July 10, 2019
No-Bake KitKat Cheesecake!
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Easy no-bake chocolate KitKat cheesecake with a biscuit base, chocolate cheesecake filling, ganache topping and KitKat shell!
Kitkat cheesecake
It’s been a while since I shared a showstopper of a cheesecake, so this may be the best way to change that. I love a good chocolate cheesecake, but I always like to take things a step further to make it a showstopper… and this Kitkat cheesecake did just that.
I have had requests after requests for a Kitkat cheesecake after my Twix cheesecake went down so well – I was nervous no-one would even like the Twix cheesecake as it’s one of the most underrated chocolate bars, but my god… it still keeps going.
Shelled cheesecake
I wanted to make this slightly different to my Twix one, but still insane enough to make all your jaws drop… but it’s quite hard to make it different enough to wow you guys! However, my bourbon biscuit cheesecake may have played a large role in the inspiration here as well.
Who doesn’t love a cheesecake with a shell?! Not only does it make it look amazing, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to get out of the tin, and just more amazing in general! I realise it can mean using up a lot of KitKats, but it’s worth it!You can of course skip the KitKat shell bit if you fancy – but I just love how massive the slices are because of it. It makes it all look INSAAAANE.
Ganache
I use a ganache on my Kitkat cheesecake and it is the perfect topping! I simply make the ganache by heating the cream, pouring over some finely chopped chocolate, letting it sit and then stirring. If your ganache splits (goes grainy), just whisk in a smidge more cream or full fat milk and it should come back easily!
Decoration
Regardless of how it looks, there is actually minimal decoration with this cheesecake as I wanted the shelled outer layer to be the appeal here! I just used some broken Kitkat fingers and some Kitkat bites you can get in share bags and popped them in my ganache to give the sunken look. I also crushed a few Kitkat fingers to get my ‘wafer dust’ I then added to the ganache also.
Assembly
I made this slightly differently to my bourbon biscuit cheesecake because the KitKat’s are taller than the bourbon biscuits, so I put the KitKat’s in first, and then added the biscuit base into that. It’s slightly faffy, but worth it in the end.
Pour the cheesecake mix on the biscuits, pour the ganache on the cheesecake, decorate with any more KitKats if you are using – and let it set! Once it’s set, you just have to take it out the tin and then enjoy to your hearts content!
Tips and tricks
I used a 8″/20cm springform tin for my cheesecake – I use these religiously so I stick with them! You can decorate your cheesecake however you like – I prefer mine simple but if you wanted to add some sprinkles or drizzle, you do you!
I did just use the classic KitKat’s because they were on offer – but you can use any of the magical flavours they sell if they are your preference! Nowadays you can even get birthday cake flavoured Kitkats! Enjoy! x
No-Bake KitKat Cheesecake!
Ingredients
For the Base/Shell
- 18.5 KitKats (18 doubles, one single)
- 300 g digestives
- 150 g unsalted butter
For the Cheesecake
- 125 g milk chocolate
- 125 g dark chocolate
- 500 g full-fat cream cheese (room temp)
- 75 g icing sugar
- 300 ml double cream
For the Topping
- 150 ml double cream
- 150 g dark chocolate
- KitKat Bites/KitKats
- Sprinkles
Instructions
For the Base/Shell
- Prep your 8"/20cm deep springform tin with the KitKat's around the edge - I use 18 whole standard KitKat's, and then one half as there was a small gap.
- Blitz your biscuits in a food processor to a fine crumb - or in a bowl with the end of a rolling pin.
- Melt your butter, and mix in with the biscuits.
- Press your biscuit mixture into the tin, inside the Kitkat shell. I press it down with a spoon, and make sure to be firm so the KitKat's stay at the edge securely.
For the Cheesecake
- Add your milk chocolate and dark chocolate to a bowl, and melt carefully. I do this in the microwave in short bursts!
- Once melted, mix till smooth and leave on the side to cool briefly.
- Add your cream cheese and icing sugar to a bowl, and whisk until smooth - I use my Kitchenaid with the whisk attachment.
- Add in your melted chocolate, and whisk till smooth.
- Pour in the double cream, and whisk again till smooth and really thick!
- Spread the mixture carefully inside the KitKat shell, and smooth over!
For the Topping
- Add your double cream and dark chocolate to a bowl, and microwave in 20 second bursts, mixing well each time.
- Mix and melt till smooth and delicious - spread over the top of the cheesecake.
- Add on some KitKat Bites or chopped KitKats as decoration, and some sprinkles if you are using them!
- Leave the cheesecake to set in the fridge overnight for the best possible set!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- I bought a 21x multipack of KitKats for this recipe, and a bag of KitKat Bites for the decoration.
- They are the 20.8g bars - which should be about an inch taller than the tin I used!
- You can use all milk or all dark chocolate for the filling - but for the ganache you should use dark. If you want to use milk, you need to use 300g milk chocolate as the ratio is 2:1.
- I used a 8"/20cm deep springform tin for this recipe!
- This recipe will last for 3 days in the fridge!
ENJOY!
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J x
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Jane, in the US, what can I use for the double cream? Is that heavy whipping cream?
And have you made a dairy free option for this cheesecake before?
My son’s been eyeing this for his birthday the last year! Thanks for the help!
Fantastic cheesecake – we alternated KitKat fingers between all the different chocolate flavours we could find (milk, dark, white, caramel, mint and orange). Took it to a dinner party fior dessert and it went down a storm!
Hello Jane
I’d love to try this recipe. Can I use shortbread as the base instead of digestive?
