Here’s a classic copycat version of the famous Woolworth’s Cheesecake — the nostalgic no‑bake lemon cheesecake that was served at lunch counters and is now made at home. It’s creamy, light, and tangy with a graham cracker crust. (CheekyKitchen)
🍋 Woolworth Cheesecake (No‑Bake)
🛒 Ingredients
For the Crust
- 3 cups graham cracker crumbs (or crushed digestive biscuits)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- Optional: 2–3 tbsp sugar (for extra sweetness) (CheekyKitchen)
For the Filling
- 1 (8 oz / 225 g) cream cheese — softened to room temp
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 (3 oz / ≈85 g) box lemon flavored gelatin (Jell‑O)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 can (12 oz / ≈350 ml) evaporated milk — very well chilled (or 1½ cups heavy whipping cream)
- 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional) (CheekyKitchen)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep the Crust
Combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter (and sugar if using). Press firmly into the bottom of a 9×13‑inch pan (or similar) to make an even, compact base. Chill in the fridge while preparing the filling. (CheekyKitchen) - Dissolve the Gelatin
Pour boiling water over the lemon gelatin and stir until completely dissolved. Let it cool slightly so it’s not hot when added to the other ingredients. (Recipezazz.com) - Beat the Cream Cheese
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with sugar and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Slowly add the cooled gelatin mixture, beating well after each addition. (Recipezazz.com) - Whip the Milk
In a separate bowl, whip the chilled evaporated milk until light and fluffy (or whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form). Make sure the bowl and milk are cold for best volume. (CheekyKitchen) - Combine
Gently fold the whipped evaporated milk into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and uniform. (CheekyKitchen) - Assemble & Chill
Spread the filling evenly over the chilled crust. If you saved extra graham crumbs, sprinkle them on top. Cover and chill in the fridge at least 4 hours (overnight is best) until set. (CheekyKitchen)
🍰 Serving Tips
- Cut into squares or wedges and serve chilled.
- Add fresh berries, lemon zest, or a drizzle of fruit sauce for extra flavor. (CheekyKitchen)
🧠 Recipe Notes & Variations
✅ Using evaporated milk (chilled) gives this cheesecake a light, airy texture that’s different from baked cheesecakes. (CheekyKitchen)
🍓 You can experiment with different gelatin flavors (e.g., strawberry or raspberry) for fruity twists. (CheekyKitchen)
🍪 Swap graham crackers for digestive biscuits or vanilla wafers for a slightly different crust flavor. (CheekyKitchen)
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