My late aunt was a legend in the kitchen. She had a sixth sense for knowing everyone’s favorite dish, which meant if you were lucky enough to know her, you were also lucky enough to have your taste buds spoiled. Even though she’s been gone nearly eight years, I still have her recipe box—a glorious treasure trove of hand-written recipes and magazine clippings (some so old they could qualify as antiques).
Now, this particular no-bake orange cheesecake has a surprise ingredient that, to be honest, still haunts me a little. But here’s the thing—it was one of her most requested desserts. And if it was good enough for the masses, well, who am I to argue?
Let’s Get Cheesecake-ing!
Step 1: Start with a graham cracker crust. Feeling ambitious? Make one from scratch. Feeling more “I’d rather not”? Buy one. No judgment here.
For the Mysteriously Delicious Filling:
- 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese, softened to room temperature (because wrestling with cold cream cheese is a battle you’ll never win)
- 1 (14-ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk, aka liquid gold
- 1 (8-ounce) tub of Cool Whip, thawed (unless you want an arm workout)
- 2 packets of unsweetened orange Kool-Aid mix (Yes, you read that right. Kool-Aid. Trust the process.)
Mix It Up:
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and Kool-Aid powder. Don’t question it. Just go with it. Use a stand mixer, hand mixer, or a really strong arm.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and whip until smooth and dreamy.
- Gently fold in the Cool Whip (do not, I repeat, do NOT aggressively stir—this is a cheesecake, not a science experiment).
- Spoon the mixture into your crust and smooth the top like you’re frosting a cake.
The Hardest Part—Waiting
Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving. If you have the patience of a saint, you can even make it ahead and freeze it—just make sure to store it in a freezer-safe bag so it doesn’t absorb any weird fridge flavors.
Bonus: Not an orange Kool-Aid fan? (Blasphemy!) You can swap in any flavor—or mix two together if you’re feeling daring.
Enjoy, and remember—if you bring this to a party, prepare for everyone to ask for the recipe. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 😆
Our Food and Drink Section has many fresh and interesting recipe ideas.
https://sciotocountydailynews.com/category/food-drink/