Hello I accidentally added 600ml of double cream to the mix instead of 300 what will this do? Tia
Hiya! It may not set very well, though it may be fine! Hope it turned out yummy still x
Love your recipes. The mint chic cheesecake seems to be a fav with my family. But have made the maltesas. peanut butter. strawberry. bounty. galaxy egg and now this kikat one..
Can you use half fat phili if you use gelatin as tescos set me the wrong one.
Hiya! Yes if you use gelatine this should be fine! Enjoy! x
Hi my springform pan has a lip on it so cannot run knife under to remove it from base. How do I remove it without ruining kit kat shell?
Hiya! Try lining in, or you can use it upside down! Hope this helps! x
Can you freeze Kit Kat cheesecake as I haven’t got much time ? Love your recipes
yes absolutely, for up to 3 months! x
Hi Jane! I am a huge fan of your recipes and planning to make this for my family at Christmas – they love Kit Kats! I’ve got the tin but did you remove the bottom of the tin when you took the cheesecake out? Im worried it will break as the bottom of the tin has a slightly raise edge x
Hiya! Yes – it should be absolutely fine, I use a sharp knife to loosen it! Hope this helps! x
Hi there! I’m the biggest fan of Kit Kat – even have a name being the Kit Kat Queen! Just wondering – would it help adding gelatine into the cheesecake mix to help it hold? Or is it pretty sure to set well overnight 🙂
Hiya! It should be absolutely fine – however you can if you’d really like to! Enjoy! x
Could i use kitkats as the base?
Looks amazing! Is there a way to turn this recipe in a baked-cheesecake version?
I want to make a baked kitkat cheesecake for someone who has an allergy for unheated dairy products (I know, quite strange).
Hi Jane, just love all your recipes! Just spotted this & we love KitKats! Might sound obvious but when you say double KitKats do you mean as in the 4 fingered ones or the twin (standard) ones? I didn’t know if you meant double as in two finger then single as in single fingers broke off or 18 double (2 finger) + 1 (broke off) in the ingredients list. Thanks so much x
Hiya, Thank you so much! The twin ones xx
Hi Jane, i make your cheesecakes all the time, they are my go to recipe. Recently though i made this kit kat one and for some reason after i added the double cream to the cream cheese and chocolate it went too thick and heavy – almost like it was over whipped – but i had only just added the cream. Do you know why this might have happened so I can prevent it from happening again?! The end result was a very dense cheesecake (but still delicious t.g)
It may have been the temperature of the mixture and the chocolate created it to be a super heavy mix – its worth mixing the first bit slightly less next time as that will help!
When you talk about digestives, do you mean something like graham crackers?
I’m in the UK – we don’t have graham crackers, but they are probably your best alternative for digestives x
Hi Jane
Absolutely LOVE ur recipes!
Want to make a white chocolate Kit Kat version on this, what would u recommend for the white chocolate ganache part?
Thank you!
You would change the ratios to 3:1 (so 300g white chocolate, to 100g cream) for example. It does often look quite yellow, but it tastes lovely!
I am making this at the weekend. Do you need to let the topping cool before topping the cheesecake? With the heat in the ganache melt this cheesecake filling?
Thank you
I don’t personally wait as it will all go into the fridge to set over the hours anyway! x
Hi Jane. This looks like a lovely recipe and I want to try making it for my son who loves Kitkats. Can I add chopped kitkats in the creme cheese mix?
Hey! You certainly can, but they will go soft eventually x
Thanks to you ive made some yummy cakes!!!!! Amazing recipes
Hi Jane
Which cream cheese would you recommend?
Thank you
Ayesha
I use Philadelphia or mascarpone!
Hey Jane!
Will the kitkats on the side hold still ben taken out of the springform tin?
Also should I use gelatin for a firmer set?
Thanks
So as long as you put the correct amount in they will hold well – the biscuit base and cheesecake acts like a glue. You definitely don’t need gelatine for this cheesecake in my opinion.
Hi can you advice the ingredients portion of using 6inchi tin? Thanks.
The best website to use is this one – http://www.cakebaker1.co.uk/apps-for-bakers/baking-tin-size-conversion-calculator/ – as for the kitkats, I’m not 100% sure but obviously less! x
I’m making this to tKe to dinner to my grans, but I want to present it nice and not on my cake tin base will a silver disposable base hold the cheesecake if I try and take it off the tin it just breaks – or greaseproof paper ? Any tips? Does that make sense I hope it does x
Can’t wait to try the recipe – quick question, do I leave the cheesecake to set in the fridge before adding the topping?
You don’t have to no – as both bits need to set I add the topping on, and leave it to set overnight!
Hi Jane do you use pascarpone or philadelphia for the filling please. I love all your recipes ive made the malteser cheese cake and the chocolate egg cheesecake now my attempt at your kitkat cheesecake all very delicious thank you for your recepies love them x
You can use either full-fat mascarpone, or full-fat Philadelphia, or a combination of both. x
I discovered Janes website during lockdown in March and now regularly bake using her recipes. They are amazing and highly recommend them 🤩🥰 the cheesecakes 👌👌😋😋
Looks yummy will give it a try made some of your other cheesecakes and they went down very well
Awh thank you so much! I hope you love it!
Amazing recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe x
Thank you! x
So you put the Kitkats in first, BEFORE the base? Just checking! Surely they’d get more support if they were wedged into the biscuit base though?
Yep, as described and shown in the photos. Before the base. Otherwise, it’ll be far too tall. You press the biscuit into the middle so it’ll have the support.