The Triple Treat
Michelle Phetlhe | Wednesday November 19, 2025 06:19
For me and for anyone who believes in the magic of food that place is the kitchen. Chellzkitchen has always been about more than just cooking; It’s about creating thoughtful, memorable experiences.
My Individual No-Bake Cheesecakes: made three ways Lemon, Mulberry, and Strawberry show just how much we care.
What makes these desserts truly special is not just the flavour, though each one is a star in its own right.
It’s the idea behind them, that every person has a favourite, a flavour that speaks their name and says, “This was made just for you.”
These mini cheesecakes turn a simple meal into something warm, personal, and unforgettable. Whether you’re hosting friends, cooking for family, or setting up a surprise treat for someone you cherish, this trio is the perfect way to show that you cook with thought and with love.
Food is emotional. It carries memories and creates new ones. The tang of home grown lemons might remind someone of their grans tree in their garden.
The deep purple mulberry swirl might transport another person back to childhood afternoons spent picking fruit straight from the tree.
The sweet strawberry blend might bring back the joy of summer holidays or early morning or popping by the Serbian Market.
When you take the time to offer a favourite flavour, you create a connection, it is a small gesture that lands deep. Ultimately that’s what a show-stopper is. Not just something beautiful on the table, but something meaningful in the heart.
These No-Bake Cheesecakes are simple enough for a weekday dessert, but are also elegant enough for a black tie celebration, they are so versatile you could customise them endlessly.
They set beautifully in glass jars, ramekins, dessert cups, or even wine glasses, making them ideal for intimate dinners, big gatherings, or even gifting in little sealed jars tied with ribbon like we have done for catered office lunches.
Let’s talk a little bit about why this dessert deserves a permanent spot in your home repertoire. On busy days and in Botswana heat nobody wants to turn the oven on if they don’t have to.
No-bake desserts save time, energy, and stress while still delivering big flavour and visual appeal.
The magic is in the customisation. You can prepare one creamy base, then create flavours for each person based on what they love. Some may want bright citrus, others deep berry richness, and some a classic strawberry profile.
Everyone feels seen. Everyone gets their favourite dessert looks professional, each glass becomes its own piece of edible art. That time it needs no complicated tools, no specialty ingredients.
Most of what you need is already in a typical kitchen or can be found easily at local supermarkets or fruit stores. Mulberries, especially, are a nostalgic seasonal treasure. When the trees are full and hands are stained purple, you know it’s time to make something special.
These cheesecakes make beautiful use of local, fresh produce that the boys and I had fun picking.
Nothing brings back memories quite like cheesecake especially the classic lemon I’ve loved forever, followed closely by the mulberry that felt like a tiny adventure.
But what I think of most is that little cheesecake shop in Cape Town, the one that felt magical when I was younger. I used to stare at all the flavours, too shy to try anything beyond my comfort zone.
Now I can’t wait to go back, wander through the city, and finally taste all the flavours I once talked myself out of. Growing up has its perks... especially when it tastes this sweet.”
INGREDIENTS 500g full-fat cream cheese, softened 500ml whipping cream, cold 1/2 cup icing sugar (adjust to taste) 1 tsp vanilla essence Zest of 1 lemon (optional but brightens the flavour) 2 cups crushed biscuits (Digestive, Tennis Biscuits, or ginger biscuits work well) 6 tbsp melted butter Pinch of salt
INSTRUCTIONS Mix the crushed biscuits, melted butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press 2–3 spoonful’s into the bottom of each serving jar/cup. Refrigerate while preparing fillings. Beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free. In a separate bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese. Add icing sugar and vanilla, and gently fold until fully combined. Divide the mixture into three bowls one for each flavour. Mix the lemon juice, zest in one, Mulberry to one and strawberry into each portion of the cheesecake base. Spoon onto biscuit crusts. Chill for 3–4 hours or overnight Garnish with tiny mint leaf.
Bright, refreshing, clean. Perfect for those who love a zesty finish after a hearty meal.
Food is communication. Sometimes you don’t need big speeches to tell someone you care just the right flavour, made the right way. When you place three different cheesecakes on a tray, each one tailored for someone you love, the message is loud and clear.
I know you. I see you. This is for you. It’s the smallest, sweetest kind of intimacy the kind that happens quietly in the kitchen. These cheesecakes turn a normal dinner into something memorable. They end the night on a note of thoughtfulness of course, joy. People eat with their eyes first and these are guaranteed to steal the spotlight.