True circus animal cookie lovers will flip for this Circus Animal Cookie Cheesecake! Loaded with amazing, authentic animal cookie flavor, this cheesecake is fantastic!
I don’t know about you, but I am a certified circus animal cookie FREAK.
I grew up eating them by the bagful while binge-watching Scooby Doo on long, hot summer days. My brother and I usually split the bag because we were a divided front: he only liked the pink ones, and I swore the white ones tasted better and were more sprinkly. Who knows if this is true, but it worked for our cookie-sharing relationship!
I’ve experimented with making circus animal treats in the past, but I knew I had to make an easy No-Bake Cheesecake featuring my favorite cookie!
This cheesecake could not be simpler, and the entire thing is 100% no-bake! I loathe when I find awesome “no-bake” recipes and you have to bake the crust. Um, call me crazy, but no-bake means NO BAKING! Duh? So when I say there’s no oven time, I mean it!
Instead of baking the crust to set it, you freeze it which does the same thing. This minor switcharoo makes a world of a difference when the temps rise and you want to avoid turning on your oven.
You’ll pulverize your circus animal cookies until they become a fine crumb, then mix them with a little melted butter so everything is moistened. Press it into a prepared springform pan and pop that sucker in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
For the filling, we whip together some cream cheese, sugar, and a splash of vanilla. When it’s creamy and combined, we’ll fold in some melted white chocolate for added flavor, and because these cookies are coated in that luscious white chocolate coating! Then you’ll fold in some whipped cream, or if you’re lazy, Cool Whip. #NoJudgments
To amp up the cookie flavor, I swirled some chopped cookies into the cheesecake batter and spread the whole shebang in the pan. Refrigerate to chill, then add your white chocolate ganache, whipped cream, more cookies, and SPRINKLES!
The result is a creamy, smooth, fabulously delicious and flavorful, sprinkle-laden cheesecake everyone will flip for!
No-Bake Circus Animal Cookie Cheesecake
Ingredients
- FOR THE CRUST:
- One package circus animal cookies finely crushed (about 2 & 1/2 cups crumbs)
- 5 Tbsp melted butter
- FOR THE CHEESECAKE:
- 16 ounces (Two 8-ounce pkgs) cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces (One 8 ounce tub) Cool Whip thawed
- 1 cup circus animal cookies roughly chopped
- FOR THE GANACHE:
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
- Pink gel food coloring
- Rainbow non-pareils
Instructions
- Lightly spray the bottom of a 9" round springform pan. Place a parchment round in the bottom of the pan and spray the bottom and sides again. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter and toss to combine. Mixture should be moistened. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan and freeze for 30 minutes or until firm.
- While crust chills, make your filling: Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer until fluffy, 2 minutes. Melt the white chocolate chips and heavy cream together in a medium bowl for 30 seconds in the microwave, stirring until melted. Beat in the melted white chocolate until combined. Lastly, fold in the whipped topping until fluffy. Gently fold in the chopped cookies.
- Spread the cheesecake mixture evenly into the prepared pan and smooth out the top. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.
- To make your ganache: pour the heavy cream into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or until hot. Pour the hot heavy cream evenly over a bowl of the white chocolate chips. Let the mixture sit, undisturbed, for about 2 minutes or until melted. Stir until smooth. Use one drop of pink food coloring to tint the ganache a light pink color.
- Pour and spread the ganache evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Immediately top with the rainbow non-pareils sprinkles. Let ganache set for about 30 minutes before serving. Just before serving, pipe a little whipped cream around the edges of the cheesecake and garnish with whole animal cookies. Store leftovers covered in the fridge.
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
cakespy says
It’s just so dang happy. <3
Kathy B says
oh my gosh this sounds good. I tried to sign up for your emails, but got this message “Oops! That signup form isn’t around anymore… 🙁
Please let the list owners know so that they can fix it. Sorry about that. “
fredward says
first ever desert I made all by myself for the family ^^ they loved it ! Thank you so much for the recipe ! <3
Wendy says
Hi Hayley! Making this beauty right now… in fridge chilling for four hours… when do I take it out of the springform? Before ganache? Thanks for the help and recipe! Can’t wait to serve it!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Wendy! Yes, before ganache!
Joanna says
I’m having trouble finding this particular type of cookie in stores, where did you get them??
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Joanna! Most grocery stores should carry it – on the west coast it’s by Mother’s Brand, but usually stores like Target have their own version!
Fallon says
This was so so good and easy to make! The instructions were clear and easy to follow as well. Such a cute cheesecake love it!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks Fallon! So happy you loved it!
Sarah says
Everything was fantastic until I got to the ganache— I should’ve went with my gut and simply melted the chocolate because as the recipe is written the topping becomes a gloopy, sliding mess. I froze it for an hour before transporting in the pan, and it melted all over the place and looked terrible. Which is a shame because the base is so good! Either skip the ganache entirely or just use plain white chocolate to ensure it hardens.
Linda says
Sarah what brand of white chocolate chips did you use. Nestle Toll House white chips are bad for melting.
Claudia says
can you freeze it
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Claudia, no, you cannot due to the fresh whipped cream. As it would thaw it would deflate and weep.
Moel Kortney says
What white chips do you recommend? Thanks!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Moel, I love Ghirardelli brand!