This recipe comes from my mom. She has been making this for years. I am guessing around 30 years, because I remember eating this throughout my childhood. She took this to many church dinners and family gatherings. This is a quick, easy, and frugal dessert.
It is like a no bake cheesecake, but is lighter and creamier. I actually like this a little better than a no bake cheesecake. This dessert is perfect for an everyday dessert, but it also works well for a family or holiday dinner. I prefer this plain, but my mom usually served it with cherries, like you would a cheesecake.
Mom’s Easy and Frugal Lemon Cheesecake Dessert
Makes 2 pies
- 2 graham cracker pie crust
- 1 package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk, chilled (do not skip the chilling part, it is important)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 (3 ounce) packaged lemon jello
- 1 cup boiling water
Dissolve jello in boiling water. Let cool to about room temperature. When jello mixture is cooled, place in a blender and add cream cheese, sugar, chilled milk, and vanilla. Blend together well and pour into graham cracker crust. Chill for 4 hours. Slice and serve.
For more recipes and frugal ideas see Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, Family Recipe Fridays, and Grocery Cart Challenge. Also linked to Mouthwatering Mondays.
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
My mouth is open Lynn, stick that forkful of goodness in there! YUM!!
You are speaking my language: lemon, cheesecake, and easy–I like it!
Lynn, this is just a wonderful dessert! Thanks for sharing the recipe. It looks heavenly…
Happy Foodie Friday!
XO,
Sheila
So does this make two pies?
It sounds delish! I could make this if I went and bought some cream cheese and lemon jell-o…mmm!
We just love lemon desserts here. Except for the crust this is easily made gluten free. I usually use a nut crust for cheesecakes, and I’m sure it would go great with this.
Yes it makes two pies or if you make your own grahm cracker crust you can do it in a 9×13 pan.
Yum! This looks so wonderful! I love the simplicity, and the flavours =D.
Wow, that IS frugal! Two pies, eh? Looks delicious.
I could eat a slice of this right now!
This looks really delicious and I always love 2 for 1. Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a great day.
MMM! I love cheesecake and this is so easy too. Thanks!
i am so craving that bite…
This looks wonderful and so easy. My family loves cheese cake. THANKS!!! Geri
I love cheesecake. Plus a frugal recipe! Right up my alley. This is going in my ‘to make’ file.
OH. MY.GOODNESS!!!
Alright that is just evil. Frugal cheesecake…a lethal combination at this household! hehehee!
GREAT POST! I know what we’re having for supper! hehehe! I mean… with supper!
Mmm, that looks yummy! It looks like it’s floating in the picture
~Liz
Do you think this could be made with sugar free Jell-o? Our oldest is diabetic so I try to look for recipes that are low in sugar/carbohydrates. I don’t care for cheesecake (sorry!) but she loves it and so does my husband.
I think it would be worth trying with the sugar free jello, I think it might work fine. I have never made it that way and I asked my mom and neither has she. If you try it and it works let me know. B/c I am sure others might want to try it that way.
My mouth DEFINITELY started watering
YUM. That sounds and looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing!
I just jotted down your lemon bar recipe to try – my husband’s going to love it – thank you!
I make a similar recipe to this (graham cracker crust, cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, lemon juice – so good!) and we usually have it topped with cherry pie filling. But when they’re in season, we use fresh blueberries – the flavor is brilliant with the lemon!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My grandma used to make this and I’ve been hunting for the recipie for almost 15 yrs. I could remember parts of it but not all, I used to help make it as a kid and it is the only cheese cake that I like. We also used to put pie fruit on top such as cherries, blueberries, or strawberries.
@Mary, I am so glad I could help! My mom has made this for years and we always love it. We often eat it with pie fruit on top. Growing up with almost always ate it with cherries.
I’m totally trying this with strawberry jello, we don’t have lemon, but I bet strawberry will be yummy too…I will try and post again if it works out and is yummy! Thanks so much!
Lynn…i love the easy cheesecake recipe..although, i would like to convert the recipe, using a 9×13 sized pan..do you or anyone else have any ideas for crust recipe and/or filling recipe for such a size? this one of yours sounds so light and flavorful..but, i have a big crowd to feed! thanks for any feedback! ~ chris
My mom used to do that all the time. Instead of making 2 pies, just make 1 9×13 pan. It is a little thicker that way, but works great. And having it in a 9×13 pan lets you cut smaller pieces than a pie. For the crust I would just use a basic graham cracker crust recipe, but make 1 1/2 pies. It has been a while since I made it in a 9×13 pan, but I think 2 pies worth makes it too thick and that 1 1/2 works better. I hope that helps and that you enjoy the cheesecake.
This looks amazing! Could you please tell me the quantity that is in one package of cream cheese, just to be sure of the measurement? Thanks!
The regular size for cream cheese is 8 ounces. It does come in several sizes and varieties, but I use just the basic plain 8 ounce kind for this.