These super simple Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars will satisfy your sweet tooth and chocolate craving without ever turning on the oven.  They’ve got a buttery graham cracker crust and a rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake filling that is just as irresistible as any baked version.

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars with Graham Cracker Crust

Chocolate-lovers take note – these Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars are a chocoholic’s dream come true.  They’re full of chocolate flavor, super smooth and creamy and take no time to make.  

You’ll also love that they are virtually foolproof.  While baking cheesecake has all sorts of “dos and don’ts,” our no-bake version couldn’t be easier.  As long as you have 30 minutes and a bit of refrigerator space, you’re good to go.

Top these yummy bars amazing topped with macerated strawberries, strawberry sauce, chocolate sauce, sprinkles, hot fudge sauce, crushed candy or however else you like to eat your cheesecake.  Be sure to let us know what you think!

chocolate cheesecake bars cut in a sheet pan with a few slices removed.

Ingredients to Make Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars

  • Butter – you’ll need melted butter to help hold the crust together.  For this recipe, you can use either salted or unsalted butter.
  • Graham Cracker Crumbs – to crush the graham crackers, either pulse them in a food processor or put in a freezer bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  • Sugar – we use granulated sugar for the crust.  For a slightly different flavor, brown sugar could be used instead. 
  • Cream Cheese – make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so it mixes well with the rest of the cheesecake filling.  If you forget to pull it out ahead of time, you can warm it in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream – this really helps to lighten the chocolate cheesecake bars.  Be sure your cream is cold before you whip it. 
  • Sour Cream – this adds a great tangy flavor and keeps the filling extra creamy.  You can use either full fat or lite.
  • Powdered Sugar – we like to use powdered sugar for the filling because it gives it sweetness without any grit.
  • Cocoa Powder – the better the cocoa powder, the better the flavor.  We recommend Ghirardelli or Guitard, if you can find it.
  • Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract tastes the best.
Photos showing the process for making the graham crust for No Bake chocolate cheesecake bars.

How to Make No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

  1. Make the crust.  In a large bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and sugar.  Mix well until none of the mixture looks dry.  Press the mixture firmly into a 9″ by 13″ baking pan, then place in the freezer for at least 1 hour to firm up.
  2. Whip the cream.  Pour heavy whipping cream into the bowl of a stand mixer (or mixing bowl with an electric mixer) and whip until soft peaks form.  Set aside.
  3. Make the chocolate cheesecake filling.  In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese using the paddle attachment until soft and fluffy, or about 2 minutes.  Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the cream cheese and mix on low until incorporated.  Increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy.  Once the mixture is fluffy again, gently fold in the sour cream and whipped cream using a rubber spatula.
  4. Spread over the crust.  Pour the chocolate cheesecake mixture evenly over the graham cracker crust in your prepared pan and gently spread using an offset spatula.
  5. Chill.  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using a sharp knife to cut into individual servings.  Enjoy!
 the process for spreading the cream cheese filling for these chocolate no bake cheesecake.

Recipe Variations

There are many ways to make these no bake chocolate dessert bars delicious.  Here are a few of our favorite recipe variations to try:

  • Oreo cookie crust.  Swap out Oreo cookies instead of graham crackers.  Plain, mint or salted caramel Oreos would taste amazing.
  • Add chocolate chips.  If you want to add a little texture, add 1 cup of mini chocolate chips as you fold in the whipped cream.  Milk chocolate, dark chocolate or semi sweet would all work great.
  • Chocolate lovers.  If you want an even deeper chocolate flavored no bake bar, add 8 ounces of melted chocolate (we like semi-sweet) to the cheesecake mixture.  You can melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds at a time until melted but not hot.  Add the cooled, melted chocolate into the cheesecake mixture along with the sour cream.
  • Chocolate and vanilla.  For those of you who can’t quite make up your minds, you can make chocolate and vanilla no-bake bars!  Make these as directed, allowing them to set up for at least 30 minutes before adding an extra layer of No-Bake Cheesecake Bars on top. 
A full baking ban of  chocolate cheesecake bars no bake ready to cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for no bake chocolate dessert bars to set up in the fridge?

In order to cut your Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars into nice, clean servings, you’ll want to let them set up in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  If you try and cut them too early, they won’t hold their shape as well.

Can you freeze no-bake desserts?

Yes!  Just toss in the freezer for about 30 minutes – 1 hour, or until the filling is firmed up, then cover carefully with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and store frozen for up to 2 months.

Can I bake the crust instead of freezing it?

You can.  This can be helpful if you are short on freezer space, or if you have the oven on already.  Rather than freezing the crust, just bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes and allow to cool completely before adding the chocolate cheesecake filling.

Storing No Bake Desserts

  • Refrigerator: your chocolate cheesecake bars should be lightly wrapped in plastic wrap, or covered with a lid if you had one, and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer: if you plan to freeze them, let them firm up in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then remove and cover with plastic wrap or foil.  Return to the freezer and store for up to 2 months.  
5 from 4 votes

Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Author The Carefree Kitchen
These super simple Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars will satisfy your sweet tooth and chocolate craving without ever turning on the oven.  They’ve got a buttery graham cracker crust and a rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake filling that is just as irresistible as any baked version.
Prep: 30 minutes
Refrigeration Time 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yields15 people

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

  • ½ cup butter, melted
  • 18 regular graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs, or about 9.5 oz
  • ¼ Cup sugar

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

  • 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 Cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 ¼ Cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Graham Cracker Crust

  • In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Mix well until none of the mixture looks dry.
  • Press the mixture firmly into a 9" by 13" baking pan, then place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to firm up*.

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

  • Pour heavy whipping cream into the bowl of a stand mixer (or mixing bowl with an electric mixer) and whip until soft peaks form. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese using the paddle attachment until soft and fluffy, or about 2 minutes.
  • Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the cream cheese and mix on low until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy.
  • Once the mixture is fluffy again, gently fold in the sour cream and whipped cream using a rubber spatula.
  • Pour the cheesecake mixture evenly over the prepared graham cracker crust and gently spread using an offset spatula.
  • Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into individual servings. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Instead of freezing the crust, you can also bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 448IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Sharing this recipe with a link is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying/pasting and/or screenshots of full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected.

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Pinterest pin for Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars.

These Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake Bars are full of chocolate flavor, super smooth and take no time to make. They’ve got a buttery graham cracker crust and a rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake filling that’s hard to resist.

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says:

    Oh wow, this looks so delicious. My family is going to devour it!

  2. These were great! Will make again.

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