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!
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!
Jump to:
- Why you'll love this recipe
- No-Bake Cheesecake Ingredients
- Homemade Caramel Sauce Ingredient Notes
- 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
- ⭐ Reviews
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
- 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 Ingredient Notes
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is used in this recipe.
- Heavy cream: Gives the caramel sauce it's smooth richness.
- Butter: Unsalted butter to control salt content in this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract: For yummy flavor.
- Salt: Offsets the sweetness.
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!
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?
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
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
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It stores extremely well.
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.
I don't recommend this as it will not set evenly.
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!
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
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @sprinkle_some_sugar on Instagram!
📋 Recipe
No-Bake Caramel Turtle Brownie Bottom 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.
Shivonne says
Hi Jessica,
Making this for a friends brithday and got hit with a cold the day before. So wanting to keep the recipe super simple. Question: Can I use the caramel syrup that is a topping for ice cream? Or will it not work?
Thanks
Shivonne
Jessica says
Yes! Just substitute the same amount. Feel better!
Chelsie says
Just wondering. I've made the cheesecake in a springform pan. After chilling it for 3-4 hours can I take the springform back off to top the cheesecake with caramel and fudge sauce? Will it be set up enough?
chantal castonguay says
bonjour, je voulais faire ce gâteau, il a l'air succulent. Par contre, je ne sais pas ce qui est fouet frais de 4 oz. Désolé.
Desiree Arpin says
I made this dessert for the first time for Thanksgiving at my inlaws. It was a huge hit!! I had the best dessert. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Jessica says
That's so awesome!! 🙂 Thanks so much for letting me know and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, Desiree!
Kayla says
When i made this, the brownie was hard. I even cooked the brownie less, refrigerated it, and it was still hard. Is it suppose to be? Do i need to set it out to room temp before serving to soften the brownie?
Brenda says
This certainly was a BIG hit for this thanksgiving dessert. I was nervous trying first time making and serving to my guests. Wow so delish !! We have more company next week for dinner and my husband has requested to make again. I'm sure it will freeze well too. I've never made a cheese cake before. Thanks for the recipe.
Judi says
There are a couple of ways you can make this cheesecake a little firmer. First you can add a little unflavored gelatin you to the Cool Whip before you mix it into everything else. Or as an alternative: there is a powdered mix you can make called Dream Whip in the baking aisle. Instead of following the directions on the package for making it, short your liquid a bit and it will make a whipped topping that is considerably stiffer. I keep it on hand because it takes so little space to store.
Jessica says
Thanks so much for the tips!
Louise says
Lol, it looked amazing and said no-bake then the first instruction was to bake something. Moving on.
Jessica says
"This creamy no-bake caramel cheesecake is nestled on top of a baked brownie and smothered in lots of chocolate, caramel sauce and chopped pecans." So sorry you'll have to miss out.
Lexi says
Geez people. You don't have to bake the brownie,use something else... I don't know why everyone is giving her such a hard time, it is still a no bake cheesecake and she was kind enough to share it with you
Jessica says
Thank you so much Lexi. You're awesome. <3
Frannie says
Sooo Agree!
Move on and leave Your Criticism off the Comments!
You can easily Adjust.
It's All about the Cheesecake.
Thank You for sharing Your Cheesecake No Bake Recipe...Exactly what I was Looking for!
Jessica says
Thank you! <3
Morgan says
This cheesecake turned out okay. Has way to much cinnamon in it, it ended up tasting like a cinnamon roll with caramel which isn't bad just not what I wanted. Definitely have to freeze it for it to set up.
Cheryl says
I made this and while it was delicious, it was extremely "goopy," for lack of a better word. It did not have nice clean, straight edges when I cut it--it was super soft, and started to sink into the open spots as soon as I'd remove a piece. I think I still have the pics; I can send you're curious. I accidentally used "light" Cool Whip; do you think that could make that much difference? Need to make another cheesecake again today for a family function (boyfriend's family) tomorrow and would love to try this again but am nervous....
Cheryl says
P.S. I'm sure this is assumed but I followed the recipe to the letter other than the "light" whipped topping oversight.
Jessica says
I'm sorry that happened to you! I am unsure if the light cool whip played a role in it being goopy.. I have had a few readers tell me that this happened to them also, although I'm unsure why, they had great success freezing it for an hour before serving for a firmer texture - it will still very creamy. I hope you decide to make it again! If you do, I'd love to hear how it came out.
Tessa Stokes says
I didn't use both sugars in the mix as I thought it would be too sweet. And it was the right thing to do , as it was so rich even without the brown sugar. It one of the BEST puddings/cheesecakes I've ever made & all my family LOVED it. Try it everyone , you will not be disappointed.