A simple recipe for a cheesecake-like treat is making waves on TikTok, and many are excited to give it a try. The trend kicked off on January 7 when TikToker Stan Fukase (@worldofxtra) shared a video showing how to make a “cheesecake” using just Greek yogurt and cookies. The idea took off, surprising everyone who tried it, including Fukase himself.
In his video, Fukase shared his experience of mixing Greek yogurt with coconut sables—a type of French cookie. He enthusiastically combined the two ingredients and let them chill in the fridge overnight, wondering if this simple process could replicate cheesecake.
When he tried the finished result, Fukase was amazed. “No, I love that,” he exclaimed, appreciating the unique flavor. “It’s not crazy sweet, relying on the coconut’s natural sweetness.” He even mentioned wanting to experiment with other cookies, like Oreos.
The video has since garnered over 630,000 views, inspiring countless others to create their own versions, with the hashtag #japanesecheesecake accumulating more than 20,000 videos. Instead of using coconut sables, many are trying Oreos or Biscoff cookies, with similar tasty results.
Others on TikTok have voiced their skepticism yet curiosity about the recipe. One user, @18hens, tweaked the ingredients by using graham crackers, which captured the essence of traditional cheesecake crust. Her version attracted 5.4 million views and received rave reviews.
Food influencer Soogia also explored this trend by testing various cookie combinations, including Oreos and Biscoff, delighted by the results her family enjoyed.
Now, let’s take a step back. This trend isn’t entirely new. Japanese cheesecake, known for its airy texture and light sweetness, has roots that echo through various cultures. For example, the classic American icebox cake combines layers of cookies and cream—a dessert format that shares some similarities with this TikTok recipe. Throughout history, similar desserts have appeared worldwide, like tiramisu in Italy or the trifle in England.
After seeing the excitement online, I decided to experiment myself. I made five different variations using different types of Greek yogurt and cookies, including:
- Siggi’s Skyr with Apple Pie Oreos
- Siggi’s Skyr with graham crackers
- Plain Fage with graham crackers and strawberries
- Plain Fage with Biscoff cookies
- Siggi’s with K-Town melon cream-filled crackers
The Fage yogurt paired with Biscoff emerged as my favorite, offering a rich flavor. Surprisingly, the texture resembled cheesecake quite closely. Although it didn’t taste exactly like traditional cheesecake, it turned out delicious, especially with added whipped cream and strawberries.
Here’s a thought: cheesecake is nice, but this yogurt treat feels like a fresh take on a classic. It might even be better labeled as an “icebox yogurt cake.” So, whether you’re a cheesecake lover or a dessert innovator, this new spin is definitely worth a try.
For those who want to dive deeper into dessert history, you can check sources like Modern Asian Baking and NBC News for more about the origins and variations of cheesecake.
