In this easy to make no-bake Smarties cheesecake recipe, you can enjoy a smooth creamy vanilla cheesecake mixed in with plenty of multicoloured smarties. It is a perfect celebration cheesecake and is an easy to make ahead recipe too. You can easily make this recipe in a square cake tin and cut it up for Smarties cheesecake squares.
I love this cheesecake recipe as it’s so bright and beautiful. The range of colours and the rainbow effect it gives makes it perfect for birthday parties, summer events and of course when you really fancy something jolly.
Why you’ll love this Smarties cheesecake recipe
- It’s bright and colourful and brings such joy when it’s put on the table to eat.
- A Smarties cheesecake is easy to make.
- It’s a great sweet treat for birthdays, parties and when you really want something as a fun showstopper.
Top Questions
Can I use supermarket own brand of cream cheese?
What biscuits can I use for the cheesecake base?
Do Smarties colours run?
Ingredients (For the full recipe scroll down to the bottom of the page)
For the base
For the base you need Unsalted butter and shortbread biscuits. Break up the biscuits and mix with the melted butter to form the base. Set this in the fridge.
Cream cheese layer
Mix together Soft cream cheese (I used Philadelphia) and Caster sugar.
Whisk the double cream / heavy cream until stiff and mix it with the cream cheese and caster sugar mix.
Stir in the vanilla extract and the first amount of the Smarties. From there you put the mix in the cake tin on top of the base and allow it to set.
Decoration
More double cream / heavy cream is needed for the decoration on top of the cheesecake. It is simply whipped up until stiff and piped on in swirls.
On top of the piped double cream is a lot of delicious chocoalte Smarties.
How to make a Smarties cheesecake – step by step
Crush the shortbread biscuits in a food processor, or put it in a plastic sandwich bag and use a rolling pin to break them up (my preferred method to leave them as a larger crumb).
Put the biscuit crumbs in a bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until all the biscuits are coated in the butter.
Scoop the crumbs into the tin and push down gently with the back of a spoon to make a hard layer. Place the cake tin in the fridge and leave to harden for 30 minutes while you make the cream layer.
In a bowl cream together the cream cheese and caster sugar until the sugar has dissolved and is well distributed.
In a new bowl lightly whip the double cream until it thickens.
Stir in the double cream and cream cheese mixture together.
Gently stir in the smarties to the mix. Remove the base from the fridge and add the cream cheese and smartie mixture. Level off and pop it back in the fridge. Serve with pipped double cream and even more Smarties on top.
Top Tips
Smarties are known for their colour but if you leave the cheesecake in the fridge for a day the colour can start to run slightly. Nothing terrible but it’s worth considering. The smarties in the cheesecake layer will be fine but for decorating them I would put the Smarties on within a few hours of when you need it to keep them as colourful as possible. The colour won’t run too fast but for best results serve as you add them on top.
Use a cake tin with a removable base or a spring form tin. This will help get it out of the tin.
Remove the cheesecake from the tin in the fridge within an hour. The longer it is in the tin the harder it is to get out (with a push base cake tin especially).
Serving Suggestions
Add the final Smarties decoration before you serve.
As it’s such a great no-bake dessert which you can make ahead of time.
Perfect party or birthday cheesecake.
Serve with even more sprinkles or smarties because why not!
Equipment
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- Loose bottom six-inch cake tin or loose bottom eight-inch cake tin
- Mixing bowls
- whisk or hand whisk
- food processor
- star nozzle
- piping bags
Storing / Making ahead of time options for Smarties Cheesecake
Cheesecakes need time to set so they are one of the most pefect get ahead desserts. No-bake cheesecakes are so easily adaptable for seasons and events.
This cheesecake needs about an hour in the fridge to set in the tin. From there you can take the cheesecake out of the tin and put it on a plate back in the fridge.
The reason I suggest taking it out of the tin after an hour is so that you can get the cheesecake out of the tin easily. Much longer than an hour it can be trickier. It’s also worth using a spring tin to help if you do want to make it in advance.
When the smarties cheesecake is made it will easily last 2-3 days in the fridge. That is if you don’t eat it on the day you make it.
A Smarties Cheesecake is definitely best served and enjoyed on the day you make it.
Substitutions and variations
M&Ms CHEESECAKE
If you can’t find Smarties or you want to try something slightly different you can use M&Ms for this cheesecake recipe.
You can use chocolate M&Ms or try adding the peanut M&Ms for a different flavour.
CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE
Chocolate chips are also a brilliant addition to this easy no-bake cheesecake. You can use chocolate chips that you would usually bake with or even carefully chop up a bar of chocolate and add it in.
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate all work very well for cheesecakes. I would suggest adding a mix if you really love your chocolate.
