3-Ingredient Cheesecake

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, Published Aug 08, 2025

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This 3-ingredient Cheesecake is creamy, delicious and super easy to make – just cream cheese or mascarpone, sweetened condensed milk and graham cracker crumbs. No eggs, no fuss, no-bake – the easy dessert of your dreams!

A 3-ingredient cheesecake white topped with halved fresh strawberries and pink crumbs, is placed on a white plate. Nearby are whole strawberries, a floral-handled knife, a small bowl of crumbs, and a jar of jam.

Who knew cheesecake could be this easy? With just three simple ingredients, you can whip up a lusciously creamy cheesecake that’s perfect for any occasion. No eggs, no water bath, no baking and no stress. The ultimate fuss-free dessert with major crowd-pleasing energy.

I am definitely intrigued by recipes that only use three or four ingredients – just take a look at my Three Ingredient Banana Bread and 4-Ingredient Fruit Cake!. My curiosity drove me to try making this 3-Ingredient no-bake cheesecake simply to see whether it would work… Spoiler alert – it does!

A slice of creamy three ingredient cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry halves sits on a white plate, with more strawberries and crumbs scattered around. A fork rests near the plate on a pink surface.

Here’s What You Will Need

Just three ingredients, as promised, with some optional add-ins if you are a rule breaker ; )

Full-Fat Cream Cheese or Mascarpone Cheese: The key to your cheesecake’s ultra-creamy texture. Mascarpone is slightly sweeter which gives the filling a luscious mousse-like feel. For a tangier flavor, use block cream cheese (a.k.a brick cream cheese). Take out of the fridge half an hour before starting the recipe so it blends smoothly.

Sweetened Condensed Milk: The secret behind many recipes with few ingredients! It adds the sweetness and structure your filling needs, eliminating the need for added sugar. It also helps bind everything together and adds a milky, creamy almost caramel-like flavor.

Graham Cracker Crumbs: Your classic cheesecake crust but mixed with a little of the condensed milk to bind instead of the usual melted butter. Get a store-bought graham cracker crust to simplify this recipe even further.

Optional Ingredients: A teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste and generous pinch salt will enhance the flavor tremendously!

A can of Carnation condensed milk, a bowl of thick white cream cheese, and a bag of Lieber’s graham cracker crumbs on a white surface.

How to Make 3-Ingredient Cheesecake Recipe

Make the crust: Combine the graham cracker crumbs with a little of the condensed milk until the mixture becomes clumpy and binds together. Press into a line 7-inch loose-bottomed cake pan (or a springform pan) and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 5-7 minutes until golden. Cool before using.
Make the cheesecake filling: Place the cream cheese or mascarpone, remaining sweetened condensed milk plus vanilla and salt, if using, in a large bowl. Beat together until the filling is creamy.
Use a spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to make sure everything is evenly mixed – the milk tends to settle at the bottom plus you don’t want any lumps! Beat again until the filling holds stiff peaks (or just shy of – it is quite soft).

Four-panel image showing hands pressing a crumb crust into a pan, creamy white mixture in a bowl, and dollops of the mixture being spread onto the crust. Person has red nails and a floral tattoo on one wrist.

Assemble, chill and serve

Pour the filling over the crust and level. Tap gently against the counter to help the filling settle. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours and ideally overnight for the cheesecake to set properly.
Carefully remove the cheesecake from the pan and place on a cake plate. Decorate with sliced strawberries and a sprinkling of freeze-dried strawberries or whatever you like! Slice and serve – easiest dessert ever!

On the left, a hand spreads creamy white cheesecake filling in a pan. On the right, a finished cheesecake is topped with sliced strawberries and crumbs on a pink surface.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Prepare the homemade graham cracker crust up to a day ahead. It needs to be completely cool before you add the filling!
Bring the mascarpone or cream cheese to room temperature before using.
Whatever you do, don’t try to serve this cheesecake before it has had a proper long chill time in the fridge. It has a super-creamy filling that needs time to set so it is best to prepare this no-bake dessert at least a day ahead of serving.
Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to serving this cheesecake. Add fresh fruit or berries, drizzle with chocolate sauce or raspberry coulis.

A no-bake cheesecake with a golden crust, topped with halved fresh strawberries and glossy strawberry sauce, sits on a white marble platter against a pink background.

Leftovers and Storage

Store in an airtight container. It keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days without any toppings. This easy cheesecake freezes beautifully, whole or in slices! Wrap tightly plastic wrap place in the freezer for up 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and serve chilled.

Recipe Variations

Once you master this simple 3-ingredient cheesecake recipe, you can start adding your own personal touches. Here are some ideas:

Use oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter to make the crust – or your favorite cookies such as Lotus Biscoff or digestives for those in the UK.
Flavor the filling with a little lemon curd, peanut butter, caramel sauce or cooled chocolate ganache.

A round cake with white frosting topped with sliced strawberries, placed on a marble platter. One slice is cut and slightly pulled out. Whole and sliced strawberries are scattered nearby on a pink surface.

If you try this 3-ingredient cheesecake recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Did you keep it simple or go wild with toppings? Please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know, follow me on Pinterest for more easy recipes and don’t forget to tag me on @Instagram and TikTok so I can see your creations.