No Bake Nutella Cheesecake

Rich and creamy no-bake Nutella cheesecake is simple to make and tastes unbelievable. It’s light and fluffy with a mousse-like texture – everyone loves this cake and it’s great for any get together or celebration!

You have probably noticed by now how much I absolutely love Nutella, and today, I’m sharing another recipe with you. Some of my favorite Nutella recipes include chocolate Nutella cake, hazelnut Nutella sandwich cookies, and Nutella brownies, and this Nutella cheesecake is just another delicious dessert I’m adding to my list of favorites.

This cheesecake has a crunchy, Oreo crust and a silky smooth, light, mousse-like texture. It’s not overly sweet and every bite is full of chocolatey, hazelnut goodness.

How to make Nutella cheesecake

Note: I prefer using gelatin to stabilize the cheesecake, but it’s optional. If you don’t use gelatin, omit the 1/4 cup of water from the recipe, without changing anything else. The cake will be a bit softer and have less structure, but will still delicious.

This irresistible Nutella cheesecake has 3 components:

• Oreo cookie crust
• Nutella cheesecake filling
• Chocolate ganache topping

Make the crust

1. Grind up Oreos. Pulse whole Oreos, including the filling, in a food processor until finely ground.
2. Combine with butter. In a medium bowl, mix the Oreo crumbs and melted butter until fully combined and crumbs are moistened. Press the mixture onto the bottom of a 9-inch or 8-inch springform pan using your fingers or the bottom of a cup to form a crust layer.

Make the filling

1. Bloom the gelatin. Sprinkle gelatin powder over cold water. Let stand for 10 minutes to gelatinize.
2. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and Nutella. In an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment or using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, and sifted cocoa powder together. Then, mix in the Nutella.
3. Add the gelatin. Melt the gelatin in the microwave for 20-30 seconds until liquified – be careful not to overheat or boil. Then pour into the Nutella mixture and combine well.
4. Whip heavy cream. Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk heavy cream until soft peaks form (they should hold their shape but have a soft texture). Using a rubber spatula, gently fold half of the whipped cream into the Nutella mixture, then fold in the other half.
5. Fill the pan. Pour the filling on top of the crust and smooth the top with a knife or offset spatula. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 2 hours before glazing with ganache.

Make the chocolate ganache topping

1. Heat together the Nutella and heavy cream. Place Nutella and heavy cream in a medium bowl. Heat in the microwave until melted and whisk until smooth.
2. Pour over cheesecake. Allow the ganache to cool slightly. Once it’s cooled down but still viscous, pour over the top of your cheesecake and evenly spread with a knife.
3. Chill. Allow the cake to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

Garnish: You can certainly serve this cake as is, but feel free to garnish with Ferraro Roche truffles, toasted hazelnuts, or whipped cream to dress it up.

Tips for making Nutella cheesecake

-You can omit the gelatin if you want. I prefer using gelatin to stabilize the cake, but it’s optional. If you don’t use gelatin, omit the 1/4 cup of water as well, without changing anything else in the recipe. The cake will be a bit softer and have less structure, but will still delicious.

-Don’t let the gelatin get too hot. When melting your gelatin, don’t let it get too hot or boil. Once gelatin reaches this temperature, it starts to lose strength and won’t stabilize the cheesecake as well.

-Use room temperature cream cheese. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge 30-45 minutes before beating in the mixer. This will help it whip up and emulsify with the rest of the ingredients.

-Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. This helps prevent any lumps from forming in the Nutella mixture.

-Whip the heavy cream when it’s cold. Heavy cream whips much more easily when it’s cold. Keep it in the fridge until right before you are ready to whip.

-It’s important for the cheesecake to chill before serving. I know it can be tempting to taste a freshly made cheesecake, but allow it chill for 2 hours after pouring the filling on top of the crust, and another 4 hours after topping with chocolate ganache.

Commonly asked questions

How long will my cheesecake stay fresh?

The cheesecake will keep in the fridge for 5 days.

Can I freeze the Nutella cheesecake?

You can keep this cheesecake frozen for up to 2 months; just be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. To thaw, place it in the fridge overnight.

Can I substitute sheet gelatin for powdered gelatin?

Yes. If you decide to use sheet gelatin, substitute 4 sheets of gelatin for the 1 tablespoon of powdered gelatin the recipe calls for. To bloom the gelatin, place the gelatin sheets in a bowl filled with 3 cups of cold water and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Remove the sheets without the water once they are completely soft and gelatinous and melt them in the microwave in a heat-proof bowl. Then, add the melted gelatin to the cream cheese-Nutella mixture as directed in the recipe.

More of my favorite Nutella recipes

• No-Bake Nutella Peanut Butter Bites: Creamy, decadent bites of heaven.
• Super Creamy Nutella Tart: Crunchy cookie crust filled with creamy Nutella custard.
• Nutella Stuffed Cinnamon Sugar Muffins: Adorably delicious mini muffins.
• Nutella Cupcakes: Moist chocolate cupcakes topped with dreamy Nutella frosting.
• Nutella Swirl Cheesecake: Rich, creamy cheesecake swirled with gobs of Nutella.