If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you might have spotted a surprisingly tasty new trend doing the rounds: two-ingredient yogurt cheesecake. And yes—it really is as simple as it sounds.
To make the viral dessert, all you need is a thick yogurt and a handful of cookies. Simply layer the cookies with the yogurt, then leave the mixture in the fridge to set for a few hours or overnight. According to Lisa Kitahara, who shared the dessert on her recipe blog Okonomi Kitchen, the cookies add a bit of crunch while also absorbing moisture from the yogurt, giving it a firmer, cheesecake-like texture.
Kitahara says the idea is similar to a Japanese rare cheesecake, a type of no-bake cheesecake often made with yogurt. The result is a creamier texture with a slightly tangy flavor.
Okonomi Kitchen
Recipe blogger Snejana Andreeva has also experimented with the trend. “I genuinely thought the internet had gone too far,” she wrote on her blog The Modern Nonna. “But after seeing variation after variation, I realized—this could actually work! The tangy yogurt balances the sweetness of the cookies, and the two ingredients come together to create a creamy, perfectly spoonable, cheesecake-like texture.”
But is it possible to make this viral dessert vegan? The answer, you’ll be pleased to know, is a big fat yes. Here’s what you need to know.
How to make the viral Greek yogurt cheesecake vegan
With just a few easy swaps, it’s easy to make the viral yogurt cheesecake vegan. Follow these tips and try it yourself.
Kite Hill
1 Go for the thickest, tangiest yogurt you can find
According to Kitahara, the key to making the best vegan yogurt cheesecake is choosing a really thick yogurt. “Choose a thick one that you enjoy the flavor of,” she writes on her blog. “Coconut yogurt works well, but may be slightly looser.” Others say the best yogurts for the viral dessert have a little tang.
Andreeva agrees that vegan yogurt works well, but only if it’s thick. “Alternatively, you could strain it in a cheesecloth to thicken it up before layering in the cookies,” she explains on her blog.
You can find out some of our favorite vegan yogurt options in our guide here, but for Greek yogurt, some of the best brands to look out for include Kite Hill and Forager Project.
Treeline
2 Mix in some vegan cream cheese for a better texture
Another way to get a more cheesecake-like texture is to mix a little vegan cream cheese into the yogurt. “It gives the dessert a richer, more real cheesecake texture,” writes Kitahara.
Some of our go-to vegan cream cheese brands include Kite Hill, Tofutti, Daiya, and Treeline. Make sure to go for a plain or fruity flavor (savory options like chive or onion probably won’t work here, but hey, we don’t make the rules).
Lotus Biscoff
3 Experiment with a few different cookies to find your favorite
The other key ingredient in this viral dessert is, of course, the cookie. There are a few vegan-friendly options you can choose from. Kitahara and Andreeva both use Biscoff, but Andreeva notes, “You could use any shortbread cookie with similar results.”
Others have tried the creamy dessert with Oreos, and graham crackers are another popular choice. Note that some Graham crackers contain honey, but brands like Partake Foods and Nabisco offer vegan options.
Canva
4 Change the flavor with syrups and nut butters
Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, it’s time to get creative. Kitahara suggests adding a bit of cocoa powder for a tiramisu-inspired twist, and nut butters are another easy upgrade.
For ideas, you can find some of our favorite nut butters here, but other recommendations include Octonuts Creamy Cashew Butter or Wilderness Poets’ Pistachio Butter.
Pexels
5 A little fruity goodness goes a long way
Another simple way to level up the dessert is by mixing in fresh fruit, such as blueberries or strawberries. Andreeva also suggests combining vanilla wafers with sliced banana to create a banana pudding-style version.
Simple, flexible, and endlessly customizable, this viral dessert is easy to make your own.
Viral Two-Ingredient Yogurt Cheesecake
What You Need:
2 cups thick, vegan Greek yogurt
2½ tablespoons vegan cream cheese, optional
2 tablespoons fruit syrup or nut butter, optional
12 Biscoff cookies or other vegan cookie
¼ cup chopped fruit of choice, optional
What You Do:
1. In a medium glass bowl or container with lid, add Greek yogurt. Combine with cream cheese if using. Once combined, add fruit syrup or nut butter if using.
2. Insert Biscoff cookies upright into yogurt mixture.
3. Refrigerate overnight or at least five hours. Once set, top with chopped fruit.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
