Lime Cheesecake is creamy, tangy, fast and easy when made in the Instant Pot. It cooks in 30 minutes and cools in 2 hours! No cracking as with baked cheesecake. Also included are my tried-and-tested TIPS for making the BEST Instant Pot Cheesecake!
I have had a secret desire with my Instant Pot that has remained unfulfilled until now: I wanted to make an Instant Pot Cheesecake. I've been a cheesecake fiend since I was a child and though I don't eat it often, I loved the idea of being able to make it in the Instant Pot more quickly than traditional recipes.
I noticed recipes on Pinterest for cheesecake made in the Instant Pot but never paid much mind to them. After reviewing the 'I Love My Instant Pot' Recipe Book last year my interest was piqued again reading the dessert recipe section.
I was so excited to make an Instant Pot Lime Cheesecake which seemed the perfect confection to take the edge of our bitterly cold winter weather. It is very easy to make and without the fussy steps of cracking the oven and several exotic steps of cooling to prevent the dreaded cracking of the top surface.
TIPS for Making the BEST Instant Pot Cheesecake
I did a lot of research and made this cheesecake multiple times to try out some techniques to create the best Instant Pot cheesecake. Here are the key tips I found to work well:
- Ensure the cream cheese and eggs are at room temperature. The cream cheese can be taken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before making the recipe OR softened in the microwave on the soften function. This ensures a creamy lump-free batter.
- When adding the eggs, add them one at a time and don't overmix the batter afterwards to avoid mixing in more air. This will bubble up when the cheesecake cooks making a bumpy surface and potential air pockets in the cheesecake.
- Once the cheesecake is ready to be put in the Instant Pot, tap the bottom on the countertop multiple times to release any air bubbles. This will keep the consistency creamy, hole-free and make the top smoother.
- Adding a paper towel on top of the cheesecake lightly secured with a piece of foil helps limit condensation forming on the top of the cheesecake which makes it bumpy. When removing the cheesecake after cooking, dab up any water that is on top of the FOIL with a paper towel to avoid it dripping onto the top of the cheesecake when it is removed.
- Create a homemade FOIL SLING to lower the cheesecake into the Instant Pot insert and more importantly, to easily lift it out more safely after cooking (the steam can burn). Instructions in the recipe instructions.
- If there is condensation on the top of the cheesecake itself after cooking, lightly dab up the water with a paper towel. Even when using Tip #4, some condensation will be present on the surface of the cheesecake.
- When putting the cheesecake in the refrigerator to fully cool (after cooling briefly at room temperature), if covering it with plastic wrap (or foil) or in a container leave the covering or lid ajar to allow condensation to escape.
Gluten-Free vs. Gluten Vanilla Wafer Crust
The key difference when making recipes that are gluten-free vs gluten using cookie crumbs is the absorbency. Gluten-free crumbs are less absorbent so using more of the crumbs to the amount of melted butter in making the crust is necessary.
Because I'm gluten-free I must adapt to a gluten recipe for those using regular cookie crumbs! Gluten vanilla wafers are also larger than most gluten-free counterparts so fewer are suggested for the same amount of melted butter. Make sense? It's all in the recipe instructions.
How to Make Instant Pot Lime Cheesecake - Step by Step:
Before making lime cheesecake in the Instant Pot a 7-inch springform pan is needed. I bought one from Amazon specifically for the Instant Pot that has a glass bottom and soft silicon sides and it worked great. Any springform pan the correct size should be fine.
The vanilla wafers are pulsed in a mini chopper or food processer into crumbs. The melted butter is drizzled in to create a moist sand-like consistency. The crumbs are added to the springform pan, which as been buttered/greased, and pressed into a crust. A piece of foil is wrapped around the bottom and sides (exterior) to seal.
CRUST- FLATTENING TIP: I used the bottom of a small saucepan to flatten the crust (cover the bottom of the pan with plastic wrap if it's dirty). A tart tamper or meat pounder may also be used.
In a food processor the softened cream cheese, sour cream and sugar are pulsed to a smooth consistency (a mixer can also be used). Eggs, lime juice, lime zest, vanilla extract are slowly added to the mixture and blended in. The filling is poured into the prepared pan.
Water is poured into the Instant Pot insert, the trivet placed in the bottom and the cheesecake on top of the trivet. It is cooked on high pressure, manual setting for 30 minutes, allowed to cool for 10 minutes then chilled for 2 hours until fully set.
Difference between traditional Cheesecake and Instant Pot Cheesecake
The Instant Pot lime cheesecake is smaller than most traditional cheesecakes being limited by the internal dimensions of the Instant Pot. It does not crack as is possible with traditionally baked cheesecakes.
TIP: Both cheesecakes can have air bubbles rise during cooking leaving the top surface not completely smooth. If you follow my suggested Best Tips and still find the surface isn’t smooth, add a layer of whipped cream to the top.
