No-Bake Millionaire Cheesecake

Indulge in the heavenly layers of our No-Bake Millionaire Cheesecake! This dessert starts with a buttery shortbread crust, followed by a luscious cheesecake layer, decadent caramel, and a smooth chocolate ganache topping. Best of all, it requires no baking!

Our Millionaire’s Cheesecake is a delightful twist on the classic Millionaires Shortbread—originally a beloved treat from Scotland, known elsewhere as Caramel Shortcake or Caramel Slice. This version enhances the traditional flavors with a sumptuous caramel cheesecake layer.

Cheesecake is a versatile and universally adored dessert, whether served in cute mini portions like our cherry cheesecake bars, whipped up in an air fryer, or even transformed into a delectable strawberry cheesecake salad. Explore our wide array of exquisite cheesecake recipes for more sweet inspirations!

Millionaire Cheesecake Recipe Experience the lavishness of this Millionaire Cheesecake, which combines a silky cream cheese filling atop a buttery shortbread crust, crowned with lush caramel and rich chocolate ganache. The delightful contrasts of textures—from chewy and creamy to crisp—make each bite a luxurious treat. Despite its opulence, this cheesecake is surprisingly easy to prepare, and you don’t even need to use your oven!

I have a special fondness for both cheesecake and shortbread, making Millionaire Cheesecake an ideal fusion of my favorite desserts. It’s quickly become a cherished addition to any celebration, be it Christmas, birthdays, or Father’s Day, always proving to be a crowd-pleaser. If you’re a fan of the classic millionaire flavors, our Millionaire Shortbread Bars are also worth a try!

Historically, while shortbread is beloved across the UK, it is especially linked to Scotland, gaining prominence in the 16th century under Mary Queen of Scots.

Transforming traditional Millionaire’s Shortbread into this cheesecake variant takes it to an extraordinary level. Beyond the delectable layers of crumbly shortbread, sweet caramel, and indulgent chocolate, this recipe enhances a simple traybake into an exquisite dessert.

Our passion for cheesecake shines through in our popular Biscoff Cheesecake and inventive takes on Scottish desserts like Cranachan Cheesecake and Tablet Cheesecake.

Ingredients for No-Bake Millionaire Cheesecake

This millionaire cheesecake recipe might initially seem complex due to its extensive ingredient list, but the delightful combination of chocolate, caramel, cheesecake, and cookie crust will assure you it’s well worth the effort! The ingredients are straightforward and commonly found in most pantries, with precise amounts detailed in the recipe card below.

For the Crust:

• Shortbread Cookie Crumbs: You’ll need just over 10 ounces of shortbread cookies to make 3 cups of crumbs. If using Lorna Doone, two packages should suffice, roughly equivalent to 50 cookies.
• Unsalted Butter: Melted butter binds the crumbs and adds a rich flavor.
• Salt: A pinch to enhance all the flavors.

For the Filling:

• Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat, brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature for a creamy texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Blends smoothly into the filling, providing sweetness.
• Pudding Mix: Choose from vanilla or cheesecake-flavored dry instant pudding for added taste.
• Vanilla Extract: Enriches the overall flavor.
• Whipped Topping: Use thawed Cool Whip or a similar product for a light, fluffy texture.

For the Caramel Topping:

• Salted Butter: Ideal for a rich salted caramel, though unsalted works as well.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates a dense, sweet base for the caramel.
• Light Corn Syrup: Ensures a glossy, smooth texture.
• Sugar: A mix of brown and granulated sugars for optimal sweetness.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a hint of warm sweetness.
• Flakey Salt: A pinch to highlight the salted caramel notes.

For the Ganache:

• Chocolate: Choose semi-sweet or dark chocolate (minimum 50% cocoa) for balance; milk chocolate might overpower the flavors. Semi-sweet chips are recommended.
• Heavy Cream: Merges with the chocolate for a luxuriously rich ganache.

