Name: Instant Pot Cheesecake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup almond flour ((Note 1)); 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted; 1 heaping tablespoon powdered erythritol sweetener; 2 (8-ounce) bricks cream cheese ((Note 3)); 2/3 cup powdered erythritol sweetener; 2 large eggs; 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream ((Note 4)); 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Summary:

This New York style cheesecake with almond flour crust is rich, creamy, and smooth. Cheesecake is one of few desserts that translates well to a low carb version, without any difference in taste or texture. Using a pressure cooker guarantees consistently good results every time.

Instant Pot Cheesecake

5 from 45 votes

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Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Pressure Release: 15 mins

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 460

Net Carbs: 4.5g

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

3/4 cup almond flour (Note 1)
3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
1 heaping tablespoon powdered erythritol sweetener (Note 2)

Filling:

2 (8-ounce) bricks cream cheese (Note 3)
2/3 cup powdered erythritol sweetener (Note 2)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (Note 4)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare: Set cream cheese, eggs, and heavy whipping cream on countertop to warm to room temperature, at least 30 minutes before proceeding with recipe (Note 5). Use separate pieces of parchment paper to line bottom and sides of 6-inch aluminum 6-inch round cheesecake pan with removable bottom (Note 6). Place trivet inside pressure cooker, with handles resting on sides of pot (Note 7).
Make Crust: Stir melted butter and sweetener in mixing bowl until combined, then stir in almond flour until butter is absorbed and forms dough. Transfer dough to prepared cheesecake pan, and use spoon or measuring cup to firmly press down and form flat, smooth crust covering entire bottom of pan. Transfer pan to freezer to chill crust for 20 minutes while making filling.
Make Filling: Beat cream cheese and sweetener in large bowl with electric hand mixer on low speed until well-mixed, about 1 minute (Note 8). Add heavy cream, lemon juice, and vanilla extract; beat on low speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add eggs one at a time, beating on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds each. Remove pan with chilled crust from freezer. Pour batter over crust, careful not to leave trapped air gaps. Flatten surface with spatula.
Pressure Cook: Pour 1 cup of water into pressure cooker pot, and lower cheesecake pan onto trivet. Secure and seal lid. Cook for 30 minutes at high pressure, followed by 15-minute natural release. Manually release any remaining pressure by gradually turning release knob to venting position. Carefully lift lid to avoid dripping condensation on cheesecake. Top of cheesecake should be jiggly but not liquid. If needed, use paper towel to carefully dab cheesecake to absorb condensation on surface. Turn off pressure cooker.
Cool Cheesecake: Let cheesecake cool uncovered in pressure cooker for about 1 hour. Use trivet's handles to lift cheesecake from pot onto countertop and let stand until fully cooled. Loosely drape dry paper towel over cheesecake pan and refrigerate for at least 24 hours (Note 9). Carefully remove chilled cheesecake from pan, and peel off parchment paper. Slice and serve (Note 10).

NUTRITION

Makes 6 Servings

Amount Per Serving (1 slice):

Calories 460 (88% from fat)
Total Fat 45g	69%
Saturated Fat 23g	114%
Cholesterol 168mg	56%
Sodium 370mg	15%
Net Carb 4.5g
Total Carb 6g (Note 11)	2%
Dietary Fiber 1.5g	6%
Sugars 1g
Protein 11g

Vitamin A 25% · Vitamin C 0% · Calcium 10% · Iron 9%

PHOTOS

Showing how to use a cheesecake pan with removable bottom and parchment paper

Step by step photos making cheesecake batter and almond crust for the instant pot pressure cooker

Low carb version of instant pot cheesecake served on a white plate

Overhead view of sliced instant pot cheesecake

NOTES & TIPS

(1) Almond Flour. About 3 ounces weight. I use almond flour that is blanched, which means the skins are taken off of the almonds, so the resulting flour looks white. I typically use Costco’s Kirkland brand, which has 2 grams of net carbs per 1/4 cup serving. Readers have had success substituting some or all of it with ground pecans. Don’t substitute with coconut flour, which is more absorbent.