SPRINKLES CHEESECAKE
You really can’t go wrong with adding sprinkles into the cream cheese mix and on top too! Sprinkles, just like Smarties are so bright and joyful. They will bring smile to the face of anyone who sees it!
Click here for my sprinkle cheesecake recipe.
EASTER CHEESECAKE
Another way to adapt this recipe is turn it into a no-bake Easter cheesecake. Mix in your favourite chocolate eggs and other Easter candy to make this is a brilliant dessert for Easter.
Check out my indivudal mini egg cheesecakes recipe.
FAQS about Smarties Cheesecake
Can I use the supermarket own brand of cream cheese?
Supermarket own brand cream cheese can works for no-bake cheesecakes but there are a few things to think about when using it. Supermarket cream cheese can often be a little more watery than branded Philadelphia or similar.
You can still use it but before adding it to the mix drain off any excess liquid. You might need to add some extra icing sugar to help the mixture set. However it will be
What biscuits can I use for the Smarties Cheesecake base?
In my opinion shortbread biscuits are the best for the Smarties cheesecake. It’s a soft and light buttery biscuit which makes a strong base but doesn’t have too much flavour so it will not over power the cheesecake and it’s topping.
Other biscuits you can use for cheesecake bases are;
-bourbon biscuits
-digestive biscuits
Do Smarties colours run?
Smarties can run if left in too much moisture. However in the cream cheese layer of the cheesecake they won’t run too quickly but after a few days you will notice them starting to bleed their colour.
I would definitely recommend adding the Smarties to the top before you serve just to be sure it’s picture perfect as you serve it.
Other Easy no-bake cheesecake recipes you might like
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Recipe
Smarties Cheesecake – Easy no bake cheesecake
Equipment
- 6 inch Cake Tin (for 8 inch cake tin see the notes)
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 50 g (1.76 oz) Unsalted butter
- 200 g (7.05 oz) shortbread biscuits
- 300 g (10.58 oz) Soft cream cheese (I used Philadelphia)
- 60 g (2.12 oz) Caster sugar
- 150 ml (150 ml) double cream / heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 150 g (1.76 oz) Smarties
Decoration
- 150 ml (150 ml) double cream / heavy cream
- 100 g Smarties
Instructions
This is a 6 inch cheesecake – If you want to make this as an 8inch cheesecake, add half the amount again to each ingredient.
- Lightly grease an 6 inch loose base cake tin with a little melted butter – use a little of the same butter that you use for the base. (I also added a greaseproof paper circle at the bottom to help it off the base later).
Making the Cheesecake Biscuit Base
- Melt the butter gently in the microwave in short bursts (in a microwavable bowl for about 20 seconds at a time) or in a saucepan on a low heat and then take off the heat so it doesn't burn.
- Crush the shortbread biscuits in a food processor, or put it in a plastic sandwich bag and use a rolling pin to break them up (my preferred method to leave them as a larger crumb).
- Put the biscuit crumbs in a bowl and add the melted butter. Stir until all the biscuits are coated in the butter.
- Scoop the crumbs into the tin and push down gently with the back of a spoon to make a hard layer. Place the cake tin in the fridge and leave to harden for 30 minutes while you make the cream layer.
Cream Cheese Layer
- In a bowl cream together the cream cheese and caster sugar until the sugar has dissolved and is well distributed.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a new bowl lightly whip the double cream until it thicken.
- Stir in the double cream and cream cheese mixture together.
- Stir in the Smarties gently.
- Remove the cake tin from the fridge and add the cream cheese to the base and level off.
- Put back into the fridge to set for at least an hour. Longer is fine if you want to make it ahead of time for an event.
- Remove the cheesecake from the tin and place on a plate.
Cheesecake Decoration
- Whisk the remaining double cream until it starts to thicken. Add a star nozzle to a pipping bag and add the cream. Pipe the cream into swirls around the outside of the cheesecake.
- Add more Smarties! Serve and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
This is such a fun recipe, I love it!
Thank you, Janice. It really does bring a lot of joy.
This looks amazing. My kids are all smarties addicts so will be making this with them very soon! Thanks for a great recipe idea.
YAy I’ glad to help the Smarties addicts heehee
LOVE this!!!! What a brilliant idea… So colourful and the chocolate and crunch against the creamy filling must be divine. Just need to find myself some gluten free smarties now
#CookBlogShare
YAY I’m so glad you like it too! I thought they were GF now?
This looks amazing. I have two little people who would absolutely DEVOUR this! Eb 🙂
That is the best compliment
Lovely! Such a pretty and colourful cheesecake, would make such a cute alternative to a birthday cake.
I agree! I love cake but I think cheesecake just wins out.