“Japanese Cheesecake” – What’s Behind the Dessert Trend

Food trends often come and go faster than most people can try them. Right now, a dessert is taking over social media that seems to have grown out of a desire for something as simple as possible: the so-called “Japanese Cheesecake.”

The name has little to do with Japanese ingredients or a traditional recipe. Instead, it points to the trend’s origin. The dessert was first popularised by Japanese creators that shared the minimalist idea on TikTok. The recipe itself uses just two ingredients: Greek yogurt and cookies. No baking, no kitchen equipment, and hardly any preparation.

How the trend works

The concept is easy to explain. Cookies – originally coconut sablés – are pressed directly into a container of Greek yogurt. The mixture is then refrigerated for several hours, ideally overnight. During this time, the cookies absorb moisture, soften, and merge with the yogurt into a compact, creamy texture. The method works especially well with thick, full-fat Greek yogurt, which provides a gentle tang and a dense, cheesecake-like consistency.

Variations from coconut to caramel

As the trend spread internationally, variations quickly followed. Many swapped the original cookies for Biscoff, while others turned to graham crackers or Oreos. Depending on the cookie, sweetness and flavour change noticeably, while the underlying idea remains the same. The result is soft, layered, and surprisingly rich, despite the fact that it’s neither baked nor made with classic cheesecake ingredients.

A trend built on simplicity

This pared-back approach is exactly what makes the recipe appealing to many. There’s also a side effect that resonates on social media: thanks to the Greek yogurt, the dessert delivers a solid amount of protein, aligning neatly with the current “proteinmaxxing” trend, which focuses on increasing protein intake.

Somewhere between a yogurt container and a packet of cookies, a dessert takes shape that stands out less for perfection than for its uncomplicated idea—and that, it seems, is precisely where its appeal lies.

Photo by Marlene Kupfer