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No-Bake Baileys Chocolate Cheesecake with a chocolate cookie crust – this recipe couldn’t be easier!
This recipe first appeared on RecipeGirl where I’m a contributor and occasionally post delicious desserts!
I love the tanginess from the cream cheese in this Baileys Cheesecake and its’ great silky texture. There is a subtle richness and the intense chocolate flavor adds a luxurious flair to this no-bake dessert. Baileys Irish Cream is a super popular liqueur made from Irish whiskey, coffee and cream, so you know it marries perfectly with chocolate.
You don’t have to use the Baileys brand liqueur, any Irish cream will do. After testing this recipe a few times, we found that 1/4 cup of Baileys is just about right. Don’t get carried away and add more Irish cream, and don’t skip the vanilla; it really balances the flavors perfectly.
Due to the high chocolate content, there’s no need for gelatin to ensure it sets up perfectly.
The cheesecake portion of this recipe is made with only 6 ingredients so it’s extra important to use the best quality chocolate you can find. Chocolate chips won’t work well in this cheesecake and may seize up. We tested with bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate and without a doubt, prefer the semi-sweet. Cream cheese has a lovely texture already, but when you add in lots of melted cooled chocolate the consistency becomes a little thicker but still melt-in-your-mouth velvety smooth. I recommend cutting this cheesecake when very cold.
For pretty slices, warm the knife under hot water and dry before cutting each piece. This 8-inch no-bake Irish cream cheesecake will easily serve 10-12 so be sure to cut the pieces small. Our Baileys cheesecake is not overly sweet; it has just the right amount of chocolate flavor and melts in your mouth like butter!
Our Baileys chocolate cheesecake is best served with fresh strawberries or raspberries and a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream.
The tartness of the fruit pairs perfectly with the creamy chocolate cheesecake and in my humble opinion, adds to the whole experience. The crust was made with Nabisco Famous Cookie Wafers but feel free to use homemade cookies or another brand. I would not make it with anything too sweet – you just don’t need it!
This easy-peasy no-bake Baileys Chocolate Cheesecake keeps for up to a week when refrigerated.
It’s best cut when cold then allowed to sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving. This is a terrific ending to a nice dinner party, or for your next St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza! The Irish love cheesecake too!
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No-Bake Baileys Chocolate Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 5 ounces chocolate wafer cookies (I use Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
For the cheesecake:
- 16 ounces good quality semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (do not use chocolate chips)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 12 ounces cream cheese (must be room temperature)
- 2 cups heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
- ¼ cup Irish Cream liqueur
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
To serve (optional):
- Sweetened whipped cream
- Strawberries
- Chocolate curls or shaved chocolate
Instructions
- Turn the base of an 8-inch springform pan upside down to make it easier to remove the cheesecake later. Line the bottom with parchment paper and secure the sides. Lightly grease the sides of the pan with butter. Set aside.
- Place the chocolate wafer cookies into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until cookies to a fine crumb. Add the butter and sugar and pulse again until combined. Spread the cookie mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan. Press down firmly (especially at the outside edges of the pan, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- While the crust is chilling, place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of hot (not boiling) water. Heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Remove the bowl of chocolate from the simmering saucepan and set aside to cool.
- Using an electric mixer and a medium clean mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form.
- Using the same electric mixer, combine the granulated sugar and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Beat until combined and smooth. Add the cooled chocolate and mix until blended. The mixture will harden a little, but keep mixing until combined. Add the whipped cream to the chocolate cream cheese mixture and blend on low speed. Add the Irish cream and vanilla and blend on low until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and blend another few seconds. Spoon the cheesecake mixture into the cake pan and smooth the top, an off-set spatula works best here. Lightly cover top with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
- To serve, remove the sides of the pan and gently transfer to a serving plate. Cut into slices using a warm, dry knife. Serve immediately garnished with sweetened whipped cream and strawberries if desired.
Recipe Notes
- DO NOT use chocolate chips for this recipe. They do not melt the same as good quality chocolate and may seize up when adding the cream cheese and Bailey's.
Nutrition
We love our springform pan and use it all the time when baking – click on the photo for more information:
If you purchase something from Amazon after following my affiliate link, I receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog. Thanks for helping support SRFD!
No doubt you’ve seen a lot of Irish Cream recipes lately with St. Patrick’s Day on the radar. There’s good reason they’re so popular! Irish Cream makes everything wonderful – even ice 🙂 Our Bailey’s Chocolate Mousse is an easy must try recipe if you love this chocolate Irish cream combo. For another deliciously easy dessert, try these Chocolate Soufflé with Bailey’s Creme Anglaise too. We also love these Bailey’s Irish Cream Chocolate Truffles too – so easy and terrific! Maybe you’d like to try making your own Homemade Irish Cream like this recipe from The View from Great Island.
