No-Bake Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust

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Servings:
12

Not all cheesecakes are baked; this eggless version is just cream cheese, lemon juice, sugar, and heavy cream over a gingersnap crust. Still, it's so rich that one cake is enough for a dozen slices.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups finely ground cookies (8 ounces)

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • ½ cup heavy cream, chilled

Directions

  1. Stir together cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

  2. Put cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add remaining cup sugar in a slow, steady stream. Add lemon juice; mix until combined.

  3. Beat cream in a clean mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream with a rubber spatula into cream cheese filling. Pour over crust. Freeze 1 hour. Refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes.

Cook's Notes

We used gingersnaps for a slightly spicy crust. Graham crackers, butter cookies, or chocolate sandwich cookies would all make fine substitutes.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, May 2004

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