This No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberry Trifle is made with layers of fresh strawberries, homemade whipped cream, no bake chocolate cheesecake, and graham cracker crumbs. The perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Plus a step-by-step video.
It’s hard to beat a Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Trifle, especially if you need a simple yet stunning Valentine’s Day dessert.
It’s hard to believe we’re already a month away from Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day used to be one of my favorite holidays when I was younger. There was always something so exciting about passing out valentines, having a party filled with all things red and pink, and of course, all of the candy.
Now that I’m older, I still love the holiday, even if it is a little commercially generated. While the day is often associated with romantic love, it’s really is a day to celebrate love in all forms. Loving others is certainly something this world needs in excess.
So how can I not love a day that is a reminder to spread love and kindness to everyone? ❤️ It doesn’t hurt that the day is filled with red and pink and hearts. I’m a sucker for anything cute. 😉
And these No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberry Trifles (or Parfaits) are certainly cute.
Reasons Why I Love This No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe:
- The title says it all: it’s a no bake cheesecake recipe, and it’s a chocolate cheesecake.
- It’s such an easy recipe! I know we love to say this all of the time, but I truly mean it. This one is EASY. A few ingredients and bam, you’ve got cheesecake.
- Trifles mean you get a lot of filling in each bite.
- And, turning this into a trifle means this is a no bake chocolate cheesecake without gelatin.
- Gelatin is used to stabilize no bake cheesecakes, but in this recipe, you don’t need anything to stabilize it. No gelatin, no instant pudding, no sweetened condensed milk.
- This is a really creamy chocolate cheesecake! Like, really creamy.
- Because it’s a no bake dessert, this is a cheesecake without eggs.
Let’s talk Chocolate Cheesecake Ingredients:
- cream cheese: it must be softened to room temperature, otherwise you will have a lumpy cheesecake filling.
- powdered sugar: powdered sugar is an extremely fine sugar, which mixes in very well with cream cheese. Granulated sugar would be too grainy in this recipe
- vanilla extract: it’s a small ingredient, but it’s very powerful.
- cocoa powder: this is what gives the cheesecake such a rich chocolate flavor.
Other Ingredients:
- heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract: this makes homemade whipped cream. You *could* substitute cool whip, but I highly recommend you make your own whipped cream. The flavor is unbeatable.
- strawberries: fresh strawberries would be best. Thawed and drained frozen strawberries will work, but use fresh if possible.
- graham cracker crumbs and butter: this is essentially your graham cracker crust. You can omit the butter and just use graham cracker crumbs. But, it won’t have that same graham cracker crust texture if you omit the butter.
Variations of this No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberry Trifle:
- While this is a no bake chocolate cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, feel free to change up the crust.
- Make an Oreo crust.
- Make a crust with Nilla Wafers.
- Use chocolate graham crackers.
- This is a Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake, but you can sub any kind of fruit you prefer:
- Bananas. Chocolate and bananas are SO good together.
- Raspberries or Cherries. Both pair so well with chocolate.
- Or, leave the fruit out.
- Additional mix-ins:
- Add in a layer of jam.
- Mini chocolate chips.
- White chocolate chips.
- Pound cake pieces or mini brownies.
After making these No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberry Trifles, try these ones:
Or, if you love strawberry and chocolate:
- Strawberry Nutella Turnovers
- Chocolate Cookie Strawberry Nutella Cream Pie
- Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
FAQ’s:
Do I Have To Chill No Bake Cheesecakes?
- Yes. 100% yes. Chilling a no bake cheesecake is what makes it thick and stable. Plus, let’s be honest, warm cream cheese is a no go in my book.
Is this a No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Without Gelatin?
- Yes! As mentioned earlier, this cheesecake recipe is made without gelatin.
- Gelatin is a stabilizer used in no bake cheesecake recipes so that the slices stay together when sliced. Because this is a chocolate cheesecake parfait, there is not need to use gelatin or any other kind of stabilizer because the filling is spooned into the glasses.
What’s the Difference Between Baked Cheesecake and No Bake Cheesecake?
- A baked cheesecake is baked in the oven and has other ingredients, namely eggs, to give it that traditional cheesecake texture.
- A no bake cheesecake is not baked in the oven, therefore it is chilled in the fridge to thicken up.
- A lot of no bake cheesecake recipes use instant pudding mix, gelatin, or other ingredients to stabilize the cheesecake to make it like a traditional cheesecake baked in the oven.
- As mentioned above, because this is served in trifle glasses, you don’t need any of those ingredients.
- The filling is just cream cheese, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and whipped cream.
How to Make This Creamy Chocolate Cheesecake:
- Whipped Cream: Using a standing mixer or a hand mixer, whisk heavy whipping cream on med-high speed until soft peaks form. Next, add in powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Filling: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer (you can do this by hand, but an electric mixer is so much quicker), beat room temperature cream cheese, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar together. Once combined, add in vanilla extract. Fold in half of the whipped cream, and gently stir until combined.
- Crust: Mix butter and graham cracker crumbs together until combined.
- Assembly: Begin by putting a layer of chocolate cheesecake in the bottom of each glass. Sprinkle graham cracker crust on top. Top with fresh strawberries. Add whipped cream on top. Repeat until your glasses are full.
- Chill: Chill dessert for at least 2 hours, but ideally 3-4 hours.
- Serving Size: This recipe made 4 trifles. If your trifle glasses are smaller than mine, you could make quite a few more servings.
Final Tips and Tricks:
- Room temperature cream cheese makes all the difference. Do not omit this step.
- Homemade whipped cream makes this chocolate cheesecake filling extra light and airy.
- You can use unsweetened cocoa powder or dark chocolate cocoa powder.
- Remember, you can be creative with this recipe! Use oreos or chocolate graham crackers for the crust. Add in chocolate chips or other fruit. It’s extremely versatile, so use what you have on hand.
These have my whole heart. ❤️
This No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Strawberry Trifle is made with layers of fresh strawberries, homemade whipped cream, no bake chocolate cheesecake, and graham cracker crumbs. The perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Plus a step-by-step video.
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups strawberries, chopped (plus whole berries for the tops of the trifles, if desired)
- 1 1/2 cups graham crackers, crushed
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
In a large bowl with a standing mixer or hand mixer, whisk heavy whipping cream on med-high speed until soft peaks form. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue whisking until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese with cocoa powder and powdered sugar, and mix until combined (you can do this with a mixer or by hand with a rubber spatula). Add in vanilla extract.
Fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate cheesecake, gently mixing until all the whipped cream has been combined. Set aside.
Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together. Set aside.
Layer your trifle glasses with chocolate cheesecake, graham cracker crumbs, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Repeat until glasses are full. Top with a strawberry, if desired.
Chill for at least 2 hours (3-4 hours would be ideal before serving).
This recipe makes 4 trifles (I used 12oz glasses). If you use smaller glasses, this recipe will stretch further.
Here are some other recipes you might love:
Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake Trifles
Mason Jar Strawberry Shortcake
Originally published 2018. Updated 2021.
Natalie says
Such a great and tasty dessert for Valentine’s day!