Making cheesecake in your Instant Pot is so simple, and this creamy, tart lemon cheesecake comes out perfect every time.
Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake is a silky smooth explosion of flavor.
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If you’ve shied away from making cheesecake because you thought it was too difficult, think again!
I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first discovered that people were making cheesecake in their Instant Pot. But it turns out that the warm, moist, high-pressure environment is just right for making a luscious cheesecake that comes out perfect every time.
Springtime desserts should be bright, cool and creamy. I knew it was time to come up with a lemon cheesecake recipe that could be made in my Instant Pot. It would be just the thing to serve all spring and maybe into the summer.
I’m a sucker for lemon desserts, and that leaves me wondering how many times I can make this lemon cheesecake before my family gets tired of it.
More Lemon Dessert Recipes:
- Lemon Pudding Crinkle Cookies
- Lemon Ice Cream
- Instant Pot Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
- Easy Lemon Cobbler
- Lemon Bundt Cake (From a Mix)
- Lemon Curd Bread
- Easy Lemon Curd Cookies
- Lemon Syrup Cake
- Moist Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake
Making Desserts in Your Instant Pot
I’m no stranger to making desserts in my Instant Pot, so it’s not too farfetched that I began dreaming about an Instant Pot recipe for lemon cheesecake.
My Instant Pot Pecan Pie and Instant Pot Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites are always a big hit in the fall, but as I watch the flowers start to bloom, I’m moving onto brighter flavors – with lemon being a favorite!
I decided to look back on one of my favorite fall desserts. I swapped out ginger snaps for graham crackers and pumpkin and warm spices for lemon juice and sour cream.
This is a springtime version of a favorite fall dessert, Instant Pot pumpkin cheesecake and the result is absolutely decadent.
The lemon flavor is not too overpowering–it’s just the right hint of citrus in a cool and creamy cheesecake.
A little bit of lemon trivia for you–do you know if a lemon is considered a fruit or a vegetable? <–Read to find out!
How to Make Pressure Cooker Lemon Cheesecake
It’s really easy to make Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Brown sugar
- Butter, melted
- Cream cheese
- Granulated sugar
- Sour cream
- Vanilla extract
- Lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Eggs
How to Make It:
(Full printable recipe is available below)
Perpare the Crust. First you’ll mix the crust ingredients and press them into a 7-inch springform cheesecake pan. You can opt to pre-bake the crust for 12-15 minutes but it’s not neccessary.
Make the Filling. Next you’ll use an electric mixer to blend the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add in the remaining ingredients one at a time, being careful not to overmix once you add the eggs.
Cook the Cheesecake. Then, you’ll pour water into the Instant Pot and set the trivet in place. Add the batter into the prepared crust.
Lower the cheesecake pan onto a trivet in the Instant Pot. Cook at high pressure for 22 minutes followed by a natural pressure release.
Cool and Serve. Last, cool the cheesecake on the counter for about an hour before transferring to the fridge for at least 4-6 hours. Serve with whipped cream and a lemon garnish, if desired.
Notes and Adaptations:
- Allow your cream cheese, sour cream and eggs to come to room temperature. This will help everything to blend well so you have a silky smooth cheesecake.
- Baking the crust is an optional step. I do think the crust tends to hold together a little bit better when baked, but if you don’t have time or access to an oven, it will still turn out completely fine without being baked.
- In the past, I have covered my cheesecake pans with foil when pressure cooking, but after further testing I’ve found that it isn’t really necessary, so I don’t do that anymore. I just dab extra moisture off the top with a paper towel. But you can cover it if desired–I’d recommend adding 2 minutes to the cook time in that case.
- If you have separate sealing rings for sweet and savory dishes in your Instant Pot, don’t forget to swap in the silicone ring for sweets–especially if you aren’t covering your pan with foil (nobody wants a cheesecake that tastes like last night’s chili!).
- There are plenty of garnish ideas for this cheesecake–in addition to the simplicity of whipped cream, you could add a blueberry compote, some raspberry or strawberry sauce, or even some lemon curd. Yum!
Recommended Equipment:
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
- Cheesecake pan that fits in your Instant Pot – I use this 7″ Fat Daddio pan
Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake
Lemon lovers rejoice--this easy Instant Pot lemon cheesecake is a cool and creamy treat--perfect for spring and summer!
Ingredients
- For the Crust:
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- 3 TBSP butter, melted
- For the Filling:
- 2 (8-oz) blocks of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 TBSP fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp grated lemon zest
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
Instructions
- To prepare the crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and melted butter in a small mixing bowl. Stir until evenly moistened.
- Spray a 7-inch cheesecake pan with cooking spray, then press the crumb mixture into the bottom of the pan and about an inch up the sides.
- Optional: If you want to bake the crust, pop it in a 325F oven for about 12-15 minutes.
- To make the filling, add cream cheese to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese on low speed until smooth.
- Add the sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
- Add sour cream, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat on low speed until combined and smooth.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition just until combined. Do not overbeat.
- Pour filling into prepared crust.
- Add 1 cup of water to the insert pot of the Instant Pot and lower the pan onto the trivet (using a foil sling if needed). Close the lid and set the vent to the sealed position.
- Select a cook time of 22 minutes at high pressure. Once the cook time is complete, allow a natural release of pressure.
- After the pressure has released and the valve has dropped, carefully remove the lid. Use the edge of a paper towel to wick up any condensation on the top of the cheesecake.
- Allow to cool at room temperature for at least an hour, then transfer it to the refrigerator to chill for at least 4-6 hours. Remove from pan and serve with whipped cream.
Notes
- Baking the crust is an optional step. I do think the crust tends to hold together a little bit better when baked, but if you don't have time or access to an oven, it will still turn out completely fine without being baked.
- In the past, I have covered my cheesecake pans with foil when pressure cooking, but after further testing I've found that it isn't really necessary, so I don't do that anymore. I just dab extra moisture off the top with a paper towel. But you can cover it if desired--I'd recommend adding 2 minutes to the cook time.
- If you have separate sealing rings for sweet and savory dishes in your Instant Pot, don't forget to swap in the silicone ring for sweets--especially if you aren't covering your pan with foil.
- There are plenty of garnish ideas for this cheesecake--in addition to the simplicity of whipped cream, you could add a blueberry compote, some raspberry or strawberry sauce, or even some lemon curd. Yum!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 0gSugar: 18gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.
22 minutes is not the correct cooking time. My cheesecake came out mushy and runny even after chilled. Disappointed I am not new to the instant pot process for cheesecake.
Hi Lori! I’m sorry yours came out runny–mine was fully cooked after 22 minutes. I use an aluminum pan that heats quickly, and I don’t cover with foil. If you’re using a thicker pan of a different material, it may conduct heat slower and require more time (same if you’re covering with foil). If it’s undercooked, feel free to add some more cook time as needed. If you have a standard time that works well for your cheesecakes, it’s fine to use that! 🙂
Will this recipe overfill a 6” springform pan? What about the cook time? I’m looking forward to trying this! I love lemon!
Hi Peri! I haven’t tried it in a 6″ pan, so I can’t say for sure. The depth of the pan would be important for ensuring it isn’t overfilled. The cooking time would definitely be longer, as the filling will be deeper in a 6″ pan. I’d recommend trying maybe a 27 minute cook time, followed by a natural release. Hope that helps! 🙂