Cheesecake in a Jar Recipe | My Baking Addiction (2024)

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I’m fairly certain that I’ve discussed my lack of love for the great outdoors, so it’s safe to say you’ll never hear me writing about long hikes in the woods or camping anywhere other than on a deck chair at a five star resort (Hey, I can dream, right?). Not to say that I am not fond of the fresh air and scenery, I just like to keep a screen between me and the bugs.

Needless to say, I don’t last long at picnics in the park or anywhere outdoors for that matter. Usually an annoying fly or buzzing bee will send me into a fit within 20 minutes and I’ll sit there contemplating my escape route or the idea of eating in my air conditioned vehicle.

Problem is, I am a big pan of picnic food. Hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon, and No Bake Cookies rank pretty high on my hierarchy of good eats, so I’ll usually suffer through it as long as I am armed with cold bottle of water and a fly swatter.

Then, a couple of friends came up with the idea of a virtual picnic. A Virtual Picnic for the Planet was totally doable because well, it doesn’t require me hanging outside! Plus, I think our planet is pretty rocking and I totally dig the idea of coming together to make a difference.

The Nature Conservancy has a website that is devoted to Picnic for the Planet. They have a Meet Up page which allows you to connect with people in your area to plan your Picnic for the Planet. They also describe 5 Easy Actions that are good for the Earth and help you to reduce your impact on the Earth.

Eat Smart

Be proactive, know where your food comes from and who it impacts.

Eat Local

Take advantage of your farmer’s market. Try to purchase food that is in season and locally grown.

Eat Sustainably

Eat sustainable seafood — one of the only things that we eat that we still get from the wild.

Eat Green

Eat more fruits and vegetables — it’s good for your health and the planet’s

Eat Out

Join us in the Picnic for the Planet!

For today’s Virtual Picnic for the Planet, I have made Cheesecakes in a Jar with fresh mixed berries. These Cheesecakes in a Jar are simple, portable, decadent and truly couldn’t be any more adorable.

I simply scooped my cheesecake batter into small canning jars, baked them in a water bath and topped with fresh berries. The lids allow these individually portioned desserts to be placed into a cooler, so it makes them the perfect picnic dessert to wow a crowd!

I would love to hear about your plans for this Earth Day. Will you be picnicking?

Make sure to check out the Virtual Picnic for the Planet link up below to see all the great recipes my fellow picknickers came up with. You’ll have your Picnic for the Planet menu figured out faster than you can say bug spray!

Simple Bites | Pressed Sandwiches
My Baking Addiction | Mixed Berry Cheesecakes in a Jar
Bluebonnets & Brownies | Nanny’s Potato Salad
Gourmande in the Kitchen | Honey Ginger Lemonade
Dine & Dish | Sangria
Add A Pinch | Herbed Tortellini Salad
Bakers Royale | Fruit Recipe Roundup
Three Many Cooks | Black and White Caviar
Food for My Family | Homemade Potato Chips and Avocado Ranch Dip
Sugarcrafter | Apple Hand Pies
Tickled Red | Tangy Potato Salad
What’s Cooking with Kids | Kale Chips
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen | Mini Lemonade Cakes
TidyMom | Picnic Pies in a Jar

Cheesecake in a Jar

Yield: 4-6 servings depending on size of jars used

Print Recipe

Cheesecake in a Jar Recipe | My Baking Addiction (2)

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • zest of one lemon
  • 2 packages cream cheese, 8 oz each; room temperature
  • 2 large eggs; room temperature
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh berries

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Begin to boil a large pot of water for the water bath.
  3. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, combine the sugar and lemon zest and mix until the sugar is moistened and fragrant.
  4. Add in the cream cheese and cream together until smooth.
  5. Add eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Make sure to scrape down the bowl in between each egg.
  6. Add heavy cream and vanilla and mix until smooth.
  7. Pour batter into canning jars until about ¾ of the way full.
  8. Place jars into a larger pan and pour boiling water into the larger pan until halfway up the sides of the jars.
  9. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, the edges will appear to be set, but the center will still have a little jiggle to it.
  10. Carefully remove the cheesecake jars from the water bath and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
  11. Once the cheesecakes are completely cooled, place them into the refrigerator for at least 5 hours.
  12. Top will fresh berries and serve.

Notes:

  • For glossy berries, simply add 1 tablespoon of hot water to ¼ cup apricot preserves. Blend until combined and thinned out. Place the berries in a bowl and gently brush and toss the berries with the apricot and water mixture.
  • If you are not a fan of lemon, simply omit the zest.
  • If you are missing the graham cracker crust, serve with graham sticks.
  • The jars pictured above are Weck (7.4 ounce) Tulip Jars.

