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    Home » Recipes » Cake & Cupcakes

    No-Bake Caramel Turtle Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

    Published: Nov 17, 2014 · Last Modified: May 9, 2023 by Jessica · 79 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

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    This incredibly decadent No-Bake Caramel Turtle Brownie Bottom Cheesecake is nestled on top of a baked brownie and smothered in melted chocolate, homemade caramel sauce and chopped pecans.

    Disclaimer: ONLY the cheesecake portion of this recipe is no-bake. The brownie crust will need to be baked. If you want a FULLY no-bake cheesecake, you will need to use a different crust recipe. See crust variations WITH RECIPES below!

    Caramel turtle cheesecake slice on a plate with drizzle.

    Let's talk cheesecake. Have you ever made a no-bake cheesecake before? If not, you are in for a real treat! Baking a cheesecake can sound like such a daunting and intimidating task because of all the steps involved and things that can go wrong like over-mixing, cracked tops, etc. This is the most incredible cheesecake recipe that requires no baking! The flavor is exactly the same as a baked cheesecake. The texture is a bit lighter than a traditional, more firm cheesecake, but I promise you won't even miss it once you taste it!

    Table of Contents

    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • No-Bake Cheesecake Ingredients
    • Homemade Caramel Sauce Ingredients
    • Need a no-bake crust? Recipes here!
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Cheesecake Topping Ideas
    • How do you make an easy no-bake cheesecake?
    • Tips for making a perfect no-bake cheesecake
    • How to make homemade caramel sauce
    • Storage
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More no-bake recipes you'll love
    • 📋 Recipe
    • No-Bake Caramel Turtle Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • No-bake cheesecake, you guessed it, does not need to be baked! Perfect for those warm days you don't want to keep your oven on for too long.
    • The brownie crust DOES need to be baked though. Short-cut with a brownie mix.
    • The brownie bottom combined with he caramel cheesecake filling is absolutely delicious.
    • The texture of this no-bake cheesecake is so smooth and creamy, it's addicting!
    • This no-bake cheesecake recipe is the perfect make-ahead dessert since it needs time to chill in the fridge!

    No-Bake Cheesecake Ingredients

    No bake brownie bottom caramel turtle cheesecake ingredients.
    • Cream Cheese: Room temperature, regular full-fat cream cheese for best results.
    • Sugar: I use a combination of granulated sugar and light brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
    • Prepared Caramel sauce: Recipe provided below! (You can also use store-bought.)
    • Frozen whipped topping: I like to use frozen whipped topping aka cool whip rather than homemade whipped cream because it makes the cheesecake much more sturdy.
    • Spices: Cinnamon & Nutmeg
    • Brownie Crust: Use your favorite box of brownies. You can also use this base recipe to make homemade brownies for the crust!

    Homemade Caramel Sauce Ingredients

    • Sugar: Granulated sugar
    • Water
    • Heavy cream: For smooth richness.
    • Butter: Unsalted butter to control salt content in this recipe.
    • Vanilla Extract: For flavor.
    • Salt: Offsets sweetness a bit.

    Need a no-bake crust? Recipes here!

    Oreo crust:

    • 24 Oreo cookies
    • 5 tbs unsalted butter, melted

    Graham Cracker:

    • 18 graham crackers
    • 2 tbs light brown sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

    For both recipes, pulse cookies/graham crackers into a fine crumb in a food processor. Add rest of ingredients until crumbs are moistened. Press into prepared springform pan. No need to bake! Continue on with the recipe as directed.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • Sub store-bought caramel sauce if you do not want to make it from scratch.
    • Leave out spices and caramel in the filling for a classic cheesecake flavored no-bake cheesecake!
    Close up of caramel turtle cheesecake slice on a plate.

    Cheesecake Topping Ideas

    • To make your cheesecake "Caramel Turtle" style you will need:
      • chopped pecans
      • prepared caramel sauce
      • hot fudge sauce
    • Flakey sea salt
    • Chopped nuts of choice
    • Toasted coconut

    How do you make an easy no-bake cheesecake?

