Greek yogurt cheesecake: Is this 2-ingredient version healthier?

Social media is full of recipes that promise a “healthier” alternative to familiar foods like high-protein hot chocolate, 2-ingredient tuna bread, or dry yogurt bowls. Many of these trends come from a growing interest in adding protein or other nutrients to meals and snacks people already enjoy. 

Many of these popular recipe remakes are closely tied to a desire to lose weight. When people are eating in a calorie deficit, modifying or reinventing foods can help them still enjoy treats. And, for people who want to feel healthier, these trends reflect a broader desire to enjoy comfort foods without the higher calories and fat.

One new, healthier dessert that you might see is called 2-ingredient Greek yogurt cheesecake. It’s sometimes also called a “protein cheesecake” or “Japanese cheesecake.” Made with Greek yogurt and cookies, it’s typically much lower in saturated fat and calories than regular cheesecake. Plus, as the protein cheesecake name suggests, Greek yogurt adds extra protein.

But here’s the real question: Is Greek yogurt cheesecake really a healthier alternative to traditional cheesecake? Let’s talk about what’s in it, compare it to traditional cheesecake, and talk about how it might fit into a healthy lifestyle. 

Dr Karen Mann, MD, Noom Medical Director, will share how this two-ingredient cheesecake does and doesn’t work for weight loss, and how it can fit into your goals without sacrificing satisfaction.

@celinelinarte

Trying the viral two step Japanese Cheesecake hack – here’s the recipe and my taste test and thoughts 🙈🧀 All you need is Greek yogurt & a sweet cookie, I used biscoff. Optional add on of fruits! #japanesecheesecake #viralrecipe #cheesecake #recipesoftiktok #foodhack

♬ original sound – Celine Linarte

What is 2-ingredient Greek yogurt cheesecake?

This dessert combines, you guessed it, just two ingredients: Greek yogurt and cookies. The most common versions use crushed graham crackers, speculoos-style cookies (like Biscoff), or chocolate sandwich cookies folded into low-fat Greek yogurt.

From there, small variations take shape. Some recipes fully blend the cookies into the yogurt for a mousse-like texture, while others layer the yogurt over a cookie crust. Others freeze the mixture for a firmer, sliceable dessert, or portion it into individual jars for single servings.

Why is 2-ingredient Greek yogurt cheesecake popular?

Dessert trends tend to swing between over-the-top and ultra-minimal, and 2-ingredient yogurt cheesecake lands firmly in the second camp. It’s showing up across social media and recipe sites as a faster, lighter take on cheesecake. The appeal isn’t that it perfectly replaces classic cheesecake, but that it delivers a similar feel with far less effort and fewer calories. Here are the highlights:

• Easy to make: Uses just low-fat Greek yogurt and cookies, with no baking and no special equipment. Most versions come together in minutes and set in the fridge or freezer.
  
• Minimal ingredients: Skips cream cheese, eggs, butter, and added sugar. Common cookies provide most of the flavor.
  
• Added protein (compared to classic cheesecake): Greek yogurt boosts protein and shifts the nutrition profile, even though it’s still a dessert.
  
• Lighter texture and flavor: Soft, tangy, and slightly whipped rather than dense and rich, making it feel more snackable than a traditional slice.
  

Greek yogurt cheesecake vs. classic: Nutrition info

It’s pretty obvious that a dessert made with low-fat Greek yogurt and a few cookies is going to be lighter than a traditional cheesecake built on full-fat cream cheese, eggs, and butter. Still, looking at them side by side makes it easier to see where those differences actually show up.

To do that, let’s compare a standard Greek yogurt-based recipe with a classic cheesecake in terms of taste, texture, and nutrition.

For this comparison, the yogurt cheesecake refers to a simple, no-bake version made with 5 ounces of low-fat Greek yogurt and about four Biscoff cookies, a common take on the viral 2-ingredient recipe.  The “regular” cheesecake refers to a classic version made with cream cheese, eggs, sugar, butter, and a graham-cracker crust. 

