Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Is The Good-for-You Way to Indulge—6 Easy, Creamy Recipes
Greek yogurt cuts the fat and calories, ups the protein and gives it irresistible flavor!
Picture this: a luscious, velvety cheesecake that melts in your mouth with each bite. You can practically taste it, right? Now imagine a lightened-up version of this classic dessert that’s every bit as decadent as the original. It’s a tasty dream come true thanks to Greek yogurt. In the First for Women test kitchen, we like to swap Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in cheesecake to lower the fat and calories while upping the protein. The results are so delicious, no one would guess the dessert got a good-for-you makeover. To taste for yourself, read on for our easy tips and tricks, then keep scrolling for the best-ever Greek yogurt cheesecake recipes.
Why use Greek yogurt in cheesecake
“Greek yogurt lightens up classic cheesecake,” says First for Women food editor Charles Grayauskie. “And at the same time, it adds a deliciously tangy note while making it even more creamy.” To make the swap, Charles recommends replacing equal amounts of sour cream with Greek yogurt. So if your recipe calls for one cup of sour cream, use one cup of Greek yogurt instead.
Using full-fat Greek yogurt will make your cheesecake extra rich. Just note that full-fat Greek yogurt can be slightly thicker than sour cream. If it’s too thick, consider adding a tablespoon of milk to the Greek yogurt and mixing until smooth before adding it to the batter.
You can also use 2 percent or even nonfat Greek yogurt in your recipe. Some light yogurt can actually be too thin, and if it’s watery, you’ll want to strain it before using. The easy fix: “Simply place the yogurt in a coffee filter set inside a strainer over a bowl,” says Charles. “Then let some of the liquid drain into the bowl.”
The benefits of Greek yogurt
Making cheesecake with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream is an easy way to bring down the calories and fat. Consider an average cheesecake that uses two cups of sour cream: Swap in 2 percent Greek yogurt and you’ll save 224 calories and almost 26 grams of fat. What’s more, you’ll double the protein content. (Learn the benefits of protein and how you can even make protein coffee to help with weight loss.)
6 Greek yogurt cheesecake recipes
Here are our favorite Greek yogurt cheesecakes from the First for Women test kitchen. Easy step-by-step instructions guarantee they turn out creamy and delicious. And we’ve even got cheesecake pudding cups if you want a quick treat. For even more fun, click through for a clever idea to turn your favorite recipe into trendy cheesecake on a stick.
1. Coconut-Crusted Key Lime Cheesecake
Our gluten-free wonder is almost guilt-free with Greek yogurt and low-fat cream cheese.
2. Strawberry Brownie Cheesecake
A drizzle of jam creates the shiny glaze on this fudgy delight.
3. Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Cups
Combining whipped cream with lightly sweetened Greek yogurt creates a decadent cheesecake-like filling with a fraction of the fat and calories.
4. Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake
Tangy cranberries, creamy cheesecake and rich chocolate come together in a dessert so decadently delicious, no one will ever guess it’s gluten-free.
5. Neapolitan Cheesecake
Greek yogurt blended with cream cheese is the secret to the tangy filling in this twist on an ice cream shop favorite.
6. Lemon Yogurt Cheesecake
This no-bake creamy dream is extra sweet atop a chocolate-almond crust.
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