Easy-make, no-bake Japanese style rare cheesecake is like eating a fluffy cloud, perfect for Valentine's Day.
I've never been to Asia, but after trying (and loving) two types of Japanese cheesecakes, I'm ready to visit. You know my obsession with cheesecakes.
Have you ever heard of rare cheesecake? When I first saw it, I thought it was either a typo or the cake was made with some rare ingredient.
What is a rare cheesecake?
No-bake cheesecake is called "Rare Cheese Cake" in Japan. Live and learn, ha!
So far, I am impressed with Japanese cheesecakes and wonder if there are other kinds they're hiding from me. Although their first cheesecake I made (cotton chiffon cheesecake) must be baked, it is soft, spongy, and light.
I made this one as a test for Valentine's Day treat. It passed with flying colors. The rare cheesecake is creamy, fluffy, light, and perfect - as in perfectly tasty, not perfect looking.
I haven't mastered that skill yet and I think I never will.
You can make the crust with graham crackers, or you can buy the ready-to-use crust, but I think chocolate-y Oreos go well with strawberries. When sliced, they look like hearts, but you can skip the strawberries and toppings if you wish.
I topped mine with chocolate-dipped strawberries, a peach rose, sprinkles, and Oreo truffles (I made a mistake by crushing the whole package of Oreos and didn't want to waste them).
🛒 Ingredients and Notes
- Oreo cookies, crushed
- butter
- cream cheese
- sugar
- heavy cream
- vanilla extract
- lemon
- powdered gelatin, unflavored
- Strawberries or other fruit for garnish (optional)
🔪 Instructions
- Combine crushed cookies with melted butter. You can crush them using a food processor or put them in a Ziploc bag and roll them over with a rolling pin until finely crushed. Line an 8-inch springform with wax or parchment paper. Press Oreo mixture on the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate.
- In the meantime, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix well.
- In a small bowl, pour boiling water over gelatin. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Let cool slightly. If it cools too much and it hardens, microwave for 15-20 seconds. Do not boil.
- Meanwhile, if using, remove stems from strawberries and slice. Line the side of the springform with strawberry slices.
- Gradually beat in gelatin mixture into the cream cheese mixture. Pour over the Oreo crust and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- Gently remove the rim of the springform. Run a knife alongside the rim first, then using a kitchen torch or a hot towel warm up the sides a bit and release it.
Decorate the cake as desired. Keep refrigerated.
Happy baking!
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Rare Cheesecake for Valentine’s Day
Ingredients
- 8 oz. Oreo cookies, crushed
- 1 stick butter, melted
- 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin, unflavored
- ½ cup boiling water
- Strawberries or other fruit for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Combine crushed cookies with melted butter. You can crush them using a food processor or put them in a Ziploc bag and roll over with a rolling pin until finely crushed. Line an 8-inch springform with wax or parchment paper. Press Oreo mixture on the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate.
- In the meantime, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sugar, heavy cream, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix well.
- In a small bowl, pour boiling water over gelatin. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Let cool slightly. If it cools too much and it hardens, microwave for 15-20 seconds. Do not boil.
- Meanwhile, if using, remove stems from strawberries and slice. Line the side of the springform with strawberry slices.
- Gradually beat in gelatin mixture into the cream cheese mixture. Pour over the Oreo crust and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
- Gently remove the rim of the springform. Run a knife alongside the rim first, then using a kitchen torch or a hot towel warm up the sides a bit and release it.
- Decorate the cake as desired. Keep refrigerated.
kid can doodle says
The berries make great heart shapes! Looks delicious! cheers, kidcandoodle
Jas says
Aren't they perfect to express love? Thanks for visiting!
Demi says
Heavenly!!!
Visiting from Share Crafts, DIY Projects, Transformations Link party!!
Demi
Jas says
If we don't count calories, it is heavenly, Demi. LOL Thanks for popping in!
Richella Parham says
I've never heard of "rare cheesecake," but this is just gorgeous--and just in time for Valentine's Day! 🙂
Thank you for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I'm featuring you this week!
Jas says
Thank you so much Richella, you made my day 😀 Blessings!
Pili says
That cheesecake is very creative and it looks delicious too! I'd take some heart shape strawberries right now
Jas says
Hi Pili, I like strawberries too, especially when they're in a cake, lol! Have a great rest of your week!
Miz Helen says
What a beautiful Cheesecake for Valentine Day, it looks delicious! Hope you are enjoying your day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon
Miz Helen
Jas says
I appreciate you stopping by! See you soon!
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance says
Love your recipe!! Pinned! I'd love it if you'd come share it with our readers at our What to do Weekends party!!
Cheers!
Theresa & Shoestring Elegance
Jas says
Thank you, Theresa! I'd love to party with you! 🙂
Rachel says
I love the styling you've done on top of this cheesecake! Very creative! It looks delicious.
Jas says
Thank you so much, Rachel! 🙂
Leanna says
Thank you for linking up at the #HomeMattersParty. Rare cheesecake that's a new term for me as well. I was really impressed with your photographs with the dark background. The photos are both pretty and dramatic, lovely. No wonder strawberries are a valentine favorite they made a perfect heart shape on the outside of your cake.
Have a great week.
Jas says
Leanna, you just made my day! Moody (low light) food photography is not everyone's cup of tea. So happy you like it! Thank you 😀
Karly says
So yummy! Thanks for linkin' up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Jas says
Thank you, Karly! Hope your weekend was amazing!
Beverly says
I admit, I wasn't at all sure what I was going to find on a post called Rare Cheesecake! 🙂 It looks delicious. My daughter in law in Japanese, I'm going ask her if she makes it. Thanks for partying at Snickerdoodle, Jas. Pinning to my Valentine's Treats Board.
Jas says
Ha, ha, totally understand. I had to research it myself when I first heard of it. Thank you for stopping in, Beverly!
Katrin says
I love cheesecake so much and this one looks so so beautiful, I bet it tastes just like that! I've never tried it with an oreo cookie base, yum!
Jas says
I like the Oreo cookie base better because it's not as crumbly as graham cracker cookies. Hope you'll give it a try, Katrin! 😉
Sammi says
Get in my belly. Seriously. I HAVE to make this for Valentine's Day!! Yummo 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe. Lovely photos too! 🙂
Jas says
Lol, it got in my belly so quick, you wouldn't believe. Already made another one and it's almost gone too. Goodbye resolution, ha!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast says
This is so beautiful! I love the strawberry hearts.
Jas says
Hi, Jenna. Strawberries work great to convey love, don't they? Thanks for stopping in!
Carlee says
How interesting, but it kind of makes sense that rare = no-bake! This looks delicious!
Jas says
It kind of does, although we associate rare with steak, not cake, lol. But you gotta roll with the trend, right? 😉
Cheryl says
Oh my, this looks fabulous!! Love how you decorated it!
Jas says
Hi Cheryl, thank you bunches! 😀 😀
Michelle says
I don't know how you do it Jas, but every recipe you share looks like a masterpiece. This might be the weirdest question you've ever been asked, but could I ask your permission to paint some of your photos in miniature? I will always credit you as the photographer.
Jas says
You're too kind, Michelle! I'm not the one coming up with coolest DIY and upcycle designs 😉 That IS the weirdest question I've been asked, ha ha, but I am very honored! See, another proof that your creativity has no limits! Thank you, can't wait to see it! XOXO
Michelle says
Thank you Jas. I'll do one just for you.
Jas says
Aw, thanks! Mwah!