Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

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This No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake is a light and fluffy caramel cheesecake in an Oreo crust packed with toasted coconut, shortbread cookies, and a caramel and chocolate swirl. And, of course, your favorite Samoa Girl Scout cookies to top it off!

Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (1)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Easy No-Bake Caramel Cheesecake with Oreo Crust
  • Key Ingredients
  • How to Make No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake
  • My Best Tips for No-Bake Cheesecake
  • Commonly Asked Questions
  • How to Store No-Bake Cheesecake
  • Can I Freeze it?
  • Get the Recipe

Easy No-Bake Caramel Cheesecake with Oreo Crust

Do you have a favorite Girl Scout cookie? While I’ve always been a thin mint gal, I will never turn down a peanut butter pattie or a Samoa cookie, which I happen to think make the best desserts!

This delicious No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake has all the elements of a Samoa cookie rolled into one decadent dessert. It’s a caramel cheesecake with toasted coconut and shortbread cookies, layered with caramel sauce and hot fudge all in an Oreo crust and topped with whipped cream.

Do you love this Samoa Cheesecake? Check out my caramel pecan cheesecake too!

Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2)

Key Ingredients

  • Coconut – You use sweetened shredded coconut toasted or untoasted, but toasting your own coconut is so easy to do.
  • Shortbread cookies– any brand will work. These are crushed up in the filling.
  • Cream Cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese blocks for the best texture and start with room-temperature cream cheese.
  • Heavy Cream – This recipe calls for homemade whipped cream for both the filling and the topping
  • Caramel Sauce- I recommend using a sauce not a syrup as the sauce is much thicker.
  • Samoa Cookies – If you can get ahold of a box of Samoa girl scout cookies, great! If not, you can always grab a box of the Keebler Coconut Dreams too.

How to Make No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake

This no-bake cheesecake is super easy to prepare! Here’s a summary of the recipe:

Prepare the Crust:

Grind the cookies into a fine crumb, melt the butter, then combine. Stir until coated, then pour into a greased springform pan. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides to form the crust. I provide more detailed photos of how I do it in this tutorial. Let the crust set in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

Make the Filling:

Toast the Coconut. In an oven preheated to 350°, bake the coconut on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 5-10 minutes until it reaches the desired color. urn the coconut with a spatula once it starts to cook to prevent burning. Transfer the coconut to a plate to prevent it from further cooking. Cool completely.

Prepare the whipped cream. In a bowl, beat the heavy cream until it’s thickened to soft peaks, then add powdered sugar and beat to stiff peaks. Set aside.

Assemble the filling. In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, caramel sauce, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth. Then fold the whip into the cream cheese filling and stir until smooth. Mix in the toasted coconut and crushed shortbread cookies

Assemble the Cheesecake:

Pour 1/3 of the filling into the prepared crust. Swirl in a little bit of caramel sauce and chocolate sauce, then repeat two more times with the remaining cheesecake filling. Chill in the fridge for 4-6 hours.

Add the Topping:

Prepare another batch of whipped cream, then pipe a border around the chilled cheesecake. Garnish with hot fudge, caramel, toasted coconut, and Samoa cookie halves.

Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (3)

My Best Tips for No-Bake Cheesecake

I’ve made dozens and dozens of no-bake desserts, I even wrote an entire cookbook about it, so I know a thing or two when it comes to preparing them.

    • Use a springform pan. The springform pan makes it super easy to remove the cheesecake without damaging it. If you follow my tutorial, you’ll see I line the bottom of a piece of parchment paper that hangs out over the edge. This way when you remove the sides of the pan, you can slide the entire cheesecake onto a serving plate.
    • Compress thecrust. Use a measure cups to really press the cookie and butter mixture into the pan, this will help it hold together.
    • Use full-fat cream cheese. It has the best texture and is often less watery.
    • Cool Whip vs Whipped cream. Either Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream will work, but the key with whipped cream is that it’s properly whipped to stiff peaks.
Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (4)

Commonly Asked Questions

Should I bake the crust?

Nope, there’s no need! I like to place the Oreo crust in the fridge while I prep the filling and it firms up perfectly. I do however recommend baking a crust if you’re using pie plate instead of a springform pan (see below).

Why is my cheesecake not firm?