(2) Sweetener. Crust: 1 heaping tablespoon = 0.5 ounce weight. Filling: 2/3 cup = 4 ounces weight. Erythritol is a dry sweetener, about 70% as sweet as sugar. I buy granulated erythritol online and powder it using a small blender like the Nutribullet. If you’re substituting with Confectioners Swerve, use 1 scant tablespoon for the crust and 1/2 cup (= 2.8 ounces weight) for the filling. You can substitute with another dry sweetener; to determine how much to use, check your sweetener’s packaging to see how it compares to regular sugar. I don’t recommend liquid sweeteners which affect the ratio of dry to wet ingredients.

(3) Cream Cheese. Two standard bricks = 16 ounces total. I use regular, full-fat cream cheese from the brand Philadelphia, not reduced fat or light versions.

(4) Heavy Whipping Cream. This ingredient gives cheesecakes a silky, firm, and dense texture, which is a key characteristic of New York style cheesecakes. Some readers have reported success with substituting with half-and-half.

(5) Room Temperature Ingredients. It’s important to remove cold ingredients — cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, eggs — from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe. You want to give them time to come to room temperature, helping to ensure a smooth and creamy batter. Otherwise, you might end up with a lumpy batter.

(6) Cheesecake Pan. I use Fat Daddio’s aluminum 6-inch round cheesecake pan with removable bottom that’s six inches in diameter and 3 inches tall. If your pan is 7 inches in diameter, decrease the pressure cooking time by 5 minutes. I like the convenience of the removable bottom, but you can also use a springform pan. The sides and bottom of the pan should be lined with parchment paper (see photos); no greasing needed.

(7) Pressure Cooker Equipment. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot. Other sizes of electric pressure cookers should also work as long the cheesecake pan fits within the maximum capacity. You’ll also need the trivet that came with your Instant Pot or a steam rack with handles; if yours doesn’t have handles, you can make a foil sling to help you transfer the cheesecake out of the pressure cooker when it’s done.

(8) Mixing Batter. Don’t over-mix while beating the batter, or you’ll end up with a lighter and fluffier batter, resulting in an airier and puffier cheesecake. We want a dense, firm, and smooth cheesecake. At every step, the batter should be mixed until the ingredients are incorporated and smooth, and no more. I provide electric mixer time estimates in the recipe to give you an idea, based on a 5-speed KitchenAid electric hand mixer.

(9) Chilling Cheesecake. It’s very important to let the cheesecake chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before serving. This cheesecake is very moist after pressure cooking and needs time to dehydrate in the refrigerator. That’s why it should only be loosely covered with a paper towel, not tightly sealed.

(10) Serving / Storage. This cheesecake is delicious by itself, with a dollop of whipped cream, or served with sliced strawberries or puréed berries. Store leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

(11) Carbs. The nutrition calculation assumes you are using an erythritol-based sweetener that uses sugar alcohols, whose carbs are non-impact and therefore not included in the nutrition estimate. Apps that count sugar alcohols will show a higher number of carbs.

(12) Key Lime Cheesecake. I’ve made versions of this cheesecake with other flavors, and my favorite is key lime where I add 2-3 tablespoons key lime juice and lime zest in place of the lemon juice. If you make this with your own flavor twist, let me know in the comments section below.

(13) Why Instant Pot? The advantage of cooking cheesecake and other traditionally baked desserts in the Instant Pot is that pressure cooker recipes are less susceptible to the vagaries of ovens. Some ovens run too hot, some run too cold, and baking often involves some intuition on the part of the baker. With the Instant Pot, you get more consistent and reproducible results.

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Brenda

First time ever making a cheesecake let alone an instant pot one and it came out perfect! I topped mine with a keto raspberry purée.

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Yums

Hi Julia,

Wow, thank you so much for this recipe! It is delicious. My husband thought it was perfect: I would add a tiny bit more sweetener. It is wonderful with strawberries.

We took your advice and ordered quality flour and pure erythritol WHICH LITERALLY COSTS HALF THE PRICE OF SWERVE.