How to Create a No-Bake Millionaire’s Cheesecake

Prepare to fall in love with this no-bake millionaire’s cheesecake! It boasts a delightful mix of flavors and textures, featuring a shortbread crust and layers of creamy, caramel, and chocolate fillings. While there are several steps, each is simple and requires no oven use. Let’s walk through the process:

Crust

1. Prepare the Cookies: Use a food processor to pulse your favorite shortbread cookies into fine crumbs.
2. Form the Crust: Combine the cookie crumbs with melted butter and a pinch of salt until well moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a well-greased 9 or 10-inch springform pan, using your fingers or a flat-bottomed glass for an even layer.
3. Chill the Crust: Cover and refrigerate the crust while you prepare the filling.

Filling

1. Cheesecake Layer: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Incorporate powdered sugar, pudding mix, and vanilla extract, beating until creamy. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
2. Combine and Chill: Gently fold in the whipped topping. If it’s not blending smoothly, briefly mix with a hand mixer. Spread this mixture over the chilled crust and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours.

Caramel

1. Prepare the Caramel: In a medium saucepan, combine corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, and both sugars.
2. Cook the Caramel: Heat the mixture over medium, stirring often, until it boils. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, then stir in vanilla extract and a pinch of flaky salt.
3. Cool: Let the caramel cool for about an hour, then spread evenly over the set cheesecake. For convenience, you can make the caramel in advance, refrigerate it, and let it return to room temperature before using.

Ganache

1. Make the Ganache: Place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat the cream in a microwave until steaming (about 1 ½ minutes), then pour over the chocolate. Let it sit for a minute, then whisk until smooth. If some pieces remain unmelted, briefly heat the ganache for 10 seconds and whisk again.
2. Final Chill and Serve: Spread the ganache over the caramel layer. Chill the cheesecake for 30 minutes to set the ganache. Then, it’s ready to serve and enjoy!

Tips for Perfect Millionaire Cheesecake

Here are some simple yet effective tips to ensure your Millionaire Cheesecake is flawless:

• Clean Slices: Allow the cheesecake to warm slightly by sitting at room temperature for 10-15 minutes prior to slicing. For the cleanest cuts, use a hot knife technique: soak a large chef’s knife in very hot water for 20 seconds, wipe dry, and then slice. Clean the knife between cuts to maintain neat slices.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: To avoid lumps and achieve a smooth, luxurious filling, ensure all your ingredients, especially the cream cheese, are at room temperature before starting.
• Caramel Consistency: When heating your caramel, avoid overcooking. A simmer for about 10 minutes should suffice; the caramel need not turn deep amber. Overcooked caramel becomes too hard, making it difficult to slice through later.
• Crust Choices: Opt for your favorite shortbread cookies to make the crust. Brands like Lorna Doone, Walker’s Shortbread, or Keebler Sandies are excellent choices. Using a generous amount of shortbread results in a thick, robust crust, ideal for that perfect Millionaire ratio.

Storing Leftover Cheesecake

Preserve your Millionaire Cheesecake in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 7 days. Note that the caramel may weep over time, so it’s best not to prepare too far in advance if you want to keep it looking its best.

No-Bake Millionaire Cheesecake

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

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Ingredients

• Crust
• 3 cups shortbread cookie crumbs
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2-3 dashes of salt
• Filling
• 24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons dry instant pudding mix (vanilla or cheesecake flavor)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
• Caramel Topping
• ½ cup salted butter, cut into pieces
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• ¼ cup light corn syrup
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large pinch flaky salt
• Ganache
• ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup heavy cream

Instructions

Crust

• Pulse shortbread cookies in a food processor until finely crumbled. Combine crumbs with melted butter and salt. Press evenly into a well-sprayed 9 or 10-inch springform pan, using fingers or a flat-bottomed utensil. Chill while preparing the filling.

Filling

• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, pudding mix, and vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped topping with a hand mixer if necessary for smoothness. Spread over the chilled crust and chill for at least 4 hours.

Caramel Topping

• In a medium saucepan, combine corn syrup, condensed milk, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Heat over medium, stirring often, until boiling. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and flaky salt. Cool for an hour, then spread over the cheesecake.

Ganache

• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. Heat cream until steaming (about 1 ½ minutes in the microwave), then pour over chocolate. Let sit for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. If necessary, microwave ganache for 10 seconds more to melt any remaining pieces. Spread over caramel. Chill for 30 minutes to set before serving.