No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake: The Easiest, Most Delicious Way to Make Cheesecake

There's no need to turn on the oven for this No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake! This delicious dessert is made with a few simple ingredients and is ready in just minutes. The combination of caramel, chocolate and pecans makes this cheesecake irresistible. Serve it at your next party or gathering and watch it disappear!

No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake: The Easiest, Most Delicious Way to Make Cheesecake

What makes this cheesecake so delicious is that decadent combination of rich nutty flavors, smooth chocolate, and sticky-sweet caramel. The pecans add a lovely crunch, while the chocolate and caramel smooth everything out. It's an irresistible dessert that is sure to please everyone!

This No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake is so easy to make, you'll wonder why people ever bothered with the oven!

Why Do They Call It "Turtle" Cheesecake?

The name "turtle" comes from the traditional "turtle" candy which is basically a cluster of pecans in the shape of a star. They resemble turtles, with their heads and tails poking out from under the caramel and chocolate!

This particular cheesecake just has the flavors - not the actual turtle shaped candies, but the shape isn't what's important here. It's the magical combo of caramel, chocolate and pecan that just makes it so wonderful.

What Goes into Making Turtle Cheesecake?

For the crust :

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tablespoon melted butter
• ¼ cup confectioners sugar

For the filling :

• 16 fl. oz (2 cups) whipping cream
• 2 cups cream cheese
• ¾ cup confectioners sugar
• ¼ cup caramel syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the glaze:

• 1 cup pecans + more for decor
• 1 cup caramel syrup
• Whipped topping (optional)
• ½ melted chocolate (optional)

This seems like a super long list - but it's really not. If you want to get it down to the bare basics, you can replace the crust with a premade crust, and replace the whipping cream and confectioner's sugar with whipped topping (like Cool Whip). Those two little changes will pull out a bunch of the ingredients - and the resulting cheesecake will taste surprisingly identical to what it would with the original recipe.

Kitchen Tools Needed

So many times, I get asked what tools to use in the kitchen to make my no-bake desserts. Here's what you'll need - but you likely have all these already.

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer
• 9-inch springform pan
• Medium saucepan

How to Make Turtle Cheesecake

Make the crust:

Blend the graham crackers until you have fine crumbs (no big lumps).

Combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and confectioners sugar, stirring the mixture well.

Press the mixture into the bottom of a cake pan, then place in the fridge to chill while you make the filling.

Make the filling:

With a hand mixer, whip the whipping cream until it has soft peaks.

In a second bowl, whip the cream cheese to soften it, then add the prepared whipping cream. Stir to combine.

Add the caramel syrup, the vanilla and the confectioners sugar. Continue mixing until everything is nice and smooth.

Pour this mixture into the cake pan over the crust and smooth the top before placing the cake pan back in the fridge.

Make the glaze:

Roughly chop the pecans into small pieces with a knife (retain 5-10 pecan halves for decorating, if desired.

Combine the caramel syrup and pecans in a small bowl, stirring to completely cover the pecans in the syrup.

Pour this mixture over the top of the cheesecake and smooth it over the top.

Leave the cheesecake in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Decorate with the reserved pecans, whipped topping and dark melted chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is It Called "Cheese" Cake?

The word "cheese" in cheesecake has nothing to do with actual cheese. It comes from the old English word "cyse," which means curdled milk. So technically, cheesecake is more of a custard cake than anything else! But, the fact that cream cheese is used in the making of cheesecake is kind of the connection.

Can You Make this No-Bake Cheesecake Vegan or Gluten-Free?

Yes! With a few modifications, you can absolutely make this vegan or gluten-free.

This No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake can easily be made vegan by using a plant-based cream cheese. Just take care to use vegan chocolate and caramel - and any of the other ingredients.

And it can be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free graham cracker crumb crust or replacing the graham cracker crust with a gluten-free crust of crushed wafer cookies.

Super easy swaps to make it suit your needs.

Tips for Storing No-Bake Cheesecake

This No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. But, I highly doubt it will last that long!

If you have any leftovers, just store them in an airtight container and pop them into the fridge. When you're ready for another slice (or two), just take them out and enjoy.

Looking for More No-Bake Desserts?

If you love the idea of a no-bake dessert so your kitchen doesn't heat up unnecessarily, join the club! We will be adding more delicious ideas here soon, but for now, check out these favorites that are often on our dessert menu. Make sure you bookmark the recipes or print them out so you will have them on hand when you need an easy treat!

• No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake Recipe
• Vegan Engery Bites Recipe
• No-Bake Chocolate Oreo Lasagna Recipe