    Brownie crust ready to bake.
    Mix brownie batter and spread into prepared springform pan. Bake and allow to cool completely.
    Mixed no-bake caramel cheesecake.
    Whip no-bake cheesecake filling ingredients until smooth.
    Spread no bake caramel cheesecake on top of brownie crust.
    Top cooled brownie crust with cheesecake filling.
    No-bake caramel cheesecake on top of baked brownie crust.
    Spread into an even layer and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours or until firm enough to cut into. Before serving, garnish cheesecake with remaining caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce and chopped pecans.

    Tips for making a perfect no-bake cheesecake

    • Use high-quality ingredients: If you splurge on anything in this recipe, let it be the cream cheese!
    • Speaking of cream cheese, letting it come to room temperature for about an hour or two before you plan to make the cheesecake will ensure that it will incorporate well with no cold lumps.
    • Give the cheesecake time to set up properly. If you don't wait long enough, it will be too soft to cut into slice. While still delicious, you won't have nice clean slices.
    • Use a springform pan for easy removal of the cheesecake.
    • No-bake cheesecake is the perfect canvas for all sorts of toppings!

    How to make homemade caramel sauce

    First step to making caramel
    Whisk water and sugar together on high heat until dissolved.
    Third step to making caramel.
    Whisk slowly but constantly until the melted sugar turns a dark amber color, this will take about 5 minutes or so.
    Homemade caramel pour into a bowl.
    Add heavy cream carefully as it will bubble up violently. Whisk until smooth. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Allow to cool to a warm temperature. This is how completely cooled caramel will look.

    Storage

    Store cheesecake in the refrigerator wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Freezing

    After cheesecake is set in the refrigerator, wrap the entire pan in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.

    Recipe FAQs

    How long does a homemade no-bake cheesecake last?

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It stores extremely well.

    Can I make no-bake cheesecake ahead of time?

    Yes, you can make no-bake cheesecake ahead of time. In fact, it will need to be made at least 6 hours ahead of time, or overnight, so that it has time to set and firm up.

    Will freezing cheesecake help it set?

    I don't recommend this as it will not set evenly.

    Can I freeze no-bake cheesecake?

    Yes! Without toppings, wrap the whole pan of cheesecake in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and it will be just as good as the day you made it!

    Can I Substitute whipped Cream for whipped Topping?

    Sure! I would only recommend homemade whipped cream, DEFINITELY not the store-bought can. Be sure to beat your whipped cream until stiff peaks form to ensure it will give the cheesecake enough structure to firm up and cut into slices

    More no-bake recipes you'll love

    • No-Bake Bailey's Cheesecake after garnishing.
      No-Bake Baileys Cheesecake with Irish Cream Dark Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream
    • S'mores Icebox Cake slice on a plate.
      S'mores Icebox Cake
    • Strawberry icebox cake slice on a plate square.
      Strawberry Icebox Cake
    • Creamy Peanut Butter Pie - Super creamy, easy and delicious peanut butter pie that is poured into an oreo crust and topped with homemade dark chocolate whipped cream!
      No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @sprinkle_some_sugar on Instagram!

    📋 Recipe

    Caramel turtle cheesecake slice on a plate.

    No-Bake Caramel Turtle Brownie Bottom Cheesecake

    Jessica
    This incredibly decadent No-Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake is nestled on top of a baked brownie and smothered in lots of chocolate, caramel sauce and chopped pecans.
    5 from 3 votes
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Chill time 6 hrs
    Total Time 6 hrs 40 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 9" cheesecake

    Ingredients
      

    Brownie Layer

    • 1 box brownie mix + ingredients on the box

    Caramel Sauce

    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tbs water
    • 6 tbs heavy cream
    • 2 tbs unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch salt

    Cheesecake

    • 16 oz cream cheese softened
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup light brown sugar
    • ¼ cup prepared caramel sauce*
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • pinch nutmeg
    • 4 oz cool whip

    Toppings

    • ¼ cup pecans chopped
    • ¼ cup caramel sauce
    • ¼ cup hot fudge sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven and grease a 9" springform pan. Optional: Cut out a circle of parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan for easier removal.

    For the brownie crust

    • Combine all brownie ingredients until smooth, pour into prepared pan and bake according to manufacturer's instructions on the box.