We can’t wait to try more of your recipes. We get to reap the rewards of all of your perfecting!

PEOPLE: This girl knows what she is talking about!!

Lisa

Easiest, best cheesecake ever! I’m low carb and this hits the spot for my sweet tooth!

Cyndy

I love this cheesecake. The only thing I do differently is let it do a natural release for an hour then remove lid and let it cool in the pot. I did this by accident the first time and loved the creamy texture. The next time I followed the directions and didn’t like the firmer texture.

Ed Morris

This cheesecake was delicious! Amazing! The single change I made was to increase the amount of erythritol in the batter by 10% to ensure it was plenty sweet. No doubt the most expensive cake ever as I had to buy all the ingredients including the push pan! Totally worth it! Thanks for this recipe.

I can’t stop making this cheesecake – and eating it! I’ve made one a week for months. I divide it eight ways and have two pieces on Sunday. Lol! I’ve experimented some with using juice instead of water to infuse flavors and adding other flavoring to the crust. Simply the best!

Kathy

The texture was perfect! All went smoothly in the instant pot. Not even the slightest crack in sight. I followed the recipe exactly and used Erythritol. We waited almost 24 hours to dig in. It needed a tad more sweetness for my preferences, so I sprinkled Pyure (stevia) on top and it was much better. Also next time I’ll add Pyure and a little cinnamon to the crust. I followed the instructions on how long to beat various ingredients, and the author really was on point. We served with puréed mixed berries. I’ll definitely make this recipe again and again! Thank you!!

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Jackie

I’m not much for baking, but this came out fantastic. I only had a 7” pan so I added 1 cup of almond flour and 4 T butter for crust and I also used confectioners swerve and used 78 grams of it in the cheesecake mixture. Same cooking time as stated in the recipe. Thank you for a great recipe and for including the measurements, it helped out a lot.

Amanda Gray

This cheesecake for Fourth of July was a big huge hit even for the people that are on keto. My husband was definitely sad that we didn’t get to keep any for us so I went ahead and made another one this week so we would be able to have a cheesecake to eat for dessert! We eat it with strawberries or blueberries and whipped cream. It is the best cheesecake I’ve had hands-down!

Diane

The taste is very good, nice and creamy texture. I will definitely make it again.

Wendy

My first time cooking cheesecake in the Instant Pot and it turned out perfectly. Very delicious! I add a tablespoon of speculoos spice to the almond crust which really made it pop. So tasty!

Elizabeth

If I wanted to do 1.5 times the recipe since I only have the 7 in pan and want to get a taller cheesecake, would I cook for longer than the 30 minutes? I made your recipe last week and it is amazing! My husband is already requesting it again.

Julia

Glad to hear you guys enjoyed this, Elizabeth! I would cook longer than 30 minutes, more like 35 to 40 minutes.

Ebony

I have never commented on any recipes I’ve tried but this recipe has by far passed all of my expectations! The one thing that has been the hardest for me doing keto is finding a dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth. I have tried several low-carb cheesecake recipes and they always leave me wanting more. Cheesecake is my absolute favorite thing in the whole entire world and now I can have my cake and eat it too! It’s 99% like real thing. Thanks for sharing this recipe, you’ve changed my life!

Virginia Greuling

I love the Keto program. I have lost 60 pounds now. So many good recipes to make. I make a Keto recipe in my double boiler with chocolate and almonds…. Just like eating a candy bar except it will not spoil the Keto program.

Tina Waldrep

This was wonderful! I have tried other keto cheesecake recipes but this recipe is the best, and it was so easy! Will definitely be making this again. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

Toni

Off the charts good! I have made New York style Cheesecake for about 45 years, so I am not impressed with most cheesecake recipes. This one is very good, and done in short order via the instant pot. Thank You!!!

Pandora

I made this yesterday and was surprised how easy it was. I was rather nervous at first because it was my first time using a pressure cooker to make a cheesecake. First time ever using Swerve also. I must say, the cheesecake was fantastic! I let it chill in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cutting. It was the perfect consistency and oh so flavorful. My husband did not even realize it was low carb. lol I will be making another one for Thanksgiving because we have several family members that eat low carb and this will be a hit with them too! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

Charenda Hinshaw

Awesome recipe! Have made several. Added some dark choc chips. Not a ton but just enough! Next I want to try making it pumpkin! Will let you know how it goes!

