Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust

Name: Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 745 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups vanilla cookie crumbs (from about 3/4-pound cookies), (see notes); ¼ cup unsalted butter, (melted); 2 tablespoons lemon zest; 1¼ cups heavy whipping cream, (cold); 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, (room temperature); ¾ cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 cup packed basil leaves, (washed and dried); pinch of salt; small basil leaves for garnish, (washed and dried)

July 5, 2019 By valentina 30 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust is a no-bake, make-ahead dessert that’s full of beautiful and bright summer flavors. It’s easy to make and works well for both casual or elegant entertaining.

Though you can most likely find basil year round, it’s a fresh herb that thrives in the summertime. If it’s not in your backyard, it’s probably in your neighbor’s.

All summer fresh basil shines in pestos, salads, caprese, and now . . . . in a cheesecake!

What’s in this Basil Cheesecake?

heavy whipping cream
cream cheese
powdered sugar
lemon juice
basil leaves

How to Make a Lemon Cookie Crust for Cheesecake

You can use almost any cookies you like for this crust. I used gluten-free vanilla cookies. (So my son with Celiac could try it). You can use any vanilla wafers, vanilla sandwich cookies, or graham crackers. If you use graham crackers, you will have to add a touch of sugar to taste.

Blend the cookies in a food processor until they are a fairly fine crumb.
Mix in melted butter and lemon zest.
Gently press the crust into a springform cheesecake pan.
Refrigerate while you’re making the filling.

(More detailed instructions are below.)

How is no-bake cheesecake different from regular cheesecake?

Typically no-bake cheesecakes do not contain eggs. (They really shouldn’t, since they would remain raw.)
The texture, even when set, will be less firm than baked cheesecakes — imagine a consistency somewhere between a velvety mousse and a firm cheesecake.

A no-bake cheesecake is such a fabulous choice for summertime. Why heat up the kitchen and house if you don’t have to!?

Tips for making Sweet Basil Cheesecake

There are a couple of keys to making this no-bake cheesecake successfully . . .

The heavy whipping cream must be whipped long enough — but not too long. Whip it just until it becomes stiff and not a second longer. So you have to watch it carefully as you’re whipping. If it goes too long you will make butter, and not long enough will result in a cake that’s too soft.
Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 12 hours before attempting to slice it.

Be sure the basil leaves are blended into as tiny pieces as possible — this will intensify the basil flavor and make for a nicer texture.
When you fold the cream cheese-basil mixture into the whipped cream, do so gently and with as few strokes as possible. The less folding, the less air is removed.
Before you release the spring from the pan, go along the edges with the dull side of a knife. If you skip this step, the edges of the cake might be messy.
I like to put a small basil leaf to mark each slice of cake. It’s a pretty garnish, and when you go to serve it will be very efficient.
And as with most cakes, it helps to make neat and pretty slices if you wipe off the knife between cutting each piece.

Can you freeze it?

Yes you can, so this is a great make-ahead dessert!

If you want to make it ahead of time to serve later, or save leftovers for more than a few days, it will freeze well.
The best way to freeze it is in the spring form pan you made it in, covered tightly with plastic wrap. This way the plastic won’t rest directly on the cake, and it will keep its pretty surface.
It can be frozen for about 4 weeks and should be thawed completely in the refrigerator before eating.

Sweet Basil Cheesecake with Lemon Crust is a fun, unique recipe for summertime entertaining, that your guests will love!

Here are a couple more delicious cheesecakes:

And if you’re loving the basil-lemon combination . . .