No-Bake Espresso Cheesecake with Ganache is rich, creamy, over-the-top delicious! It sits on a divine, crisp espresso Oreo cookie crust, after all. Without turning on the oven, you can make this amazing dessert and impress everyone. Obviously, it’s what you have to make next!
This Espresso Cheesecake with Ganache is a dessert I’ve been making for the past decade.
I make it at least a couple of times a year, and usually it’s during the summer, when I love to entertain without turning on the oven.
Not only is this cheesecake no-bake, it’s also a dessert that has to be made at least one day ahead of time. So the day your guests are coming, you have even less to do. Yay!
What’s in No-Bake Espresso Cheesecake with Ganache?
- Ganache, for starters — if you know what that is, that means chocolate! (Read all about Ganache here.)
- Oreo cookies
- butter
- instant espresso powder
- heavy whipping cream
- cream cheese
- vanilla
- powdered sugar
How to Make This Espresso Cheesecake
This cheesecake has an espresso Oreo cookie crust, two fillings, and a chocolate top. The first filling is Ganache, and the second is a chocolate-espresso cream cheese mixture.
1. Make the crust and press it into the pan.
2. Make the Ganache and pour it over the crust. Let it set. 
3. Whip heavy cream.
4. Blend the cream cheese with melted chocolate, espresso, vanilla and sugar. And take a moment to look at how luscious it looks!
5. Fold the cream cheese mixture gently into the whipped cream, until it’s totally combined.
6. Pour this into the prepared crust with the set Ganache, top with finely chopped chocolate and refrigerate overnight.
(More detailed instructions are below in the recipe.)
Can you freeze it?
More good news about this dessert . . .
If you want to make it more than a few days ahead of time, or just save leftovers, it freezes beautifully!
If you’re freezing it once it’s out of the springform pan, to keep the top surface pretty, stick a few toothpicks in the top and wrap it with plastic wrap gently. This way, the plastic will rest on the toothpicks and not the cake.
Tips!
- Whip the cream until it’s stiff, but not butter. There’s a fine line here, but as soon as you lift the whisk and see peaks that aren’t collapsing, you’re there. This is partially what helps make a no-bake cheesecake firm.
- Before opening the spring from the pan, run a dull knife along the edges to be sure it will loosen evenly.
- If the cream cheese isn’t softened to room temperature, it’s possible your cake will have tiny lumps in it. This is the case even with a food processor. So be sure it’s soft first!
- It’s important that the Ganache layer is completely set before you add the next filling. Otherwise it will spread up the sides of the cake. Still delicious, just not as pretty.
- When you fold the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream, do so as gently as possible. If you mix this vigorously, you’ll loose a lot of the air you whipped into the cream.
- If when you release the ring from the pan, the Ganache looks as if it’s oozing a bit out of the sides, just smooth the edges with a spreading knife.
- To make a gluten-free version of this cheesecake you can use these Chocolate Cream Cookies.
A few other delicious cheesecakes . . .
- Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust
- Passion Fruit Ginger Cheesecake Bars
- Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
I hope you enjoy every last delectable bite of this Espresso Cheesecake recipe, and that it will become a favorite you make as often as I do.
This chocolate-espresso cheesecake is easy, delicious and fun to make. With a divine, crisp Oreo cookie crust, its flavor is deep and rich, and the texture is creamy and smooth.
- 2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (about 20 Oreos)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate, finely chopped, divided
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
- 1 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
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Use a food processor fitted with the blade attachment to grind the Oreos into a fine crumb.
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Pour the ground Oreos into a large mixing bowl and mix in the espresso powder and melted butter.
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Add this mixture to the bottom of a 9 X 3-inch springform pan, and use your hands to gently press it down firmly.
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Add the finely chopped chocolate to a small mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, scald the cream. Tiny bubbles will appear on the edges and it should be very hot, but not boiling. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Do not stir it yet – wait about 4 minutes and then, use a wooden spoon and stir to combine. It will take a few minutes of mixing before you see it come together. (This is Ganache.)
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Let it cool slightly and then pour it directly on the prepared crust. Place the springform pan on a baking sheet in the refrigerator until this layer solidifies, at least 1 hour. (You want it totally firm.)
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Melt 1 cup of chocolate and mix in the espresso powder. Set aside to cool.
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Use an electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, to whip the cream into stiff peaks. This will take about 2 minutes. Set aside.
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Add the cream cheese to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, or a bowl with an electric mixer. Blend for about 30 seconds. Then add the vanilla and powdered sugar, and blend until it's velvety smooth. Use a rubber spatula to scrape in all of the chocolate-espresso mixture. Mix to blend.
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Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture just until it’s combined.
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Once it's been an hour, remove crust from the refrigerator and pour in the filling. Smooth the top and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight (at least 12 hours.)
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Use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate. Slice and serve.
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No bake is my kinda dessert…
Thanks! Hope you try it. 🙂 ~Valentina
Genius, Valentina! I’m sure it’s not too sweet, either! Love this idea and the make ahead plan is perfect for summer entertaining! Love, love, love!
Thank you, my friend! Yes, I love having a dessert totally ready the day of a party. 🙂 ~Valentina
This looks incredible, Valentina! So creamy and chocolaty! Love that there is no oven needed and that it can be (needs to be) made in advance – perfect for these hot summer days.
Marissa, thank you. I hope you try it and love every bite. 🙂 ~Valentina
So into everything made with coffee and no bake 🙂 Love it ! Thank you so much !
Coffee one of my top favorite flavors int he world. Happy you love it, too. 🙂 Enjoy and thank you! ~Valentina
The cheesecake looks incredibly yummy with the combo of chocolate and coffee. A great summer treat.
Thank you, Angie! 🙂 Enjoy! ~Valentina
Looks absolutely gorgeous! I need to find an espresso replacement, though… in addition to my other personality flaw (no garlic), I don’t do anything with coffee! Will you still be my friend?
Ha! Yesssss! Friends. As long as you do chocolate, I think we’re okay. 😉 ~Valentina
It’s a really good thing this cheesecake is not actually in front of me – because I could do severe damage to it! Coffee and chocolate are definitely a weakness of mine. Combined with a sweet creaminess – that’s double trouble!!!
It’s my favorite combination in the world, Nancy! And I do, do damage. 😉 Thank you for visiting. 😀 ~Valentina
Enjoying the no-bake, make-ahead recipe! This sweet treat would be a perfect dessert to take to this weekends BBQ.
Hope if you tried it, it was a hit. Thanks! 🙂 ~Valentina
I haven’t had a no-bake cheesecake in a long time. My grandma used to make one on my birthday. I love the addition of ganache to this one! I’ll bet it’s fantastic!
Thanks, Jeff. Hope you try it for your birthday, then. 😉 Enjoy! ~Valentina
I gave up drinking coffee years ago, but I adore coffee desserts, especially cheesecake! This no-bake cheesecake looks exquisite!!!
Liz, this is a good way to get a little coffee without the drink.;-) I’m on overload because I have both at once. Ha! Enjoy and thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina
You are talking my kind of language with this cheesecake, Valentina! First of all, cheesecake. Second of all, chocolate. Third of all, coffee. I love coffee desserts, so I would be all about this one! Also, that’s a cool idea to put the ganache down before adding the filling. Sign me up for a slice or three!
Thanks, David. I was actually thinking the ganache would be just as good on top, too. Instead of the bottom — or perhaps even both! 😉 Enjoy! ~Valentina