Theresa

I have made this cheesecake several times and it always turns out perfect. Lately I have been playing with the crust-using part pecan flour, adding a little cinnamon and salt. Either way, this recipe is a keeper just as it is.

Shane

Okay, this is my 2nd cheesecake in the instant pot. The 1st recipe I used called for tin foil on top of the pan. This one didn’t. I opened it up after 30 cook time and 15 release and it was completely balooned up over the pan and overflowing. What did I do wrong?

I’m guessing that you overbeat the batter. If you overbeat the batter past the point of just combining the ingredients, then you introduce a lot of air that can cause the cheesecake to balloon up during cooking. In the instructions on this page, there are time estimates for an electric hand mixer to give you an idea of how long to beat so that you’re not overdoing it. In particular, the heavy whipping cream and eggs are susceptible to overbeating.

That’s what I was thinking happened. I don’t have a hand mixer, only a stand mixer. Either way, I still refrigerated it. It may look like the surface of the moon, but it tastes really good!

Melissa Lockard

Hello not sure if you will see this message quick enough but I got the burn message on my instant pot. Tried it twice. Going to let it cool down and try one more time. How long should I cook it additionally for so you think? Thank you very much!

I didn’t see your message in time. How did everything go for you? A burn message is unusual in this situation because the only thing touching the bottom of the pot is water. Was there anything stuck to the pot?

Shaunna

Turned out great!!! Loved it!

Jen N

Can I substitute half and half for the heavy cream? I don’t have any and going to the store isn’t really an option.

I haven’t tested this recipe with half-and-half, but I think that sounds like a reasonable substitution and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for this cheesecake. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out for you.

Julie

I didn’t have heavy cream and subbed half and half. Came out great!

Rebecca

Perfect flavor! I made a crust from pecans and melted butter in the food processor because I don’t like the flavor of crust. But it turned out perfect. I will make this again for sure!!

Tina

I just got my Instant Pot. I don’t like the base of cheesecakes. Is it possible to make the cheese cream in ramekins and place them on top of each other? I have a monk fruit sweetener with erythritol in it. Do I need to use less of that sweetener? I am totally new to sugar replacement sweeteners. Can I use the cake function on my Instant Pot if I make it in ramekins? How many minutes should I set it for?

Justin

If I were to use 1/4th the ingredients and place in a 4″ diameter pan, would I need to decrease the pressure cooking time from 30 minutes to, say, 20 minutes or lower?

Yes, I would decrease the pressure cooking time. It’s hard to say what the new cooking time should be, without testing it, but 15 to 20 minutes sounds reasonable.

After the natural pressure release, use an instant-read thermometer to see if the cheesecake’s internal temperature is about 150 to 155 F. That will help you determine if your cheesecake is properly cooked through.

If the reason you’re making 1/4th of the recipe is due to leftovers, note that you can easily freeze cheesecake slices. It would be easier than trying to figure out the proper cooking time and using only half of an egg.

Hope that helps. If you give this a try, please let me know how turns out for you.

Melissa

Hi Julia! My pot built pressure very quickly and at 18 minutes the pressure button went down. I kept the lid on for the full 30, but there was no pressure when finished and absolutely out of water. Is this ok? I checked temp and it was over 155 degrees in the middle of the cheesecake.

Hi Melissa! After pressurizing, the Instant Pot should not lose pressure because it’s well-sealed. Since yours did, I’m wondering if you forgot to turn the pressure knob from “venting” to “sealing” before pressurizing the pot. Either way, you did the right thing by keeping the lid on and 155 F means your cheesecake was properly cooked. I hope you continued to follow the recipe’s instructions by cooling and chilling in the refrigerator overnight. I hope you get to test a bite of it today, and please let me know how it turns out for you.

Instant Pot Cheesecake