Does the Instant Pot Cheesecake Taste Different than Traditional Baked Cheesecake?
No! It's creamy and tangy with the flavor of lime. I was relieve the Instant Pot version is smaller as my will power was tested after the first irresistible bite!
Mind-Blowing Instant Pot Tips You Need to Know!
After developing Instant Pot recipes for the past few years, I’ve uncovered some unexpected, useful tips I think you’ll want to know!
Sign-Up below and I’ll tell you all my Instant Pot secrets!
More Easy Instant Pot You'll Love:
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Recipe
Instant Pot Lime Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Unsalted Butter to grease pan
If making a GLUTEN-FREE CRUST:
- 25 Gluten-Free Vanilla Wafer cookies I used Kinnikinnick brand
- 2 1/2 tablespoons melted Unsalted Butter
If making a GLUTEN CRUST:
- 20 Vanilla Wafer cookies
- 2 1/2 tablespoons melted Unsalted Butter
Ingredients for Lime Cheesecake filling:
- 12 ounces Cream Cheese room temperature or softened
- 2 tablespoons Sour Cream
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- Zest of 2 large Limes
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice preferably freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 large Eggs room temperature
SUPPLIES:
- 1 7-inch Springform Pan
- Foil
- Optional topping: whipped cream, lime slices
- Food Processor
- 6-quart Instant Pot multi-cooker
Instructions
- Butter/grease a 7-inch springform pan.
Making the Crust:
- Add the vanilla wafers to a food processor and pulse into crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse to combine. NOTE: the mixture should be the consistency of sand and when pressed stick together.
- Pour into prepared pan and press down (tip: using the bottom of a small saucepan works well). Cover the bottom and outsides of the pan with a piece of foil to help the bottom stay sealed.
Making the Filling:
- In a food processor with a clean bowl or using a mixer, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and sugar. Process/mix until smooth.
- Add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla extract and one of the eggs; pulse just to mix together. Add the second egg, pulse until combined, scrape the bowl and pulse just until smooth. NOTE: do not overmix once the eggs have been added.
- Spoon the filling into the prepared pan.
Cooking the Lime Cheesecake in the Instant Pot:
- Add a paper towel over the top of the pan ensuring it is taut. Cover loosely with a piece of foil to hold it in place; do not seal the top. Pour 2 cups of water into the Instant Pot insert. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot.
- CREATING A FOIL SLING: Create a foil sling using a 20-inch peice of foil folded in thirds vertically. Center the pan on the middle of the sling and lower it into the Instant Pot onto the trivet. Fold the ends of the sling over as needed to allow locking the Instant Pot lid, keeping them pressed outward to the walls of the Instant Pot insert; do not fold them onto the top of the pan.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid and move the vent to the SEALING position. Select ‘Manual’, ‘High Pressure’ and set the timer to 30 minutes. When the cooking is done, do a Quick Release and carefully lift the pan out of the Instant Pot using the foil sling.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool at room temperature for 10 minutes then transfer to the refrigerator to fully cool, at least 2 hours or overnight (it will become firm during this time). Release the sides of the pan and serve.
Rosey says
What a good idea to make the homemade sling. I’d have not thought to make a cheesecake in an instant pot, but really, yum!
Kiwi says
This look delicious. Sounds like a cheesecake variation of keylime pie.
Tara says
I sure do love a good cheesecake. This looks simply delish. Thanks for the tips too.
Claudia Krusch says
It looks amazing! I’ve never been able to make a good cheesecake, but yours looks like something I could make! Can’t wait to try it!
Theresa says
An instant pot cheesecake you say? I had no idea that you could make one in the instant pot, and even better it can be made without surface cracking. This is a must try recipe for sure!
Lisa Favre says
I think it’s about time I start using an Instant Pot! The fact that you can make dessert in it baffles me but I’d definitely love to give it a go. Also, lime cheesecake is just about what I need right now.
Kelly Reci says
I am just so impressed with what the Instant Pot is capable of making. I am so craving this cheesecake now!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Amazing! I never thought you can even make cheesecake in an Instant Pot! I guess there are still a lot of recipes to learn using my INstant Post. This may soon turn out to be my most favorite small appliance.
Jeanette says
I love my instant pot. I have not attempted trying to desert in there yet but I am definitely going to. Our family loves cheesecake this would be in easy way to do it and I know it would taste great.
Stacie says
I think we can all agree at this point that the Instant Pot is truly the greatest kitchen gadget ever invented. I use mine all the time, but I had no idea I cold make a cheesecake with it. WOOT!
Toni Dash says
Yes we definitely agree on that! I too was thrilled at the prospect but wasn’t sure if it would really turn out ‘normal’. It not only does but is so much easier than traditionally made cheesecake (albeit smaller).