No-Bake Marble Cheesecake
A striking no-bake cheesecake with swirled chocolate and vanilla layers, ready in 15 minutes of hands-on time plus 4 hours chilling. Creamy, rich, and impressive enough for any occasion.
- Total time
- 255 min
- Servings
- 8
- Calories
- 420
- Protein
- 7g
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream, cold
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Instructions
- 1
Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, letting the paper extend 2 inches above the rim on all sides for easy removal later.
- 2
Measure 1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs into a small bowl and pour in 6 tablespoons melted butter.
- 3
Stir the crumb mixture with a fork until all crumbs are evenly coated with butter and the texture resembles damp sand.
- 4
Pour the buttered crumbs into the springform pan and press them firmly into an even layer across the bottom using the bottom of a measuring cup.
- 5
Remove the cream cheese from the fridge 30 minutes before use so it is soft enough to blend smoothly without lumps when stirred.
- 6
Place the softened cream cheese and 0.75 cup sugar into a large mixing bowl.
- 7
Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar together for 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth, pale, and fluffy with no visible lumps.
- 8
Pour 1 cup cold heavy cream into the same bowl and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- 9
Using the electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream mixture until soft peaks form—when you lift the beaters, the cream should leave peaks that gently tip over, about 90 seconds.
- 10
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture by lifting batter from the bottom of the bowl up and over the cream, rotating the bowl a quarter turn after each fold, until no white streaks remain.
- 11
Spoon two-thirds of the vanilla cheesecake mixture into the springform pan and spread it into an even layer using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
- 12
Sift 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder over the remaining one-third of vanilla filling in the mixing bowl.
- 13
Fold the cocoa powder into the remaining vanilla filling until the mixture is uniformly chocolate-colored with no white streaks visible.
- 14
Drop large spoonfuls of the chocolate cheesecake mixture across the surface of the vanilla layer in the pan.
- 15
Using a thin knife or skewer, drag it through the chocolate and vanilla mixture in several directions—diagonal lines, wavy patterns, or any design—to create a marbled effect.
- 16
Cover the springform pan loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight, until the filling is firm and set.
- 17
Remove the cheesecake from the fridge 10 minutes before serving so it softens slightly and is easier to slice cleanly.
- 18
Unclip the springform pan ring and gently pull away the parchment paper, then use a sharp knife dipped in warm water and wiped clean between each cut to slice the cheesecake into 8 equal wedges.
Tools you’ll need
- 9-inch springform pan
- parchment paper
- small mixing bowl
- fork
- measuring cup
- large mixing bowl
- electric mixer
- rubber spatula
- offset spatula or spoon
- fine-mesh sieve (for sifting cocoa)
- thin knife or skewer
- plastic wrap
- sharp chef's knife
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