Pineapple Dream Cheesecake: A No-Bake Cheesecake Loaded with Pineapple Flavor

Remember the episode from the sitcom FRIENDS, where Chandler and Rachel not only steal a neighbor’s cheesecake deliveries, but also scrape one right off the floor, just because it's too delicious for the five-second rule to be applicable? Well, that pretty much exemplifies the fandom cheesecakes enjoy all over the world.

Buttery, melt-in-mouth and indulgent, cheesecakes have understandably endured a centuries-long popularity. History books state that a rudimentary version of the dish was popularly consumed in ancient Greece, and was known as placenta cake then. An Old English cookbook dating back to early 14th century also features a recipe for the cheesecake, which is much closer to its contemporary form. While the name has been in circulation in English since 15th-century, the cheesecake as how we know it now only started to be made in the 18th century. The recipes started substituting the overpoweringly strong yeast with egg, which made the cheesecake lean much more towards the dessert category than ever before.

Cheesecake in its traditional form has a rather neutral flavour, but you can incorporate any ingredient – chocolate, coffee or even fresh fruit – to make a personalised version of this well-loved dessert.

A Hawaiian-inspired treat, this pineapple dream cheesecake is a riff on the traditional cheesecake and does not require any baking. Because pineapple is predominantly found in tropical, summer desserts, this is one of the lesser-known pineapple dessert recipes. Be that as it may, this reimagination of a classic cheesecake with refreshing, tangy notes, packs the same punch as an elaborate scrumptious party offering as a humble after-meal dessert.

Enjoy the smooth, sweet taste of this dish for year-round celebrations or when you long for a tropical dessert.

Ingredients:

• 225 gm graham cracker
• 85 gm sugar
• 60 gm butter
• 504 gm cream cheese
• 305 gm sugar
• 220 gm sour cream
• 100 gm Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 201 gm pineapple
• 302 ml cream
• 63 gm sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 201 gm pineapple chunks or crush
• 22 gm mint leaves

Method:

1. You have to start by combining graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a medium-sized bowl. Ensure to add the melted butter in small spoonfuls to prevent the mixture from getting too soggy. The texture should ideally be moist but sandy.
2. Then, you need to press this crumbly mixture into a pre-greased pan. Grease the pans with cooking spray or salted butter, and then line it with parchment paper, so that the cake easily slides off the tin after it’s refrigerated.
3. Refrigerate the crumble for at least 45 minutes with a stack of tins on top to weigh it down.
4. In a large mixing bowl, you are going to whip the cream cheese till it is airy and fluffy.
5. Into the cream cheese, you have to pour and keep whisking sugar until everything is combined.
6. Add in sour cream, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract, and whisk it a good deal more until the entire mixture is smooth.
7. At this step, you have to pour in crushed pineapple.
8. Then, you need to transfer this cheesecake mixture over your crust.
9. Wait overnight while it sits in the refrigerator.
10. Next morning, beat whipping cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form.
11. While whisking the whipping cream with a hand whisk, carefully add in sugar and vanilla extract. Keep whisking until stiff peaks form.
12. You can then take the cheesecake out of the refrigerator and prepare to serve it.
13. Before serving, you need to add a generous layer of the whipped cream, followed by fresh pineapple cubes, and some chopped mint leaves for garnishing.

If you have a really prominent sweet tooth, then you can take the process of sweetening it a level further by using fresh pineapple chunks instead of crushed ones for bonus taste and texture. You can choose to use coconut cream instead of heavy cream. Different varieties of nuts and dry fruits will only make the cheesecake more unique.

This no-bake cheesecake is one of those dependable pineapple dessert recipes that's perfect for any time. It has all the elements of a good New York cheesecake, in addition to that sweet pineapple juice and fresh crumbly crust.