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Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe

This Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe is a gelatin free, no bake cheesecake, perfect for any rainbow themed party, or a St. Patrick’s Day dessert. It’s as much fun to make as it is to eat!

This recipe was originally posted in March of 2018. It’s been updated in March of 2021 with more info and new step by step photos!

Rainbow Cheesecake on a cake stand

RAINBOW CHEESECAKE INSPIRATION

A few years ago I went to the Queen Mary Tea Room in Seattle with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to celebrate our birthdays. The first thing you see when you walk into the shop is their well stocked dessert case.

And there, shining like a beautiful multi-colored beacon, was a stunning rainbow cheesecake.

Rainbow Cheesecake Cut Close Up

Before we were seated I snapped a quick photo with my phone, determined to make my own rainbow cheesecake that was just as lovely.

As I developed the recipe, I decided to go the no bake cheesecake recipe route, and set each layer individually so that I could really get those distinctive colors in every slice.

ICEBOX CHEESECAKE RECIPE

There are a few different ways to make no bake cheesecake. Most no bake cheesecake recipes use gelatin to set the filling. But I was planning to serve this cheesecake to a group that included vegetarians who eat dairy but would not eat gelatin.

After doing some research, I decided to adapt Martha Stewart’s cheesecake which did not use gelatin. A lot of the reviews said that their filling never set using that recipe. So I made this an icebox cheesecake.

Child laughing with rainbow cheesecake

Icebox cheesecake (or icebox cake) basically means it has a softer texture, so you keep your dessert in the freezer. Keeping the cheesecake in the freezer also helps the layers to stay very distinctive when you slice it.

Once you slice your rainbow cheesecake, it begins to soften as you eat it. And don’t worry, the high sugar content of the sweetened condensed milk keeps it from freezing completely solid.

HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE CHEESECAKE RECIPE

STEP 1: Crush up a box of graham crackers into crumbs. You can use a food processor or just crush them in a sealed bag.

STEP 2: Mix the crumbs with melted butter and press into the bottom and up the sides of a spring form pan, then place in the freezer to firm up.

overhead of steps to make a graham cracker crust for rainbow cheesecakes

STEP 3: Mix softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice until completely smooth and creamy.

Hands holding a bowl filled with cream cheese blocks above a bowl of cheesecake filling being mixed

STEP 4: Divide the cheesecake filling between 7 bowls. Mix one color into each bowl.

7 bowls of cheesecake filling each dyed a different color of rainbow

STEP 5: Remove crust from freezer and spread the red filling into the bottom. Freeze for 15-30 minutes, until set.

STEP 6: Repeat with remaining colors, freezing each color until set. Your freeze time will shorten for each layer as you go since the cheesecake is getting colder and colder.

7 images of each added layer of a rainbow cheesecake

STEP 7: When purple layer on top is set, pipe swirls of whipped cream around the edge.

piping whip cream dollops around the edge of a rainbow cheeesecake

STEP 8: Sprinkle whipped cream with funfetti.

Hands holding a rainbow cheesecake sprinkled with funfetti

STEP 9: Keep cheesecake in the freezer until ready to serve.

TIPS FOR NO BAKE RAINBOW CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Rainbow Cheesecake Slice
  • I am a big fan of graham cracker crusts, so our crust is super thick. Feel free to use just 2/3 the amount of graham crackers and butter if you want less crust.
  • Make sure to use full fat cream cheese. The low fat kind has an even harder time without gelatin and will not set up.
  • Want to guarantee your cheesecake filling sets? If you don’t mind using gelatin, just mix one package with 1 cup boiling water. Stir that into your filling before dividing it between your bowls. Then make as directed.
  • To get those perfect rainbow layers, clean your knife between each slice, and slice the cheesecake fresh from the freezer.
Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe

RAINBOW CHEESECAKE RECIPE SUPPLIES

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child eating rainbow cheesecake

PIN TO SAVE THIS RAINBOW CHEESECAKE RECIPE FOR LATER

No Bake Rainbow Cheesecake

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Yield: 16

Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe

Rainbow Cheesecake on a cake stand

This Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe is a gelatin free, no bake cheesecake, perfect for any rainbow themed party. It's as much fun to make as it is to eat! Make sure to allow a few hours of freezing time. You don't have to commit 3 hours straight, you can do the layers throughout the day before you plan to serve the cheesecake.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Freezing 3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Crush up a box of graham crackers into crumbs. You can use a food processor or just crush them in a sealed bag.
  2. Mix the crumbs with melted butter and press into the bottom and up the sides of a springform pan, then place in the freezer to firm up.
  3. Mix softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice until completely smooth and creamy.
  4. Divide the cheesecake filling between 7 bowls, then mix one color into each bowl.
  5. Remove crust from freezer and spread the red filling into the bottom. Freeze for 15-30 minutes, until set.
  6. Repeat with remaining colors, freezing each color until set. Your freeze time will shorten for each layer as you go since the cheesecake is getting colder and colder.
  7. When purple layer on top is set, pipe swirls of whipped cream around the edge and sprinkle with funfetti.
  8. Keep cheesecake in the freezer until ready to serve. To get those perfect rainbow layers slice the cheesecake fresh from the freezer, and clean your knife between each slice.

Notes

Want to guarantee your cheesecake filling sets? If you don't mind using gelatin, just mix one package with 1 cup boiling water. Stir that into your filling before dividing it between your bowls. Then make as directed.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

16 Servings

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 456Saturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 314mgCarbohydrates: 44gSugar: 32gProtein: 6g

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8 thoughts on “Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe”

    • I’m preparing the cheescake today as my daughters birthday on friday. I’m studying tomorrow and friday morning so dont have time to get it ready. If I make today and put to freezer do I need to add the gelatin to make sure it sets or will two days in freezer make it set properly.

      Reply
  1. Oh my gosh, rainbow cheesecake? How fun!!! I absolutely LOVE that it’s no bake, otherwise I’d be too intimidated to make it. But TOTES going to give this a whirl!

    Reply

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