No Bake? No way!

Sometimes, thinking about dessert feels strenuous. Especially when it comes to baking. We’re here to change that narrative on that by making things a little easier for you. Before we begin, this isn’t your traditional baking article. We’re going to give it a little twist. How? By not actually baking. You might as well toss your oven to the side for this one.

For most of these recipes however, you may need to prepare a couple of hours before you’re able to enjoy them. The good news is, you’re able to carry on with your daily routine as your desserts set.

No-bake cheesecake

This is for our cheesecake lovers! The good thing about this recipe is that you can add in the flavors you love most and most importantly; it doesn’t require any form of baking.

Ingredients:

• 240g graham crackers
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• A pinch of salt
• Half a cup of melted unsalted butter
• 2 package cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• A quarter cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

Crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin until the crumbs are very fine. You can use a reusable plastic bag to hold the crackers as you’re crushing them. When they’re soft enough, pour the crushed graham crackers into a bowl, stir in the sugar and add the melted butter until all are well combined.

Move your mixture onto your pan and press it down to create a flat and even foundation. Once done, chill the crust in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. As your crust is chilling, start your filling by beating the cream cheese using an electric mixture until smooth and add the condensed milk a little at a time until mixed well. You can then add in the vanilla extract and lemon juice and beat the filling until it is smooth.

Get your crust from the freezer and pour in your filling. Cover the pan with a plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm. This should take about 2 to 3 hours so make sure you make this dessert before you begin cooking the main meal. This dessert is so good, you’ll make it more than once!

Fruit sorbet

This may be one of the simplest recipes you will find for this no bake dessert. It literally requires 2 ingredients.

Ingredients:

• A medium sized bowl of Frozen fruit of your choice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Steps:

In a blender, add in your choice of frozen fruit followed by 1 tablespoon of honey and blend away until the ingredients have combined well. When mixed well, pour the combined frozen fruit and honey into your pan and freeze for about an hour and a half to 2 hours. Be careful not to eat this one too fast once its ready or else prepare for a chilly brain freeze.

Strawberry icebox cake

Yes, I know I said cake and no bake in the same article but trust me, we’re really not going to bake anything. This particular recipe is more of layering than anything if we’re being honest.  That saves you a lot of time when it comes to preparing a dessert.

Ingredients:

• 1 packet graham crackers
• A cup of freshly chopped strawberries (or any fruit of your choice)
• 1 and a half cup of Whipped cream

Steps:

In a pan, pour in whipped cream enough to begin the first layer of the dessert. Don’t use too much of the whipped cream because you’ll need it as you go along. Place graham crackers on top of the spread whipped cream as the second layer of the dessert and add in another layer of whipped cream to cover the crackers.

Add your chopped strawberries and repeat the process of layering until you fill your pan. When done, place the pan full of goodies in the fridge for an hour to set. You’ve created a whole pan of dessert without breaking a sweat!

Chia seed pudding

Who doesn’t love a good pudding? This one in particular, will have you licking your bowl clean!

Ingredients:

• 2 chopped bananas
• A bowl of chopped strawberries
• Half a cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup milk (almond milk for a healthier pudding)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 and a half tablespoons (30g) chia seed

Steps:

In a bowl, crush your chopped bananas with a fork until a watery – paste like texture is formed. Add in your Greek yogurt to combine with the crushed bananas followed by milk and the vanilla extract. Mix it well and pour in the chia seed and chopped strawberries.

Once the ingredients are all combined well, cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 hours. When chilled well, pour in the finished pudding into a cup and enjoy as you watch your favorite show before bed!