All images and text © for My Baking Addiction

Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!

Cheesecake in a Jar Recipe | My Baking Addiction (2024)

FAQs

How can I thicken my no-bake cheesecake mix? ›

Sometimes, a no-bake cheesecake filling can turn “soupy” in texture. Don't worry, we can rescue it! If your cheesecake filling goes soupy in texture, don't worry—you can fix it! Just add a little gelatin to the mix, and it will set up in the fridge just fine.

Can I use cornstarch instead of flour in cheesecake? ›

Flour or cornstarch is sometimes included in cheesecake recipes to preventing cracks. If you find that you always have problems with cracking and your cheesecake recipe does not call for any flour or cornstarch, it's ok to experiment and add some cornstarch (one to two tablespoons) to the batter when you add the sugar.

Why won't my no-bake cheesecake set? ›

The primary reason a no-bake cheesecake is too runny or doesn't set up properly is generally the temperature of the ingredients. If your cream cheese is too warm, the mixture will be too soft and will never set up properly.

Is canning cheesecake safe? ›

Breads and cakes baked in glass jars and sealed with canning lids upon removal from the oven are not safe. They are low acid and can support the growth of Clostridium botulinum. There is the potential for botulism poisoning.

How do you make no-bake cheesecake less runny? ›

To thicken a no-bake cheesecake, refrigerate it for an extended period or consider adding dissolved gelatin, more cream cheese, or Greek yogurt to the mixture before chilling. Now, when we venture into the territory of no-bake cheesecakes, the plot thickens.

Why is my no-bake cheesecake so runny? ›

You can fix a runny cheesecake mixture the same as the others – with a setting agent – or freezing to make an ice cream mixture. Sometimes the cheesecake can be too thin if a chocolate has melted the mixture for example – and this is also solved this way.

Is sour cream or heavy cream better for cheesecake? ›

Sour Cream: This gave it more of a tart taste. This could be utilized if you are going to make a flavored cheesecake where a more tart taste would help the other flavors. I think it would work really well with a lemon or lime flavored cheesecake. Heavy Whipping Cream: This gave it more of a milky taste.

What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

Why use sour cream in cheesecake? ›

Cheesecake is clearly a different animal from bundts or cupcakes, but sour cream has a place here too! Combined with even more densely rich cream cheese, sour cream actually tempers the star ingredient a touch, softening its texture. It also adds another layer of tangy flavor and moisture to a cheesecake.

Can you over mix no bake cheesecake? ›

Mixing the filling for longer than the recipe says.

To my regret, I found a super-soft cheesecake waiting the next day as a result. Try this: Make sure you use room-temperature cream cheese (more on that below) and use a hand mixer or mix by hand to avoid breaking the emulsion created by the cream cheese.

How do you know if no bake cheesecake is bad? ›

When in doubt, give it a smell. A sour, off-putting odor is a definite sign it has spoiled and should not be consumed. Always store your no bake cheesecake in the refrigerator. If not consuming immediately, cover it with a cake dome or plastic wrap, not foil as it can give off a metallic taste.

Does no bake cheesecake get firm? ›

But given time to chill all the way down to 40°F (4°C), which takes about six hours, the filling becomes firm and dense, much more like a "real" cheesecake and far easier to slice. During that time, the filling will lend some of its moisture to the crust, making it considerably less crumbly.

What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
  1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
  3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
  4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
  5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
  6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
  7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
  8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
May 29, 2023

How to can cake in mason jars? ›

Canned breads and cakes are typically made by pouring batter into glass canning jars and baking them in the oven. Once the cake or bread is done, the steaming jars are taken out of the oven and then sealed and cooled to create a vacuum. Many recipes claim that they can be stored without refrigeration for about a year.

What to do if cheesecake mix is too runny? ›

You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.

How do you thicken homemade cheesecake? ›

For this one I added 2 Tbsp of cornstarch. This resulted in a cheesecake that was just as thick as the one with less eggs and didn't effect the taste like the flour one. It did result in a more cake like texture as well.

Why are my no bakes not setting? ›

If you've glanced at other no-bake cookie recipes then you'll see how important it is to boil the sugar mixture long enough which will help the cookies to set. Boiling too long will cause the cookies to be dry and crumbly. However, if you don't boil long enough the cookies will not set and will be runny.

How do you thicken Philadelphia cheesecake filling? ›

To thicken Philadelphia cheesecake filling, ensure you've mixed it adequately. You can also add a bit more cream cheese or cook the mixture on low heat to reduce and thicken.

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