No bake cheesecake mousse cups are a super easy, elegant treat that come together in just a few minutes! If you like no gelatin mousse cheesecake recipes or cheesecake mousse pie, you'll love these!
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And if you love this cheesecake mousse, check out my Crumbl Sugar Cookies Recipe, my M&M Rice Krispie Treats, and my Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake!
No Bake Cheesecake Mousse Cups Recipe
If you like an easy, no-bake recipe, you'll love these cheesecake mousse cups! They are so simple to make, and when they're served in individual cups they make a perfect party dessert! You can top them with whipped cream or lemon curd or eat them as-is!
These cheesecake mousse cups are just amazing. The creamy cheesecake filling and the crunchy graham cracker crust are a perfect combo. Plus, you don't need to bake them, so they're quick and hassle-free.
No Gelatin Cheesecake Mousse
Because we're using a little lemon in our cheesecake mousse, it helps to set the mixture and means we don't need any gelatin to give it structure! It's a great recipe for guests since you can make it ahead of time, and it sets as it sits in the fridge!
What is the difference between cheesecake and cheesecake mousse?
Cheesecake is thick and dense, and you usually bake it. Cheesecake mousse, on the other hand, is light and fluffy, with no baking needed.
Cheesecake, like my Mini Basque Cheesecake or my Biscoff Cheesecake, feels more like a solid dessert, while mousse is more like a creamy cloud. They're both delicious, but no bake cheesecake cups are quicker to make!
What is cheesecake mousse made of?
This recipe is so easy and made with simple ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- graham cracker crumbs - to make the graham cracker crust layer even easier to make, I like to use pre-made graham cracker crumbs. But you can also crush whole graham crackers with a rolling pin in a gallon-sized zipper bag or with a food processor! And if you love graham cracker crust like I do, you should definitey try making Pumpkin Pie in Graham Cracker Crust!
- butter - I use salted butter to bring out the flavor in this graham cracker crust!
- brown sugar - we'll use light brown sugar for the crust layer to give it a rich sweetness.
- whipped cream cheese spread - this is the secret! By using whipped cream cheese spread, we can skip the step of beating our softened cream cheese with an electric mixer, and we don't even have to wait for a block of cream cheese to come to room temperature!
- powdered sugar - using powdered sugar, also called confectioners' sugar, in this no bake cheesecake mousse cake filling helps to keep it nice and fluffy, and adds a subtle sweetness.
- lemon juice - the acid in lemon juice helps to set the no bake cheesecake filling -- but if you prefer to avoid any hint of lemon flavor, you can omit it. Lemon lovers will definitely want to try my Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust!
- vanilla - for the best flavor, I like to use pure vanilla extract. Or you can make your own!
- heavy cream - we'll whip our heavy whipping cream into a nice, fluffy whipped cream! It gives a lovely texture to this cheesecake mousse filling!
- topping - I like to top these no bake cheesecake mousse pie cups with fresh berries like sliced strawberries or fresh raspberries, but you can also use caramel, lemon curd, chocolate shavings, or any topping of your your sweet tooth desires!
See recipe card below for quantities.
Equipment
I recommend making this no gelatin cheesecake mousse in a large mixing bowl, as well as the bowl of a stand mixer and the whisk attachment to whip up the heavy cream -- you can also use a hand mixer if you don't have a stand mixer. I used these 1-cup jelly jars to hold the cheesecake mousse as pictured, but you can also use ½ cup small mason jars!
I also recommend a rubber spatula for mixing the cheesecake mousse together, and a piping bag and a star tip if you'd like to make it look cute in the cups!
And don't forget to check out my list of essential baking tools that I love!
Instructions
The recipe card below will give you detailed step-by-step instructions for making this cake, as well as full ingredient measurements and a recipe video! But here's a quick look at how you'll make this no bake cheesecake mousse recipe!
Combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl.
In another large bowl, mix together whipped cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla.
In another bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cold heavy cream untill stiff peaks form. Fold gently into cream cheese mixture.
Spoon graham cracker crust into cups and top with cheesecake mousse mixture.
Hint: These cheesecake mousse cups are great to serve right away and they'll have a light, creamy texture. But if you let them set for a few hours in the fridge, they'll have a slightly firmer texture that's so amazing!
Mousse Cheesecake Recipes
This no-bake cheesecake mousse is based on my Philadelphia No Bake Cheesecake recipe! You should give that a try -- it's a cheesecake mousse pie that's even easier than this one because it's made with Cool Whip! And if you like caramel and chocolate, check out my Turtle Pie, and for a no bake dessert with fall seasonal flavor, definitely try my Pumpkin Mousse Pie with Maple Cookie Crust!
