Recipe Notes & Tips:
- How to Store:
- No-Bake Cheesecake Cups FAQs:
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- No-Bake Cheesecake Cups
Why You'll Love No-Bake Cheesecake Cups:
No baking required: The cheesecake sets in the refrigerator, making this an easy dessert without turning on the oven.
Naturally gluten-free crust: A pecan base replaces traditional graham crackers, keeping the recipe gluten-free without special substitutes.
Smooth, creamy texture: Beating the cream cheese with heavy cream creates a light, spoonable cheesecake that sets beautifully as it chills.
Naturally sweetened: Honey adds sweetness without refined sugar and pairs well with the nutty crust and tangy filling.
Key Ingredients:
- pecans. Provide a naturally rich, nutty base for the crust. You can substitute walnuts, almonds, or a mix of nuts if preferred.
- honey. Acts as both a sweetener and binder in the crust and filling. Maple syrup can also be used for a slightly deeper flavor.
- cream cheese. Use full-fat, softened cream cheese for the creamiest, smoothest texture. Low-fat versions can make the filling less rich.
- lemon juice. Balances the sweetness and enhances the cheesecake flavor with a subtle tang. Fresh lemon juice works best.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- Swap the crust: Pecans can be replaced with walnuts or almonds for a different nutty flavor while keeping the cheesecake cups gluten-free.
- Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free cream cheese and coconut cream in place of heavy cream for a fully dairy-free version.
- Adjust sweetness: For a less sweet filling, reduce the honey slightly. If you prefer a sweeter cheesecake, add 1-2 extra tablespoons of honey.
- Change the toppings: Fresh berries, chocolate shavings, or an extra drizzle of honey all pair well with these no-bake cheesecake cups.
How to Make No-Bake Cheesecake Cups:
- Add the pecans to a food processor and pulse until finely ground.
- Add the melted butter and honey, then pulse again until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Spoon the pecan mixture evenly into the bottoms of 8 small dessert cups or ramekins and press down gently to form a crust layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add the heavy cream, honey, and lemon juice, and beat again until light and fluffy.
- Spoon or pipe the cheesecake filling evenly over the pecan crusts, smoothing the tops.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until set.
- Serve chilled, optionally topped with fresh berries, chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of honey.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Use softened cream cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Beat until light and fluffy: Whipping enough air into the cream cheese and cream helps create a smooth, creamy texture that sets properly as it chills.
- Press the crust gently: Lightly compacting the pecan crust helps it hold together without becoming dense or hard.
- Chill until fully set: Refrigerate the cheesecake cups for at least 2 hours so the filling firms up and the flavors develop.
- Add toppings just before serving: This keeps the cheesecake cups looking fresh and prevents excess moisture from softening the filling.
How to Store:
Refrigerator: Store cheesecake cups covered in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Keep them chilled until ready to serve.
Freezer: Freeze unfrosted or plain cheesecake cups for up to 2 months. Wrap each cup tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Make ahead: Perfect for entertaining, make the crust and filling the day before, assemble, and chill overnight for easy, ready-to-serve desserts.
No-Bake Cheesecake Cups FAQs:
Yes. These no-bake cheesecake cups are naturally gluten-free because the crust is made with pecans instead of graham crackers, and the filling does not contain any wheat-based ingredients.
No-bake cheesecake cups should chill for at least 2 hours so the filling can fully set. Chilling allows the cream cheese and cream to firm up, creating a smooth, spoonable cheesecake texture.
Yes. No-bake cheesecake cups are an excellent make-ahead dessert. They can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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No-Bake Cheesecake Cups
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add the pecans to a food processor and pulse until finely ground.
- Add the melted butter and honey, then pulse again until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Spoon the pecan mixture evenly into the bottoms of 8 small dessert cups or ramekins and press down gently to form a crust layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add the heavy cream, honey, and lemon juice, and beat again until light and fluffy.
- Spoon or pipe the cheesecake filling evenly over the pecan crusts, smoothing the tops.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until set.
- Serve chilled, optionally topped with fresh berries, chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of honey.
Nutrition
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened before mixing to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Beat until light and fluffy: Whipping enough air into the cream cheese and cream helps create a smooth, creamy texture that sets properly as it chills.
- Press the crust gently: Lightly compacting the pecan crust helps it hold together without becoming dense or hard.
- Chill until fully set: Refrigerate the cheesecake cups for at least 2 hours so the filling firms up and the flavors develop.
- Add toppings just before serving: This keeps the cheesecake cups looking fresh and prevents excess moisture from softening the filling.
Yvonne says
Easy and delicious!
Anil says
Just tweaked the recipe a little bit and substituted coconut oil for butter - also added ricotta and fresh blueberries to the cream cheese for more texture and creaminess and boom! it did come out delish!
Carol Cooper says
Love some of your recipes. But do you know how many carbs go with each recipe? I would love for you to put that on the recipes because when i show my friends ( we are all on low carbs), first thing out of their mouths is how do you know how many carbs it has? Some write down everything they eat which is a good idea but they want to know how many carbs and so do I.
Thank you,
Carol Cooper
Shay says
Hi Carol,
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, we've been travelling for the past 2 weeks. The problem is that I am not a registered dietician/nutritionist and cannot legally give this information. I have looked into it in the past, but I will definitely try to give at least a rough estimate of the nutritional value/carb content of each recipe.
Thanks for the feedback!
Shay 🙂
Carol Cooper says
Shay,
I understand about the dietician/nutritionist thing. But whenever I tell my low carb friends about a new recipe, one of the first questions is how many carbs? I know right? It drives me crazy because I can't tell them. But I love my friends and am always on the look out to help our little low carb group get delish recipes.
Thanks for taking time to answer me back.