This could be a number of factors but usually, it’s due to a mishap with the ingredients. Make sure the whipped cream is beaten until stiff peaks, as a wilted whipped cream will not properly set.

Be sure it’s fully chilled. A no-bake cheesecake needs at least 4-6 hours, but add time as needed.

Can I make this in a pie plate?

Yes, you can make this in a 9-inch pie plate, but I recommend a deep dish pie plate if available so there is plenty of room for the filling. If you’re planning to use a pie plate, you might want to consider baking the crust to help it hold together when removing it from the pan. Follow this tutorial for my Oreo Pie Crust.

Can I use a pre-made pie crust?

Yes, you can. but this would likely yield two pies instead of one because there is quite a bit of filling.

Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (5)

How to Store No-Bake Cheesecake

You can prepare the cheesecake up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Tightly wrap the entire pan with plastic wrap and add the toppings once you removed the edge of the pan and just prior to serving for best results.

Once prepared, this should last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can either put the collar back on the pan or store it covered in an airtight container like a cake carrier.

Can I Freeze it?

Yep! No-bake desserts freeze beautifully. Allow the cheesecake to fully set before freezing. Then wrap the entire pan with two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add toppings prior to serving.

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Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (6)

No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 45 minutes
  • Chill Time: 4 hours
  • Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
  • Yield: 10 slices

Print Recipe

Description

This No-Bake Samoa Cheesecake is a light and fluffy caramel cheesecake in an Oreo crust packed with toasted coconut, shortbread cookies, and a caramel and chocolate swirl.

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 package (14.3 oz) Oreos
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

  • 1 ¼ cups (296ml) heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar
  • 1 cup toasted coconut
  • 16 ounces (452g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup (106g) caramel sauce, divided
  • ½ cup (95g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 12 shortbread cookies, crushed
  • ¼ cup hot fudge sauce plus additional for garnish

For the topping:

  • 1 cup (236ml) heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup (65g) powdered sugar
  • 12 Samoa cookies for garnish

Instructions

For the crust:

  1. Prepare a9-inch springform panby lightly greasing the edges of the pan with cooking spray, and then wiping gently with a paper towel. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
  2. Grind the cookies into a fine crumb using afood processorblender.Pour the melted butter over the cookie crumbs and stir until the crumbs are well coated.
  3. Pour the crumbs into your springform pan and press firmly into the bottom and up on the sides to create a thick crust. Refrigerate the crust while you are preparing the filling.

For the filling:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook until lightly brown 8-10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  2. Prepare the whipped cream. Place the mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to chill. Pour the heavy whipping cream into the chilled bowl and use an electric mixer to beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until soft peaks start to form. Slowly add the powdered sugar and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
  3. Combine the cream cheese with 1/3 cup of caramel sauce, granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Fold in the prepared whipped cream and stir until completely smooth. Next fold in the toasted coconut (reserve a small handful for garnish) and crushed shortbread cookies.

To assemble:

  1. Pour 1/3 of the cheesecake filling into the prepared crust, spreading evenly. Swirl approximately 1-2 tablespoons of caramel sauce and hot fudge sauce over top and swirl with a knife. Repeat these steps two more times and spread the top evenly. Refrigerate your cheesecake for 4-6 hours.

For the topping:

  1. Prior to serving, make a second batch of whipped cream as instructed above. Pipe the borders using a large open round tip and pipe a border around the cheesecake. Garnish with hot fudge, caramel and toasted coconut. Slice the Samoa cookies in half and place them between each dollop of whipped cream.

Notes

Storing, Freezing and Making ahead

  • Preparation: You can prepare the cheesecake up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Tightly wrap the entire pan with plastic wrap and add the toppings once you removed the edge of the pan and just prior to serving for best results.
  • Storing: Once prepared, this should last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can either put the collar back on the pan or store it covered in an airtight container like a cake carrier.
  • Freezing: Allow the cheesecake to fully set before freezing. Then wrap the entire pan with two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add toppings prior to serving.

Nutrition Information:

1 slice

812

55.6 g

385.8 mg

57.3 g

71.7 g

1.6 g

6.8 g

131.2 mg

  • Category: Cheesecake
  • Method: Refrigerator
  • Cuisine: American

More No-Bake Desserts to Try

If you love no-bake desserts as much as I do, then check out more of my favorites!

