Kittencal's Easy No-Bake Cheesecake (Chocolate Option)

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

You may not bother baking cheesecake again once you try this! --- I strongly recommend to use only Philadelphia brand cream cheese I have made this using other brands and it was not as good, plan ahead there is a 5 hour chilling time ---for chocolate option see bottom of the recipe

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 (9 inch) graham cracker crumb crust (or can use chocolate or vanilla flavor, I like the chocolate)
• 1 (8 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream Cheese , softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package Philadelphia Cream Cheese , softened
• 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar (must be sifted)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 ½-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons soft butter
• 1 (12 ounce) container cool whip frozen whipped topping , thawed, divided (return the remaining half of the Cool Whip to the freezer and use for the next time)
• pie filling (use favorite flavor, I like cherry or blueberry)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl beat all cream cheese with confectioners sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and soft butter until smooth and fluffy scraping down the sides of bowl a few times during beating.
2. Using a spatula fold in the half of the container of Cool Whip until well combined (I start with mixing with a spatula then finish beating on low speed for about 1 minute),.
3. Transfer to prepared crumb crust.
4. Refrigerate for 5 or more hours.
5. Before serving spread the pie filling on top.
6. FOR CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE.
7. A chocolate crust and cherry pie filling is recommend.
8. Omit the lemon juice. melt 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute removing halfway to stir, gradually add the melted chocolate to the cream cheese mixture beating on low speed until blended, then fold in the Cool Whip.

Reviews

[internetnut]

I gave this recipe 5 stars. I made this for my bosses birthday as she loves cheesecake. Everyone loved it! It tasted so creamy and had such a wonderful cream cheese flavor. The only change I made to the recipe was to leave out the lemon because I didn't have any on hand. Overall I thought this was one of the best no bake cheesecakes I've ever had and will make it again for sure! Thanks for posting! Christine (internetnut)

[GzNKz4evr]

You were right again Kitten - I will never make traditional cheesecake again! Maybe when the kids are grown, but for now, this is just as good. Quick, easy, and so yummy! I have tried with various fruits as well as without and it is always terrific! Grab a spoon and dig in because this pie doesn't last long enough to take the time cutting slices in my house!

[Shopinful Chef]

I thought I had the perfect brownie recipe until I tried this one. I do not like cake-like brownies but soft and rich brownies. Wow, this recipe can't be beat! The only thing I did different was omitted one cup of chocolate chips when they are added into batter and added 1 cut chopped walnuts. I brought them to the office and beforef 10 a.m. they were gone. Everyone will think you got them at an expensive bakery!