This cheesecake needs to come with a warning, save a piece for yourself! Turtle Cheesecake is so good, it won’t last long!
I bake, a lot. I’m always sharing my creations with friends, family, and neighbors. This was one of those creations that I set aside a slice for myself because it’s just so decadently sticky and delicious. If you want to see magic, make this cheesecake; it will disappear!
There’s something about a turtle that is just such a classic combination of flavors and textures. Turtle Cheesecake gives you all of the flavor and bite of the classic candy confection.
Turtles are all about their layers of flavor…chocolate, pecans, and of course that sticky ooey, gooey caramel. From crust to final flourish of a drizzle this cheesecake packs the entire turtle experience.
A crust can totally make or break any sort of a pie. It’s the canvas upon which you build all of your flavor. For this recipe we’re making a chocolate pecan crust. A combination of Gluten Free chocolate sandwich cookies and pecan flour give you that rich yet nutty bite.
Dairy Free cream cheese and Dairy Free sour cream provide the velvety texture and tang in the cheesecake filling while brown sugar gives that deep caramel flavor as it bakes in the oven.
Finishing off this cheesecake is the fun burst of toppings. Making Dairy Free caramel couldn’t be easier. Simply boil Dairy Free sweetened condensed milk until it turns that unmistakable golden color and becomes thick and luscious. I love when I can transform something with just a single ingredient.
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Everyone loves it, and I’m not just saying that because it’s on my blog and I feel obligated. If people didn’t love it, they wouldn’t shell out so much money for it. It’s silky, it tastes great, and it looks like it rolled out of a fancy restaurant with little to no effort on my part – which is my favorite type of dessert!
If you’re not gluten free, you’re probably thinking “Can you not even touch gluten? Just make the ones you’re selling with regular ingredients!“ So, the answer is, yes, I can touch gluten (although a lot of Celiacs can’t). But have you ever added flour to your mixer at a high speed and had it spray all over the kitchen like a fine mist? It’s impossible to clean off of everything and then you see flecks of flour for what seems like months afterwards. That’s enough flour to get a Celiac like me super sick. That’s a big risk to take in a gluten free household, so I don’t do it. Plus I’m not going to sell food that I can’t actually taste, because that’s just bad business.
It’s also pretty easy to make, even if it looks intimidating, and since I’ve made it a trillion times, I’ve given you overly-detailed instructions to make sure your cheesecake looks even better than the picture ;). Up until now this recipe was a closely guarded secret, but now it’s also yours to make and to share and to impress your guests with.
Normally I’m a big believer in giving people recipes freely (I guess that’s kind of duh, because I have this blog!), and I HATE when people leave out their “secret ingredient” when they share a recipe. Like, that’s just so unfair – why even share it then? But, call me selfish if you want to, I’ve never given anyone this recipe because if they knew how to make it, then they wouldn’t buy it from me.
One of my favorite parts about this recipe is that it’s highly adaptable. You can easily make other variations on this cheesecake. Here are some ideas:
Easy Street with Turtle Cheesecake
This cheesecake couldn’t be any easier. In just three simple steps, crust, filling, and toppings, you will be fighting for that very last slice.
- Make sure your Gluten Free chocolate sandwich cookies are finely crushed. You want them about the same sandy consistency as the pecan flour.
- Mix the pecan flour and cookie crumbs with melted Dairy Free butter and press into an 8″ springform pan that has been sprayed with nonstick baking spray.
- Sprinkle a little extra pecan flour on top of your crust.
- Allow your crust to chill.
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
- Add your sugar and eggs to a mixing bowl and mix on high for 5 minutes. It will become light and frothy.
- Add the Dairy Free cream cheese and mix for 5 minutes until it is fully incorporated and creamy.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients and pour the batter into the chilled crust.
- Place your springform pan into the oven on the middle rack.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Do not open the oven during this time!
- Allow your cheesecake to sit on the count for an hour before transferring it to the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Have fun topping your turtle cheesecake! Dairy Free caramel, melted Dairy Free chocolate, and of course, pecans!
Are you looking for more cheesecake ideas? Make sure you check out my recipe for Dairy Free Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce. Now let’s get baking!
Decadent Turtle Cheesecake Recipe
FAQ
Does cheesecake contain gluten?
What is turtle cheesecake made of?
What is in turtle cheesecake ice cream?
How many calories in a slice of turtle cheesecake?
Is the turtle cheesecake good?
With the caramel cheesecake in the oven we began the Turtle cheesecake. Long story short it was beautiful and delicious! The only issue we had was the ganache separated, it took some work to fix it but mission accomplished! Everyone at the party raved about the The Turtle Cheesecake. I have to say even ours was beautiful!
Is cheese cake gluten free?
No, Cheesecake is not gluten-free. In the cheesecake crust preparation, Graham crackers, crushed cookies or pastry is used. So the cookies, crackers or pastry are usually made with wheat flour or plain flour, which has gluten. If one wants a gluten-free cheesecake, replace the crust with gluten-free cookies or crackers. Instead of cookies, nuts can also be used for crust preparation.
Can a no bake turtle cheesecake be vegan?
This No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake can easily be made vegan by using a plant-based cream cheese. Just take care to use vegan chocolate and caramel – and any of the other ingredients. And it can be made gluten-free by using a gluten-free graham cracker crumb crust or replacing the graham cracker crust with a gluten-free crust of crushed wafer cookies.
Do you need to turn on the oven to make turtle cheesecake?
There’s no need to turn on the oven for this No-Bake Turtle Cheesecake! This delicious dessert is made with a few simple ingredients and is ready in just minutes. The combination of caramel, chocolate and pecans makes this cheesecake irresistible. Serve it at your next party or gathering and watch it disappear!