• Taste: A Greek yogurt cheesecake made with low-fat Greek yogurt and Biscoff cookies tastes tangy and lightly sweet, with warm spice and caramel notes from the cookies. Standard cheesecake is denser, creamier, and sweeter due to cream cheese and added sugar.
• Texture: The yogurt-based version has a soft, airy, lightly whipped texture that’s closer to a chilled mousse, whereas traditional cheesecake is smooth and firm with a classic creamy bite.
• Nutrition: Using low-fat Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese significantly lowers calories and saturated fat while increasing protein. Even with cookies included, the yogurt-based version is lighter overall, while traditional cheesecake is more calorie-dense.

Greek yogurt cheesecake vs traditional cheesecake: Nutrition facts

Nutrient	Greek yogurt cheesecake	Standard cheesecake
Calories	210–240	300–450
Total fat	7–9 g	20–30 g
Saturated fat	2–3 g	12–18 g
Sugar	12–16 g	18–30 g
Carbohydrates	28–32 g	25–35 g
Fiber	1 g	0–1 g
Protein	10–12 g	5–7 g

2-ingredient Greek yogurt cheesecake recipe

Rather than baking or blending, this recipe relies on time and texture to come together. There’s no oven, no special equipment, and no complicated ingredient list. Crushed cookies are pressed into the Greek yogurt and left to set in the fridge, where they absorb moisture and soften. As they break down, they create a layered effect that mimics a cheesecake-style filling with a tender, softened crust.

Ingredients:

• 5-ounces low-fat Greek yogurt
  
• 4 cookies of your choice
  

Instructions:

1. Break the cookies into halves or quarters.
2. Press or layer the cookie pieces directly into the yogurt.
3. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
4. Once the cookies have softened and blended into the yogurt, it’s ready to eat.

Variations on Greek yogurt cheesecake

The beauty of this recipe is how flexible it is. Because the base is so simple, it’s easy to tweak the flavor and texture without turning it into a whole new project. Small swaps can shift it from light and snackable to richer and more dessert-like:

• For a richer, more dessert-forward version: Use full-fat Greek yogurt for extra creaminess.
  
• For a lighter, higher-protein feel: Stick with nonfat Greek yogurt.
  
• To change the flavor entirely: Swap in graham crackers, vanilla wafers, or chocolate sandwich cookies for the spiced cookies.
  
• To play with sweetness: Use flavored yogurt, like vanilla or chocolate, to subtly change the flavor profile.
  
• For extra cheesecake vibes: Add a splash of vanilla extract, a squeeze of lemon, or finish with cherries, sprinkles, or another simple topping.

Is Greek yogurt cheese cake healthier than regular cheesecake?

So, is Greek yogurt cheesecake actually healthier than regular cheesecake? The answer depends on how you define “healthy” and what your goals are. From a nutrition standpoint, the two desserts are made with very different ingredients, which affects their calorie content, fat profile, and protein levels.

Dr. Mann explains that “Greek yogurt adds protein and, when using a 0% variety, contains little to no saturated fat, which can help lower overall calorie and fat intake compared to traditional cheesecake. That said, the cookies used in this recipe are still a source of added sugar and refined carbohydrates.” 

Because of that, this dessert is best thought of as lower in calories and saturated fat than regular cheesecake, rather than a nutrient-dense “health food.” It can still fit into a balanced lifestyle—especially when enjoyed mindfully.

It’s also important to remember that cheesecake and other classic treats aren’t “bad” foods. They’re simply more calorie-dense, which may mean enjoying them less often or in smaller portions, depending on someone’s goals.

Dr. Mann adds, “From a weight-loss perspective, consistently avoiding foods you truly enjoy can backfire. Feeling deprived—even subtly—may increase cravings over time, making it harder to stick with changes long-term. When that happens, people are more likely to overeat later or feel discouraged altogether.”

The bottom line: Greek yogurt cheesecake is worth trying, but it’s different from cheesecake

This 2-ingredient cheesecake yogurt can be a fun, lower-calorie dessert option—especially if you’re craving something creamy and sweet and you enjoy it. But it doesn’t have to replace traditional cheesecake.

At Noom, we believe that there are no “good” or “bad” foods—just choices, awareness, and flexibility. All foods can fit into a balanced lifestyle when you enjoy them in moderation. 

That’s the philosophy behind Noom: making small changes that add up to big wins, building satisfying habits, and enjoying foods you love without guilt or extremes. Find out more about how Noom’s programs can help support your weight loss goals.