Gluten-Free Lemon Cheesecake

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Team Verywell Fit
VW Fit Team
Team Verywell Fit

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Updated on August 21, 2021
low-carb lemon cheesecake

Carl Tremblay / Getty Images
Total Time: 90 min
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 70 min
Servings: 16

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

222 calories
11g fat
25g carbs
8g protein
Show Nutrition Label Hide Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving  
Calories 222
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 222mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 23g  
Includes 17g Added Sugars 34%
Protein 8g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 97mg 7%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 193mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

With the acidity and tartness of fresh lemon cutting through the richness of cream cheese, this lemon cheesecake is the perfect balance of bright and creamy. This recipe is sweetened with honey and uses an almond meal crust. The result is not only delicious but also gluten free, yet it tastes and feels just like the real thing. We lower the temperature a bit from traditional cheesecake recipes because honey browns a little faster than refined sugar.

Lemons, a key ingredient in this recipe, are loaded with healthy vitamin C, which has been connected to improving cardiovascular health. The citrus fruit also boasts weight loss benefits, as well as gut health advantages.

Ingredients

  • For the Crust:
  • 1 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped finely
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • For the Filling:
  • 1 1/2 pounds (3 packages) light cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh is best)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • For the Topping:
  • 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • Juice and zest from 1 medium lemon (about 2 tablespoons juice and 1 tablespoon zest)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 350F.

  2. Prepare a springform pan by placing a piece of parchment paper over the bottom of the pan. (You don't need to cut it to size, just snap it into place when you tighten the sides of the pan.) Butter the sides and bottom of the pan, including the parchment paper. Wrap the outside of the pan in heavy-duty foil to protect it from leaks.

  3. In a food processor, mix together the ingredients for the crust. Press the mixture into the bottom of your springform pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until fragrant and beginning to brown. Remove from oven.

  4. Lower the oven temperature to 325F.

  5. In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl and paddle. 

  6. Add honey, vanilla, salt, and two of the eggs to cream cheese. Beat well, then scrape the sides of the bowl.

  7. Add the remaining two eggs. Beat well and scrape.

  8. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and Greek yogurt. Beat well, scrape, and pour filling mixture over the pre-baked crust.

  9. Place a baking pan large enough to hold your springform pan into the oven and fill it halfway with boiling water. Place the springform pan into the baking pan and bake for about 60 minutes, until the cheesecake is mostly set but is still wobbly in the middle.

  10. While cheesecake is baking, mix together ingredients for topping in a clean bowl and set aside.

  11. Remove cheesecake from oven, spread the topping over the cheesecake, then bake for an additional 10 minutes.

  12. Cool to room temperature (1 to 2 hours), then chill completely for several hours before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

For a bit of fresh brightness and greenery, try adding finely chopped fresh thyme or basil to the cheesecake mixture to contrast the lemon zest.

Cooking and Serving Tips

  • The key to the perfect lemon cheesecake is to get "the right amount" of lemon flavor without it being sour. To accomplish this balance, this recipe calls for lemon zest (the yellow part of the lemon peel), which has a lot of lemon flavor. Using a microplane grater makes it easy to remove the zest without getting the bitter white pith beneath.
  • For an eye-catching plate, serve the cheesecake garnished with fresh lemon slices or topped with fresh berries.

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2 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Chanet A, Milenkovic D, Manach C, Mazur A, Morand C. Citrus flavanones: What is their role in cardiovascular protection?. J Agric Food Chem. 2012;60(36):8809-8822. doi:10.1021/jf300669s

  2. Stevens Y, Rymenant EV, Grootaert C, et al. The intestinal fate of citrus flavanones and their effects on gastrointestinal health. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1464. doi:10.3390/nu11071464

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