Are you ready to sink your teeth into the ultimate carnivore delight? Say hello to the Carnivore Cheesecake - a dessert that’s so animal-based, it practically roars! This isn’t just any cheesecake; it’s a creamy, dreamy, and totally plant-free masterpiece that laughs in the face of sugar and embraces the unsweetened life. Imagine a dessert crafted entirely from the finest animal products, with not a single veggie in sight. If you’ve been missing dessert on Carnivore, Keto, or Animal-Based eating, this Carnivore Lemon Cheesecake is going to feel like cheating-without the carbs and sugar crash.
This article will walk you through crafting this decadent delight and share some amazing keto and carnivore variations to keep your taste buds thrilled.
What is Carnivore Cheesecake?
Carnivore cheesecake is a cheesecake made from animal-based ingredients like eggs, cream cheese, sour cream, butter, and heavy cream. It can be a zero-carb dessert to satisfy cravings without breaking the rules of the Carnivore Diet. This Carnivore dessert has no sugar or flour, is easy to make, gets ready in just about half an hour, can be easily customized, and is a lot yummier and creamier than traditional cheesecake.
Unlike Keto cheesecakes, which may include almond flour or artificial sweeteners, this Carnivore cheesecake recipe skips all plant ingredients and relies on dairy and eggs for natural sweetness and texture. Even if you are not on a zero-carb Carnivore, and follow low-carb versions like Relaxed Carnivore or Keto, you can tweak the recipe and add the ingredients allowed in your version of the diet.
Preparation Tips for the Perfect Carnivore Cheesecake
Before diving into recipes, keep these essential preparation tips in mind:
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- Always use room-temperature ingredients to prevent lumps. There is really no way to go wrong with this recipe except for maybe, not having all your ingredients at room temperature (chunky cheesecake anyone? yeah, don’t do that).
- Don’t overmix because too much air causes cracks.
- Let the baked cheesecake cool slowly in the oven with the door slightly open.
- Chill for 4-6 hours or overnight to get the best result. Don’t skip the chill time. Cheesecake flavor deepens as it rests.
- Use a water bath (for baked version) to ensure it cooks evenly.
Carnivore Cheesecake Recipes
Let’s explore three delicious versions of carnivore cheesecake: baked, no-bake, and mini.
Carnivore Diet Creamy Cheesecake (Baked)
This Carnivore cheesecake can be prepared and baked in less than an hour, but chilling takes some hours, so the total time can amount to 7 hours. This recipe makes 8 servings.
Ingredients:
- 450 g (16 oz.) cream cheese
- 3 eggs
- 90 g (6 tbsp) butter
- 60 ml (¼ cup) heavy cream
- A pinch of salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract, or 1 tsp lemon zest (Optional, for Keto or Relaxed Carnivore)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F). Crank up your oven to 300 °F (150 °C). It’s cheesecake time!
- Line a pan with parchment paper.
- Beat cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Place the cream cheese in a mixer bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Melt butter and add it to the cream cheese. Mix gently.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add cream (and vanilla or lemon if using). Mix until smooth but not fluffy. Add the sour cream and mix until smooth. Don't overmix. Mix in 4 oz (115 g) of full-fat sour cream until smooth.
- Pour batter into the pan and place it in a water bath (pan inside a larger pan with hot water halfway up). Pour the batter into the greased springform pan. Level the surface with a spatula. Place a shallow, oven-proof bowl on the lowest oven rack. Carefully fill it three-quarters full with boiling water. Pop the springform pan with the cheesecake batter onto the middle oven rack.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the edges are firm, but the center of the cake is still wobbly. Bake for 45 minutes. The edges should be firm, but the center should still have a little wiggle - like it’s dancing the cha-cha-cha (not the Finnish song for the Eurovision Song Contest, though!).
- Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar, and let the cheesecake rest for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, but do not open the oven door. Let the cake sit in the oven for 1 hour. Turn off the oven, but don’t open the door. Let the cake chill in there for 1 hour.
- Cool completely, then chill in the fridge for about 6 hours before serving. After 1 hour, remove the cake and let it cool to room temperature. After an hour, take the cake out and let it cool to room temperature for a more relaxing time and again, preventing cracks. Then, give it a nice long nap in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight.
Optional Toppings (for Relaxed Carnivore or Keto):
- Whipped heavy cream
- A drizzle of melted butter mixed with vanilla
- Crushed crispy bacon
- Bring your Carnivore Cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. It’s ready for its grand debut. Serve with whipped cream - and maybe some crushed pork rinds for that extra crunch. Slice, serve, and savor every creamy, carnivorous bite.
Nutrition Per Serving:
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Fat: 34 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.6 g (from dairy)
Nutrition of Whole Cheesecake:
- Calories: 1840 kcal
- Fat: 272 g
- Protein: 80 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g (from dairy)
No-Bake Carnivore Cheesecake
Craving a dessert that’s easier to make than finding a matching pair of socks? Say hello to the No-Bake Carnivore Cheesecake - a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth marvel that’s entirely animal-based. You can make 4 servings of this no-bake Carnivore cheesecake using the following ingredients and instructions. The preparation time takes about 10 minutes, and the chill time is about 2-3 hours.
Ingredients:
- 200 g (7 oz.) cream cheese
- 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp) heavy cream
- 50 g (3 tbsp) butter
- 1 egg yolk
- A pinch of salt
- A few drops of vanilla or lemon juice (Optional, for Keto or Relaxed Carnivore)
Instructions:
- Line the bottom of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan with parchment paper.
- Whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Set aside. …until stiff peaks form. You want it to stand tall and proud.
- Beat the cream cheese with the electric mixer until fluffy, about 5 minutes. …until it’s as fluffy as a cloud, about 5 minutes.
- Beat cream cheese and softened butter in a bowl until smooth. Add yolk and salt and mix well. Add yolk and salt and mix well.
- Add whipped cream gently and mix until fluffy. Gently fold in the whipped cream with a spatula. Mix carefully like you’re handling a delicate piece of art. Finally, fold in the heavy cream and mix carefully with a spatula until well mixed. Try to retain as much fluffiness as you can.
- Spoon the mixture into ramekins or small jars. Transfer the mixture to the springform pan. Level the surface with a spatula.
- Chill for 2-3 hours before serving. Cover with plastic wrap and let it take a long nap in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Important Note: Avoid freezing this Carnivore cheesecake because it can ruin the mousse-like texture.
Nutrition Per Serving:
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Fat: 33 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.5 g
Nutrition of Whole Recipe:
- Calories: 1400 kcal
- Fat: 132 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
Single-Serve Mini Cheesecake
This Carnivore cheesecake recipe gives you a perfect single-portion quick dessert or fat bomb. To make a serving of this mini Carnivore cheesecake, you need 5 minutes of prep time, about 15-20 minutes of bake time (or 1.5 minutes in a microwave), and about an hour of chill time. If you use the oven, the cheesecake gets creamy and dense. But if you use a microwave, it will be ready faster, and the cake will be slightly airy and soft.
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Ingredients:
- 90 g (3 oz.) cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- A pinch of vanilla (Optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F).
- Whisk everything in a small bowl until smooth.
- Pour into a greased ramekin or mug. Generously grease an 8-inch (20 cm) springform pan with softened butter.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Place the springform pan with the cheesecake batter on the middle oven rack.
- Chill for 1 hour before eating.
Nutrition Per Serving:
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Fat: 31 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.6 g
Carnivore Cheesecake Variations
You can tweak the above recipes based on your taste, especially if you like experimenting and hands-on experiences. Just remember to include only the ingredients allowed in your diet.
- Lemon Cheesecake: Add 1 tsp lemon zest to the recipe and make a light, refreshing, and tangy cheesecake.
- Salted Caramel: Add butter and reduce cream to create a sweet taste without adding sugar.
- Savory Cheesecake: Add smoked cheese and bacon bits to create a savory taste and serve it as an appetizer.
- Chocolate Cheesecake: Add unsweetened cocoa powder to the above recipe. Add 1 tsp cocoa to make a cheesecake with a deep flavor, without too much sweetness.
- Crust Cheesecake: To have a Carnivore cheesecake with a richer texture and crust, add crushed pork rinds and butter.
Crust Options
While the basic oven-baked Carnivore Cheesecake is crustless, you can get creative with some animal-based crust ideas:
- Crush pork rinds into fine crumbs and mix with a small amount of melted butter.
- Create a lattice with strips of bacon and bake until crispy (I’ve made a how-to video on how to make a bacon weave). Use this crispy bacon weave as a base for your cheesecake. Cut it to the shape and place it in the bottom of the springform pan.
Sweetener Options (for Relaxed Carnivore or Keto)
- Allulose is a natural sweetener that tastes remarkably like sugar but without energy. Use it in a 1:1 ratio as a sugar replacement.
- Erythritol is another popular low-carb sweetener. Use powdered erythritol to avoid any graininess in your cheesecake.
- Stevia is a high-intensity sweetener, so a little goes a long way. Use liquid stevia drops or powdered stevia, but be cautious with the amount. Start with a few drops or a tiny pinch and adjust according to your sweetness preference.
- Monk fruit (luo han guo) sweetener is another great low-carb option. It’s often mixed with erythritol to balance its intense sweetness, however, I prefer monk fruit drops that are super sweet, so a little goes a long way.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Carnivore Cheesecake
- Use a metal pan for even baking because glass can overcook the edges.
- Line the bottom with parchment so it releases cleanly.
- If cracks appear, cover with whipped cream. But next time, reduce the oven temperature.
- For a fluffier texture, separate eggs and whip whites before adding.
- To remove the cake from the springform pan, place the sides of the pan under running hot water for a brief moment. To remove the cake from the springform pan, place the sides of the pan under running hot water for a short moment. Be careful not to let the water inside the pan.
Common Questions About Carnivore Cheesecake
Is Dairy Allowed on the Carnivore Diet?
Most carnivores allow full-fat dairy like cheese and cream, but avoid plant-based additives. If you are on a zero-carb Carnivore, use only eggs and butter.
Can I Make a Carnivore Cheesecake without Cream Cheese?
Yes, you can use mascarpone or even strained yogurt, but it changes the flavor and macros.
Can I Freeze Carnivore Cheesecake?
You can, but it is best served fresh. If freezing, wrap tightly and thaw slowly in the fridge. Please remember to avoid freezing this Carnivore cheesecake because it can ruin the mousse-like texture.Freeze your cheesecake in the springform pan for at least 8 hours. Remove from the freezer, remove from the springform pan as directed in the recipe box above, and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy your carnivore cheesecake ice cream!
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Why Did My Cheesecake Crack?
Cheesecake usually cracks from overbaking or overmixing.
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