Does cheesecake mousse need to be refrigerated?
Yes - you can store your cheesecake mousse cups in the fridge, covered tightly with the lids that came with the jars or plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.
I haven't tried freezing this delicious dessert, but I would imagine they would be fine. I wouldn't freeze them for more than a couple of months though, and I'd make sure they are in an airtight container or very well wrapped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mousse and pudding are pretty different. Mousse is light and fluffy, made with whipped cream or egg whites. Pudding is thicker and creamier, often using cornstarch or flour to get that smooth texture. Mousse is airy, while pudding is more dense and rich. These easy cheesecake mousse cups are the perfect dessert if you want a light, fluffy mousse texture that's super simple to achieve!
Traditional cheesecakes need to be chilled for at least 6 hours to allow the filling to set. Luckily, this no bake cheesecake mousse recipe is served in cups, allowing it to be served even if it's not fully firm! You can serve it right away, or let it sit to get a firmer texture.
I've got so many delicious recipes for you that require NO baking! If it's close to Halloween, my Halloween Dirt Cups with Chocolate Cheesecake Filling are a yummy treat that's a lot like this no bake cheesecake cups recipe! Or during the holidays, you'll love my super easy Pop Tart Gingerbread House! And you can't go wrong with a big batch of M&M Rice Krispie Treats!
And if you want more fun summer recipes, try my Cherry Crumb Pie, my Strawberry Blueberry Pie or my list of Smoothie Recipes Without Yogurt!
Top Tip
Don't whip your heavy cream too long -- it'll eventually thicken and turn into butter!
Related
Looking for other recipes like this one? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this recipe:
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Equipment you may need
- mixing spoons
- 4-ounce jars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (84 g) graham cracker crumbs - store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup (55 g) light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoon (56 g) salted butter - melted
- 8 oz (227 g) whipped cream cheese - cold
- 2 teaspoon (10 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered sugar - adjust to taste if needed
- 8 ounces (227 g) heavy cream - very cold
- fresh berries - or topping of your choice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter. Mix until well combined and crumbs are saturated. Set aside.1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 4 tablespoon salted butter, ¼ cup light brown sugar
- In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, lemon juice, vanilla, and powdered sugar and stir well until smooth.8 oz whipped cream cheese, 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¾ cup powdered sugar
- In a separate bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined.8 ounces heavy cream
- Spoon 1-2 tablespoon of graham cracker crust mixture into the bottom of each cup. Pipe or spoon cheesecake mixture into cups.
- Add toppings of your choice and serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate 3-5 hours to set to a firmer texture.fresh berries
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Last Updated on April 5, 2025 by Chenée Lewis
Nancy says
Delicious and easy to make. I used crushed shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers for the crumble. I doubled the recipe. In one half I used about a 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to make chocolate. It came out delicious as well ( no lemon juice in this half).
Chenée Lewis says
I love that idea!! So glad you liked the recipe!
Don says
These look so amazing can't wait to make them
Chenée Lewis says
you're gonna love them!
Gianne says
The creamy, dreamy texture combined with the rich cheesecake flavor is simply divine. They're the perfect bite-sized treat to satisfy any sweet tooth, and they're surprisingly easy to make too!
dina and bruce says
Made these in tiny party cups to take to a work party. They flipped out. So good!
Anjali says
These mousse cups were so easy to make and looked so elegant!! They turned otu super creamy and delicious. Everyone I served it to loved it!
DK says
These no-bake cheesecake mousse cups are so good! Creamy, dreamy, and so easy to make. Perfect for my sweet tooth cravings!
Angela says
This is such a delightful cheesecake. Easy to make and I love that it's no bake, especially during our hot summer. They were wonderfully flavored and so creamy too. Great recipe!
Irena says
I am in love with this dessert! Made a bunch for a dinner party with friends and it was quick and easy, which I appreciated after making all the mains and sides. A big hit and will be making again.
Chenée Lewis says
So great to hear! Thanks!
Ned says
I made these Cheesecake Mousse Cups, and they were so creamy and delicious. A perfect mini dessert that everyone loved!
Vicky says
Loved the mix of the creamy mousse with the cookie crumb base. They were so easy to put together but looked quite impressive. Everyone asked for the recipe!
Ned says
These really are elegant! They delicious and I couldn't just eat one. Thank you so much!
Kelley says
This was so delicious! So quick to make and a fun dessert!
Paula says
Wow!!! In LOVE with this cheesecake mousse! So smooth and delish!
Katherine says
This was so simple and so tasty! Loved these cheesecake cups!