If there’s one type of food I associate with Christmas every year it is this no-bake cherry cheesecake. Soups, hams, beef tenderloin, and shrimp cocktail come and go but this cherry dessert makes its appearance every year at my house.
I love Christmas traditions. This dessert has been one of my favorites since I was a little girl. It’s simple and yet a little fancy. It’s dessert but doesn’t make you uncomfortably full. And it’s cherry red which just screams eat me on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
This dessert is such a favorite that I reserve it for Christmas Eve only. That’s it for the year. You can bring all the pies, cookies, and cheesecakes that you want but this is the only one I am going to slice my fork into. It’s delicious + a Christmas tradition and that’s why it’s so special.
Enter graham cracker crust ↓
Everyone has a favorite layer of this cherry dessert and I want to know your favorite. The graham cracker crust? The cheesecake layer? Or the cherry filling? I have always loved the graham cracker crust and you will find me smashing every last bit of it against my fork to eat it right up.
How it Comes Together
I used to use the pre-made graham cracker crusts but these days I like to do my own. It comes together with 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 6 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, and a tablespoon of brown sugar. Combine it all well and refrigerate it for 2 hours prior to adding the cream cheese layer.
The cream cheese layer consists of 8 oz full-fat cream cheese, heavy cream that is whipped for 1-2 minutes, powdered sugar, and vanilla. After beating the heavy cream, it is whisked together with the other ingredients and spread over the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate this again for another 2 hours until firm and then the can of cherry filling is added on top. Hands on time is really not bad at all it just takes some time cooling in the fridge.
If there is one thing your holiday is needing this year it is this cherry cheesecake, trust me. If you make it, I would love for you to leave a comment and rate it below. Thanks friends, I wish you a happy and safe holiday season!!
Favorite No-Bake Holiday Cherry Cheesecake
Ingredients
- 21 oz can cherry filling
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 oz pkg full-fat cream cheese
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Graham Cracker Crust
- Combine ingredients until well mixed. Press into the bottom of a 9" pie plate or 8x8 dish using the bottom of a clean measuring cup. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Cream Cheese Layer
- Beat whipping cream on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes until thickens a bit. Set aside. In a separate large bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and spreadable. Using a whisk or whisk attachment on a stand-up mixer, add whipping cream to cream cheese mixture and mix until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over prepared crust and smooth out with a rubber spatula or spreader. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top after 2 hours and refrigerate until ready to serve.