  • S’mores Lasagna
  • Biscoff Marshmallow Pie
Samoa Cheesecake - Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is no bake cheesecake filling made of? ›

For the Filling: Combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix at low speed to form a thick paste, then increase to medium speed until soft and smooth.

Why won't my no bake cheesecake set? ›

The cheesecake also needs to be thoroughly chilled before serving and ideally overnight. If it is too runny it could be that it has not chilled for long enough for the cheesecake to set properly, so we suggest making the cheesecake the day before.

How do you make a no bake cheesecake firmer? ›

To get cheesecake filling to firm up completely, it needs to be refrigerated for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours. If you skip this step, the texture of the cheesecake will be more like mousse. Obviously, the goal is to create a firm cheesecake filling, similar to a baked cheesecake filling.

How do you make a no bake cheesecake set faster? ›

Yes, you can freeze a no-bake cheesecake to hasten its setting time.

Why is my no bake cheesecake so runny? ›

The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in cheesecake? ›

Regardless of what you're making, the following are the best heavy cream substitutes for cooking, baking, or whipping into dessert.
  1. Half-and-half + butter. ...
  2. Milk + butter. ...
  3. Coconut cream. ...
  4. Milk + cornstarch. ...
  5. Greek yogurt + milk. ...
  6. Alt milk + oil. ...
  7. Heavy cream powder.
May 25, 2022

Can you over mix no bake cheesecake? ›

If you are making a plain cheesecake such as my no-bake vanilla cheesecake, you can probably get away with cold ingredients, but generally the cream cheese should be room temp. Often a cheesecake mixture can split or curdle because of over mixing – I often get comments of 'how long do I mix for?

Should I cover no bake cheesecake in the fridge? ›

Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 6–8 hours and up to 2 days. For best results, 12 hours is best. I chill mine overnight. The longer refrigerated, the nicer the no-bake cheesecake will set up.

How do you know if no bake cheesecake is bad? ›

When in doubt, give it a smell. A sour, off-putting odor is a definite sign it has spoiled and should not be consumed. Always store your no bake cheesecake in the refrigerator. If not consuming immediately, cover it with a cake dome or plastic wrap, not foil as it can give off a metallic taste.

What brand of cream cheese is best for cheesecake? ›

Philadelphia cream cheese is a popular brand of cream cheese that is often used in cheesecake recipes, but there are many other brands of cream cheese that can be used as well.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

Why is my no bake cheesecake base too hard? ›

It's often simply a case of compressing the mix too much! I have done this many times before - I press the cookie and butter mix down into the tin too hard. This can make it very hard to cut through once it's set. Try compressing it more gently: it doesn't need to be packed in to set well as a base.

How long can a no-bake cheesecake sit out? ›

No-bake cheesecake must be refrigerated when it is first made to allow it to set properly. It also requires refrigerating for storage and should not sit out longer than two hours for serving. Any leftovers should also be refrigerated.

Can I freeze homemade no-bake cheesecake? ›

Yes, you can freeze no-bake cheesecakes just as you freeze regular cheesecake. However, the end result may be not quite as great as the fresh version. Depending on the recipe, some cheesecakes will be higher in moisture or have a softer texture.

How do you keep no-bake cheesecake from sticking to the pan? ›

Non-stick parchment paper keeps your cheesecake from sticking to the pan, making it easier to remove. Plus, a firm (not wet) crust is going to hold together better during the transition from pan to platter.

What are the ingredients in Philly cheesecake filling? ›

Pasteurized Milk And Cream, Sugar, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey, Modified Food Starch, Contains Less Than 1% Of Salt, Carob Bean Gum, Cheese Powder (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Natural Flavor, Butter (Cream), Lactic Acid, Corn Syrup Solids, Buttermilk, Nonfat Milk, Algal Carotenes (Color), Natamycin (a Natural ...

Can you eat Philadelphia no bake cheesecake filling? ›

Yes, Philadelphia makes a 24-ounce tub of pre-made cheesecake filling that you can use directly from the fridge—no baking necessary. The tub has everything you want from the sugary, sweet, cream cheese filling of a cheesecake, and it's ready to serve as-is.

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