Easy No Bake Cheesecake

Everyone loves cheesecake, but it takes quite a while to make it. After it is baked, it must be chilled before you can eat it. While it is delicious, in today's busy world, few people have time to devote to making a real cheesecake. It is a good thing there is such a dessert as no bake cheesecake. This dessert gives all the creamy goodness of baked cheesecake, but it is much easier to put together.

No bake cheesecake is very versatile. You can serve it plain or garnished with the fruit of your choice. Try a tropical lime or a strawberry cheesecake. Throw some blueberries on it or perhaps some peaches. There are so many ways to make this cheesecake that you can enjoy a new one every night. Try making a chocolate no bake cheesecake, or if you really want to indulge, how about an Oreo no bake cheesecake? The cookies make it even richer. Of course, a plain vanilla no bake cheesecake will hit the spot almost every time.

Around the holidays, you can add some pumpkin to the mix and create a pumpkin cheesecake. If you have never tried this, it is amazing. Just use this basic recipe and start experimenting. You can come up with some incredible desserts and everyone will think you are a culinary whiz.

This recipe makes one large cheesecake, but you can also make smaller individual desserts. Just place your crust in smaller dessert pans and follow the rest of the directions. You will end up with several small cheesecakes so everyone gets their own miniature. Just make sure you have room in the refrigerator for them all to chill. You could even have a cheesecake bar at a party; just offer lots of tiny cheesecakes so your guests can add the fruit topping of their choice. This makes the cheesecakes really personalized and fun. You will find that these simple desserts become a family favorite. You can make them for holidays, special occasions or just because.

Recipe for Jello Cheesecake

This simple recipe will keep your family happy.

What You Need

1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs4 cups cold milk3 Tablespoons sugar1/3 cup butter2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened2 4-serving packages of Jello instant vanilla or lemon pudding

How to Make It

Mix crumbs, sugar, and butter together well. Press this mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9 or 10 inch springform pan firmly. Bake the crust at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes or until just barely browned. Let cool.

Mix the cream cheese with an electric beater until it is smooth. Slowly add one cup of the milk, blending until the mixture is smooth. Add the rest of the milk and the pudding mix to the bowl. Beat until well mixed; about 1 minute. Pour the filling carefully into the crust.

Chill in the refrigerator for about 3 hours until firm. Garnish with whipped topping if you wish.

Jello makes so many things easier, like dessert. Make a simple cheesecake or you can make one of many colorful layer jello recipes that will bring smiles to everyone when they see it. Keep some Jello in your cupboard for impromptu desserts.