Here are a few more amazing recipes from some of our favorite bloggers:
Susan
Hi, Just wondering if the cake can be frozen and if so, for about how long. I want to make the cake and take it to my son’s home in Alberta in September. With me it is a case of doing it “now” or forgetting about it….LOL
Your recipes are wonderful, thank you so much,
Cheers,
Susan
Tricia Buice
Hi Susan. I’m not sure how it would do if you freeze the cake but I think it’s worth a try for sure. I appreciate your wonderful comment and for following along Susan! Thanks again
Paula
This looks so decadent, I can’t wait to make it. You mentioned it’s an 8 inch, but the link for the springform pan is 9 inch. Will that make a big difference?
Tricia Buice
Hi Paula – that’s a great question and my mistake on the Amazon link. However, since this is a no-bake dessert, the size of the pan won’t make a bit of difference. You could even make it in an 8 or 9-inch square pan but you can’t remove the sides. I hope you enjoy this rich and chocolaty cheesecake. It has a unique flavor which we all love. Any springform pan will do! Thanks so much.
Judee@gluten free A-Z Blog
wow – does this ever look amazing- what a fabulous dessert and you don’t even have to turn on the oven. Love it
Tricia Buice
Thanks Judee! We enjoy a good no-bake cake too 🙂
John / Kitchen Riffs
No bake? Sold! Such a terrific recipe — loaded with flavor, and so pretty! Great pictures, too. Definitely a winner — thanks.
Tricia Buice
Thank you John 🙂
Dainea
Can I use cocoa powder in place of the chocolate?
Tricia Buice
No Dainea, this recipe will not work with cocoa powder. The chocolate sets up giving the dessert it’s firm texture. Great question!
Susan
What a lovely cheesecake, Tricia! What I wouldn’t do for a slice of this sitting in front of me right now. I can almost taste it!
Tricia Buice
It really melts in your mouth Susan – thank you!
Liz
Such a gorgeous cheesecake! I’m pinning as it won’t be long until I’m without a kitchen…sniff, sniff. This dessert will certainly lift our spirits! Pinning!!!
Tricia Buice
We renovated our kitchen last year – and it took forever! So glad you have a good contractor! Can’t wait to see the photos 🙂 Thanks for pinning Liz!
Pam
Woo hoo, Tricia! This is one sinfully smooth creamy delicious dessert! Bailey’s and chocolate, what’s not to like, and no-bake makes it perfect. I bet you thrilled everyone with a serving of this!!! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Tricia Buice
Aww thanks Pam – you too!
handmade by amalia
Chocolate Cheesecake is one of my favorites and this one looks amazing. And easy. Yum.
Amalia
xo
Tricia Buice
So easy and delicious – absolutely dangerous in our house!
Monique
Tricia..Jacques’ bday is Sat and I offered to bring dessert..I had bought the Bailey’s for a cheesecake..a baked one..but now I am rething! I think I will do yours as it looks perfect! What timing!
Tricia Buice
This is so easy to make Monique – and is certainly for the chocolate lover in your house (Jacques). It will feed a small crowd so this may be perfect for your celebration 🙂 Hope you love it as much as we do!
Gerlinde
Your cake looks fantastic Tricia, I would love to make it but I am leaving for Germany in a week. Pinned for later !
Tricia Buice
Have a wonderful trip Gerlinde – can’t wait to see your photos!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
That is some impressive cheesecake, great job.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Karen!
Chris Scheuer
This looks so decadently delicious and like it would just melt in your mouth with every heavenly bite!
Tricia Buice
It really does melt in your mouth Chris! This would be perfect to share with your family!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
Yikes, I can really see the dense chocolatey texture in your photos, what a show stopper!
Tricia Buice
It disappears quickly Sue – just be sure to have friends to share it with!
Monica
This looks amazing…I love how you loaded it down with chocolate and I bet that Bailey’s just keeps you going back for more! How wonderfully dangerous! : )
Tricia Buice
This is a very rich dessert Monica – so a small slice is perfect. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have several small slices each day – haha – breakfast, lunch and dinner – and a midnight snack!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Beautiful! And I’m all about the cheesecake these days, since my first visit to the Cheesecake Factory. It reminded me that I need to eat more cheesecake 🙂 Love this one and no-bake is always good!
Tricia Buice
I’ve only been to the Cheesecake Factory once and didn’t even try their cheesecake – but I bet it is fantastic! More cheesecake sounds like a great idea to me 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
This is a pure delight, Tricia. The dark chocolate crust and dense cheesecake flavoured with baileys…just sensational!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – everybody loves Bailey’s and chocolate together and this is so easy to make. Have a terrific week!