No-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Pretzel Crunch

By Amanda Paa – Updated January 23, 2021

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees. The opinions and text are all mine.

There are several things I haven’t mastered in the kitchen yet. Which is one of the reasons I love cooking. It can be easy, or it can be a challenge, no matter how long you’ve been doing it. You choose the adventure depending on your mood, time, motivation, ingredients, etc.

The perfectly baked cheesecake with a glossy, crack-free top, and thick, yet fluffy texture is one of those things I still haven’t gotten right. Mine end up coming out with an earthquake like bolt through the middle, or little bubbles that push up on the surface, like a little gopher trying to bump its head through.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Pretzel Crunch {using Burts Bees protein powder}No-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Pretzel Crunch

Which is why I’ve thrown in the towel (maybe not forever) and gone the no-bake, dark chocolate cheesecake, salty pretzel crumb way. They’re a cross between rich chocolate mousse, traditional cheesecake, and pots de crème. All good things….

Softly sweet and creamy, rich and lush. And more proof that salt makes any dessert taste better. These little pots have just 8 ingredients, and take less than 10 minutes to make.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Salty Pretzel CrunchNo-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Salty Pretzel Crunch

There’s also a little secret blended into each whipped spoonful… one of my favorite skincare companies (their colored lip balms and hand salve is always in my purse), Burt’s Bees, just launched a new protein powder collection that just happens to give the best boost to anything from your morning shake to these chocolate cheesecake pots. Their formulas are made with plant-based, non-GMO and 70% organic ingredients, and support the balance of nature and many important efforts to protect our environment. I actually have never seen a powder with this combination of Pea, Rice, Oat, Flax Seed, and Sunflower Seed protein sources. I used the chocolate Healthy Radiance, which has vitamin extracts made from real fruits and vegetables for extra nutrition. It’s also dairy-free, soy-free (which SO many protein powders have soy), and gluten-free.

So maybe I should have named these “Glow Cheesecake Pots” with the extra boost, and antioxidant rich dark chocolate. I mean, enough feel-good-things for me to warrant an extra serving. Hope you love them as much as I do, xo.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Pots with Pretzel Crunch
Recipe Type: gluten-free
Author: Amanda Paa
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces cold, heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted and cooled (still liquid, but not hot)
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons strong coffee
  • 1 scoop [url href=”http://amzn.to/2lzdyFj” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”]Burt’s BeesTM Protein + Healthy Radiance – Chocolate[/url]
  • pinch of salt
  • crushed gluten-free pretzels for topping
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whip cold cream until it holds firm peaks with a hand mixer. In a seperate bowl, whip cream cheese until smooth. Add cream cheese to whipped cream, and mix on low to combine until smooth.
  2. Add melted dark chocolate, maple syrup, coffee and fold in by hand with a spatula.
  3. Sprinkle protein powder and salt over the top, stirring to combine. Spoon into cups and top with crushed pretzels. They are ready to eat now, with a mousse texture, or you can refrigerate to make them stiff like cheesecake.

 

Did you make this?

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February 21, 2017

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26 comments

  1. Valentina @Hortus

    These sound wonderful! I wish I had access to a decent plant-based protein powder here where I am… and major envy for that super cute copper pot!

  2. thalia

    all those chocolate shots!! totally drooling right now amanda. i adore this recipe so much, and totally need to make it. plus STUNNING photos Xx

    • amandapaa

      you can never enough chocolate desserts, am i right?

  3. Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures

    Woah – Burts Bees has a protein powder? Yessss plz! Also, salty pretzel + chocolate for a cheesecake sounds SO good!

    • amandapaa

      it’s true! i love the chocolate.

  4. Sara @ Cake Over Steak

    Whooaa so sneaky adding in that protein powder! Love it.

  5. Jennifer Farley

    For starters, thank you so much for alerting me to the Burt’s Bees protein powders! I love their products and will have to keep an eye out for them in the store. That’s so exciting. Second, I am so with you on the cheesecake. They’re like soufflés in my opinion. When perfect, nothing is better. But it can be such a pain to get it right. While I do try for standard cheesecakes every now and then, more often than not I stick with the no bake versions. They’re fast, lighter and SO GOOD. I love this version.

  6. Kelsey @ Appeasing a Food Geek

    Love the “glow” feature :) and that pretzel crunch on top makes these babies sound like they’re right up my alley! xoxo

    • amandapaa

      my desserts always need that *little* bit of salt. ;)

  7. bella

    you had me at salty & sweet! plus the fact that these only take 10 minutes…I see these as a late night sweet craving fulfillment in the very near future!

    • amandapaa

      yes! as i said, so quick to make that it’s a dangerously/good bad thing. :)

  8. Elizabeth

    I’ve been craving sweets while also trying to eat well, so these gorgeous little pots de creme are my dream come true. Burt’s Bees is one of my faves and I can’t wait to check their collection out!

    • amandapaa

      pots of yum! thanks for stopping by Elizabeth. xo

  9. Ruby

    Love the warm + fuzzy feels of these photos, combined with luscious chocolatey perfection. I need to try these!! xoxo

  10. Lynn

    Chocolate and pretzels are my favorite combination. Also I love your outfit/apron ensemble.

  11. Laura (A Beautiful Plate)

    Wow! I didn’t know Burt’s Bees had come out with a protein powder line. So cool! I love their products. And this DESSERT. Swoon.

    • amandapaa

      Yes, it’s brand new! Really love all the fruits and veggies in it.

  12. Ruby & Cake

    I love the sound of these! So dreamy :)

    • amandapaa

      aw, thanks Ruby! my love for chocolate runs deep. :)

  13. Sophie MacKenzie |Wholehearted Eats

    This looks so amazing! Sweet and salty and perfect <3

  14. Izzy Bruning

    This look amazing – any excuse to eat chocolate and I am there! x
    Izzy |https://pinchofdelight.wordpress.com

    • amandapaa

      right?! cannot resist creamy pots of dark chocolate. and i love that it makes a small batch!

  15. Liz

    I just added this to my “chocolate dream” file!!

    • amandapaa

      and why don’t i have one of these “files”? starting now! ;)

  16. Kate

    These sound fantastic!

    • amandapaa

      chocolate satisfaction!