This easy cheesecake pie recipe delivers creamy cheesecake flavor in a simple graham cracker crust—no water bath or springform pan required! Perfect for beginners, it’s a quick homemade cheesecake alternative ready in under an hour of baking. Top with berries, caramel, or whipped cream.

Craving the rich, tangy bliss of a classic cheesecake recipe but short on time or intimidated by water baths and springform pans? This easy cheesecake pie recipe is your new go-to! It’s a homemade cheesecake in pie form—silky smooth, baked in a buttery graham cracker crust, and ready with just 5 simple ingredients. No fancy equipment, no cracking disasters, just pure cheesecake heaven in under 45 minutes of active time.

Why choose cheesecake pie over a traditional cheesecake? It’s quicker (bake time: 25-30 minutes vs. 1+ hour), serves 8 in easy slices, and feels indulgent without the hassle. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or weeknight treats, this no-fail recipe has been a family favorite since 2010. Top it with fresh strawberries for summer vibes or warm caramel for fall or sugared cranberries for the holidays—endless options!

If you’re new to cheesecake recipes, this pie is the ideal starter: creamy like New York-style but pie-pan simple. (Pro tip: It’s make-ahead magic—chill overnight for even better texture.) Ready to bake? Let’s dive in.

Cheesecake is always a well-loved dessert and this cheesecake pie recipe is perfect for both beginning and expert bakers. Made from scratch with five simple ingredients and baked in a graham cracker crust, it makes a beautiful, delicious make-ahead dessert any time of year.

Why Cheesecake Pie is the Best Easy Cheesecake Recipe

Cheesecake lovers, listen up: While a towering New York cheesecake is iconic, it demands precision (hello, water bath woes!). Enter cheesecake pie—a streamlined cheesecake recipe that’s 80% of the flavor with 20% of the effort.

Why This Cheesecake Pie Recipe Beats Traditional Cheesecake

• Creamy & Tangy Perfection: Full-fat cream cheese and sour cream create that signature cheesecake tang, minus the dense heft.
• No Water Bath, No Stress: Bake low and slow at 325°F—edges set, center jiggles just right. Say goodbye to leaks and cracks.
• Versatile for Any Craving: Plain for purists, or amp it up with your favorite mix-ins and toppings.
• Beginner-Proof: One-bowl mixing, room-temp ingredients ensure smoothness every time.

Compared to full traditional cheesecakes, this pie serves smaller crowds without leftovers overload. It’s the ultimate “cheesecake recipe for beginners”—proving you don’t need pro skills for pro results.

Feature	Traditional Cheesecake	This Cheesecake Pie
Bake Time	60-90 min + water bath	25-30 min, no bath
Pan Needed	Springform	Standard pie plate
Ingredients	8+ (incl. heavy cream)	6 simple staples
Difficulty	Intermediate	Beginner
Yield	12-16 slices	8 pie-sized portions

How to Make Cheesecake Pie Recipe

Ingredients for the Best Cheesecake Pie Recipe

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

• Graham cracker crust – I love to use my homemade graham cracker crust. You can also use a store-bought crust.
• Cream cheese – You will need your cream cheese to be softened.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar is used in this recipe.
• Eggs – Use room-temperature eggs.
• Vanilla extract – Adds excellent flavor to this pie recipe.
• Sour cream – Adds to the creamy texture and gives the pie a slightly tangy flavor.

Substitutions for Your Custom Cheesecake Pie

Higher Protein: Greek yogurt generally has more protein than sour cream. Substitute an equal amount Greek yogurt.

Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free ingredients, like Partake graham crackers for a gluten free cheesecake pie.

Keto: Use keto sugar substitutes as directed on the packages. Use your favorite keto pie crust. I love this almond flour pie crust – adjust as needed.

Step by Step Cheesecake Pie Instructions

Make the Graham Cracker Crust

Make the crust. Prepare the graham cracker crust according to the recipe directions and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 325º F.

Whip Up the Creamy Cheesecake Filling

Make the cheesecake filling. You can combine the ingredients for the pie filling in multiple ways. You can use a hand mixer, stand mixer, food processor, or mix by hand. Add the softened cream cheese, sugar, room-temperature eggs, vanilla extract, and sour cream to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a food processor. Using the lowest speed possible to avoid incorporating air into the mixture, combine the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Beat on low to avoid air bubbles—key for that dense, non-cakey cheesecake texture.

Bake the pie. Pour the cheesecake filling into the prebaked pie crust and bake until the center is almost set. Remove from the oven and cool for an hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5 hours before slicing and serving.

Serve it Up!

Serve. The pie is delicious plain or topped with your favorite topping. See a list of some of our favorite topping options below. The possibilities are endless! Tip: Slice cold for clean cuts.

Cheesecake Pie Toppings & Variations

12+ Cheesecake Pie Topping Ideas for Endless Flavor

Elevate your cheesecake pie recipe with these ideas—turning one base into over a dozen desserts:

1. Classic Strawberry Cheesecake Pie: Fresh berries + whipped cream (5-min add-on).
2. Chocolate Lovers’ Delight: Swirl in ½ cup melted chocolate; top with ganache.
3. Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie: Top with salted caramel sauce.
4. Cranberry Cheesecake Pie: Top with whipped cream and sugared cranberries.
5. Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Pie: Add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (fall must!).
6. Very Berry Cheesecake Pie: Top with Triple Berry Sauce before serving.
7. Turtle Cheesecake Pie: Top with cooled caramel sauce, cooled chocolate ganache and toasted and cooled pecans once the cheesecake pie has cooled completely.
8. Strawberry Puree: Top with fresh strawberry puree.
9. Fresh Fruit: Top your cheesecake pie with your favorite fresh fruit such as berries. (5-min add-on)
10. Cherry Cheesecake Pie: Top with homemade cherry pie filling or store-bought.
11. Raspberry Cheesecake Pie: Heat raspberry preserves a few seconds at a time in the microwave and stir until slightly thinned. Spoon on top of the cheesecake as you serve it. Top with fresh raspberries.
12. Thin Mint Cheesecake Pie: Crush thin mint cookies and sprinkle on top of the pie. Then, drizzle with chocolate syrup.
13. Oreo Cheesecake Pie: Crush Oreo cookies and sprinkle on top; drizzle with chocolate syrup.
14. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Pie: Top cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries and drizzle each slice with chocolate syrup.
15. Apple Pie Cheesecake Pie: Top the cheesecake with fried apples and a sprinkle of apple pie spice.

Storage Tips

Leftovers. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Make Ahead. Store in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours and up to 5 days.

Freeze. Make the pie in a freezer-safe pie pan and wrap it well with a freezer-safe wrap topped with foil. Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Revive Cold Slices: Microwave 5-7 seconds for a soft-serve slice of cheesecake pie.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cheesecake-Inspired Recipes

• Oreo Cheesecake
• Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake
• Mini New York Cheesecakes

Here’s my easy cheesecake pie recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Enjoy!
Robyn xo