Why you’ll love these dairy free cheesecake cups
I’ve tried countless versions of vegan cheesecake over the years and nothing has really hit the mark for me. It’s probably because I truly love cheesecake, and nothing really compares to the original.
But, this dairy free cheesecake pudding is the closest you’ll get to authentic cheesecake flavor out there. This recipe yields a cheesecake that’s a cross between a no bake cheesecake and cheesecake pudding. There’s cheesecake pudding mix in it (and yes, pudding mix is dairy free and vegan).
I topped my cheesecake pudding cups with fresh strawberries, but you can use any fruit you want or even top them with store-bought pie filling.
→ If you like this recipe, you should try these: aquafaba mousse / dairy free banana pudding / grilled pineapple / cranberry bars
Ingredient notes:
- Graham cracker crumbs – You can use store-bought crumbs for this, but if you have regular graham crackers, you can crush them with a food processor or by hand. Make sure to measure them after they are crumbs, not before.
- Dairy free butter – We normally use Earth Balance plant butter sticks, but any brand of dairy free butter should work. You could also use melted coconut oil.
- Dairy free cream cheese – My favorite brand for this is Violife. I think it tastes the most like real cream cheese and seems to hold up better when it’s mixed with sugar.
- Instant cheesecake pudding mix – This is already dairy free, but it enhances the cheesecake flavor. If you can’t find this, vanilla pudding will work. Make sure it’s a standard size. I haven’t tested this with the sugar free pudding mix, but it might work just as well.
- Unsweetened, plain coconut yogurt – This gives the pudding a really natural tang that mimics the flavor of dairy. If you don’t have this, you can use dairy free sour cream, but you may want to adjust it with about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
We normally buy Jell-o brand pudding mix, but I’ve found that the store brands are usually dairy free, too. Always make sure you’re checking the labels in case the ingredients have changed since this was written.
Instant pudding will soft set in about 5 minutes, but you’ll want to refrigerate this pudding mix for at least for a few hours to really get the thick, cheesecake texture we’re going for in this recipe.
Dairy Free Cheesecake Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 4 tablespoons melted vegan butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 7- ounce package vegan cream cheese, Violife, room temperature
- 1 package Instant cheesecake pudding mix
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut yogurt
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Make the crust. If you are using whole graham crackers, process them in a food processor until you get fine crumbs.Then, mix the crumbs with melted vegan butter and sugar and mix with a fork until combined. Press a small amount of the mixture into each cup you're using.If you have a cocktail muddler, it makes a nice little press for getting an even layer with your graham cracker crust.
- Mix the filling. Start by beating the vegan cream cheese with an electric mixer. When the cream cheese is nice and fluffy, add the pudding mix.Beat until combined, and then add the dairy free yogurt and the powdered sugar.Beat until everything has combined and the mixture is nice and smooth.
- Chill the pudding. Divide the mixture between your six cups and use a spoon to level it. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and place the cups into the fridge. Let them cool for several hours to allow them set.
- Top with fruit. While the cheesecake sets, slice your strawberries and stir in 1 – 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cover the berries and let them rest in the fridge until you're ready to serve.Top the cheesecakes with berries and a sprinkle of the remaining graham cracker crust.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Excited to try this as all my now grown children are allergic to dairy. Could you please tell me what brand of dairy-free cheesecake pudding mix, I am unable to find one without milk or milk proteins . Thank you
I used Jell-o brand.
In your recipe one ingredient is:
2 7-ounce package vegan cheese cheese (Violife), room temperature
Do you mean vegan cream cheese (Violife)?
Haha, yes that is what I meant. Thanks for letting know about the typo!
Hi! I can’t find vegan cheesecake pudding mix anywhere. What brand do you use?
Thanks!
Jello brand pudding mix is vegan. It only has dairy if you prepare it with cow’s milk.