No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

Soooo... it's summer! And I can't tell you how excited I am! Well, I can, but it would just be me going on and on about the warm weather and the beach and summer parties and all things summer entertaining.

It's just the perfect time of year to get together with all your fraaands and have a summer celebration! Which leads me into this no bake cheesecake recipe.

My assistant, Abby and I, have been attempting to play around with a blowtorch in the kitchen. Why? Because it's fun! And because when you blow torch food, it makes everything smell toasty and roasty and delicious. Like your whole kitchen will smell like an outdoor summer picnic.

And because it is the season for all things grilling and s'mores, I wanted to make a dessert that was like roasting marshmallows over a fire pit with all the bright flavors of summer.

Which brings me to this No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake. No bake because, hey, it's hot over here in California and I can't imagine turning the oven on. And lemon, because, yum! We are taking some shortcuts by using one of my favorites, store-bought lemon curd, and an ingredient that I feel is very underrated - sweetened condensed milk.

That's what gives this cheesecake the no bake part by adding a sweet, creamy flavor. The longest part is setting the cheesecake in the fridge for a few hours (or overnight) to chill. But once it's chilled, topping and toasting are a piece of (cheese)cake!

No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake Crust

This graham cracker crust recipe is a classic. Most recipes call for regular granulated sugar in the crust, but I find the brown sugar adds so much more flavor with a sweet, molasses kick. You can buy graham cracker crumbs pre-ground in the supermarket, but if you have whole grahams, you will need about 14 full-size graham crackers to get 2 cups.

Blitz all the ingredients in your food processor and you're good to go! To make sure it is a nice, even crust all around, press the crust down into and up the sides of a springform pan with a flat bottom - this could be anything from your water glass to a measuring cup to the bottom of a wine glass!

And make sure to chill the crust for at least 10 minutes before filling. This will help the graham cracker crust hold up better when filling.

No Bake Cheesecake with Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk puts the no-bake in this no-bake lemon curd cheesecake. It's basically milk that has been cooked down with sugar, turning it into a sweet and syrupy confection.

Since the milk and sugar are all-in-one and it binds the filling together, there is no need to bake the lemon cheesecake. Just make sure to add the condensed milk to the whipped cream cheese in three batches. It's luscious, but it's thick, so you'll get a smoother batter when it's slowly combined.

A Little Note on Lemon Curd

Yes, we are taking a short cut today and using store-bought lemon curd in our no bake lemon cheesecake recipe. Since I am in looovve with the Trader Joe's brand, I highly recommend it if you can find it. If not, any of your favorite homemade lemon curd will do! All you need is 1 cup of lemon curd for this no bake cheesecake, so feel free to save the rest to make Strawberry Lemon Cake, too!

Toasting the No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake!

Now comes the fun part! Toasting the meringue with a blow torch! (I know this is what you've been waiting for!) Abby and I learned that the real technique in using a blow torch is making sure you don't hold it in a spot for too long or the meringue will burn.

The best way to evenly brown the surface of the lemon meringue cheesecake is to move the torch in a constant, circular motion until you see the meringue start to brown.

To get those gorgeous peaks, when mounting the meringue onto the cheesecake, use the back of the spoon to create peaks and divets. It creates a beautiful presentation and you'll get different degrees of charred, marshmallow meringue all over.

A Few Tips to Make the Best No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

Should I refrigerate my No Bake Lemon Meringue Cheesecake?

Yes! The cheesecake must be refrigerated for the crust and filling to set, making sure you can cut it into slices. Two hours is the minimum, but overnight is much better. To make sure the cheesecake doesn't form a skin on the top, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the filling before storing in the fridge.

Can you set a No-Bake Lemon Meringue Pie Cheesecake in the freezer?

Yes and no. Setting the no bake cheesecake with condensed milk in the freezer will make the filling and crust too hard. But, if you are short on time and making this the day of, to speed up the chilling process, placing it in the freezer for 30 minutes should help it set without sacrificing it's creamy, dreamy texture.

Don't have a blow torch?

Preheat your broiler to HIGH and set an oven rack in the highest part of the oven, making sure there is enough room for the lemon meringue cheesecake to fit. Place under the broiler for 30 seconds - 1 minute and watch it closely! (You could even do this with the oven door open.) The meringue will go from brown to burnt in a matter of seconds!