    For the Caramel Sauce

    • In a medium-sized heavy bottomed pot, heat water and sugar on HIGH heat and whisk just until the sugar is dissolved. It's important that you have high heat or you run the risk of seizing up the sugar, turning it into a solid mess.
    • Once sugar is dissolved, whisk gently and constantly until the melted sugar turns a dark amber color, this will take about 5 minutes or so. The darker the amber color, the more intense caramel flavor you will have.
    • After it turns dark amber, slowly and carefully pour in heavy cream. It will bubble up violently so you will need your whisk to whisk it very fast until it comes back down and it will start looking like caramel at this point. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Allow to cool completely.

    For the cheesecake filling

    • In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and both sugars until smooth. Stir in the ¼ cup of caramel sauce and spices until combined. Fold in cool whip and mix until everything is incorporated and distributed completely. Top the baked and cooled brownie with the cheesecake mixture and spread into an even layer. Chill in refrigerator for minimum of 6 hours or overnight.
    • Before serving, garnish cheesecake with remaining caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce and chopped pecans.

    Notes

    • *You can use store-bought caramel sauce, if desired.
    • Storage: Wrap tight with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
    • To Freeze: Without toppings, wrap entire pan in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight. Top with caramel sauce, chocolate and pecans before serving.

    The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Leave a comment below & tag @sprinkle_some_sugar on instagram!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Vamika says

      January 18, 2022 at 6:32 am

      5 stars
      this No-Bake Caramel Turtle Cheesecake seems so delicious , will love to make this , I alwaya wants to try some new recipes. Thanks for sharing this one.

      Reply
      • kelly shanley says

        June 16, 2022 at 11:52 am

        5 stars
        i have made this recipe quite a few times now and everyone just loves it!!. i personally found it a little on the too sweet side, so i split it up and make 2 seperate smaller cakes. works perfectly!! i use an in box chocolate cake mix instead of brownie, and i use real turtle candies chopped up for the topping instead of pecans, omg sooo good!!!

        Reply
        • Jessica says

          July 14, 2022 at 9:22 am

          Sounds amazing, Kelly!!

          Reply
    2. Dawn N says

      June 30, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Do you remove the outer ring after chilling 3 - 4 hours

      Reply
    3. Artina Lomas says

      November 24, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      I made this no bake turtle cheesecake for a family dinner and it was a smash! I'm making another today to take to work. Thank you so much for this tasty recipe!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        December 27, 2019 at 4:41 pm

        You're so welcome!

        Reply
    4. Jessica says

      April 30, 2019 at 6:52 pm

      I would assemble them the day before! Sounds yummy!

      Reply
    5. Nicole Hale says

      December 31, 2018 at 12:37 pm

      I made this recipe and it turned out incredible! I followed everything to a T! It was a huge hit at Christmas dinner. As indicated in the post, the cheesecake is a bit softer because it is a no-bake recipe but in all honesty it was just very soft and creamy! It was perfect and will definately make it again! I wish I could post a picture here to show my end result!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        January 19, 2019 at 2:13 pm

        Yes, it does make a softer cheesecake, but all around delish! Glad you enjoyed it! I'd love to see a picture!! You can post it on my facebook page or tag me on instagram. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Barbara says

      December 23, 2018 at 7:12 pm

      I’ve baked this twice and both times the brownie was hard. What am I doing wrong?

      Reply
    7. Barbara says

      December 23, 2018 at 10:29 am

      I’ve made this twice and both times the brownie was very hard to cut through.
      I use the same brownie mix I always use
      So I need to take it out of oven before the normal time?

      Thanks

      Reply
    8. Chelsea says

      November 26, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      I made this for Thanksgiving this year. It turned out perfect! The cheesecake was the perfect texture, andbthe caramel sauce was amazing! Thank you for helping me impress my in-laws!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        December 11, 2018 at 1:51 pm

        You're so very welcome! So glad I could help! Haha.

        - Jessica

        Reply
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    About Jessica

    I'm so excited you're here! I’m Jess, a self-taught baker, recipe developer & food photographer in New Jersey! Here you will find easy and delicious family recipes that anyone can make. Take a look around and I hope you stay a while! ❤️

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