Cherry Delight is filled with layers of cherry pie filling, dreamy cheesecake, and a buttery graham cracker crust. This easy and delicious dessert never fails to impress!
I love fruit in desserts. I believe it to be one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to enhance any treat. No matter if the fruit is fresh, frozen, or in a can, it always brings baked goods to another level of perfection. Prepare to indulge in the sweet flavors and textures with this irresistible Cherry Delight. This delectable treat is the epitome of indulgence, offering a harmonious blend of cherry pie filling, fluffy cheesecake, and a buttery graham cracker crust. With each luscious bite, you’ll be transported to dessert heaven, savoring the perfect balance of fruity sweetness and creamy richness.
CHERRY DELIGHT
Crafted with love and care this dessert is a testament to the beauty of simplicity and elegance in baking. The journey begins with a golden graham cracker crust, made by mixing crushed graham crackers, melted butter, and sugar together before pressing them into the bottom of an 11×7-inch baking dish. After a brief stint in the oven, and to achieve the perfect crunch, the crust is left to cool completely, ready to be adorned with a decadent cheesecake.
At the core of this delightful dessert lies this creamy, dreamy center that’s both luxurious and light. It starts with heavy cream, whipped until thick and small peaks form. In a separate bowl, cream cheese and powdered sugar are combined, creating a smooth and decadent base that perfectly complements the tartness of the cherry pie filling. Once folded together with the whipped cream, this velvety mixture is poured onto the cooled graham cracker crust.
Last, but certainly not least, is the cherry pie filling. Pour it all over the cheesecake layer and then place in the fridge to allow everything to chill before serving.
INGREDIENTS
Crust
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers
- ½ cup melted salted butter
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Cheesecake Filling
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Topping
- 1 large can of cherry pie filling
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Crust
Mix crushed graham crackers, melted butter and sugar together then press evenly into the bottom of an 11×7-inch baking dish. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before making the filling.
Cheesecake Filling
Pour heavy cream into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand-mixer, beat cream until it thickens and small peaks form.
In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Fold in the fresh whipped cream. Pour filling onto the cooled graham cracker crust and gently spread out evenly over the crust.
Topping
Spread cherry pie filling evenly all over the top of cheesecake filling. Cover and place in the fridge to chill and set for at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares and serve!
SERVINGS
This recipe yields an 11×7-inch baking dish, offering 12 small servings. This can also be cut into larger squares offering 8 portions.
STORING OPTIONS
Simply cover the dish securely and refrigerate up to 3 to 4 days. When ready to enjoy, simply cut into squares and serve chilled, savoring each creamy bite as if it were the first.
SLICE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT
While this incredible creation shines on its own, it’s also a versatile dessert that welcomes creative pairings and personal touches. Serve it as is for a satisfying treat or elevate the experience by garnishing each square with a dollop of whipped cream and a fresh cherry on top.
For an extra indulgent twist, drizzle a bit of chocolate syrup or caramel sauce over the top, adding an extra layer of decadence to each bite. You can also try substituting the crust for an Oreo crust for that delicious cherry and chocolate combination.
FREEZING CHERRY DELIGHT
Preparing this dessert ahead of time and freezing it for later enjoyment is a savvy strategy for busy schedules or planned gatherings. I suggest freezing this treat without the cherry pie filling though. Wait to add that once you are ready to serve.
Tightly wrap the dish in heavy duty plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then store in the freezer for up to two months. When ready to enjoy, simply thaw the dessert in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for an hour before serving. Add the cherry pie filling once thawed and then serve! The flavors will remain just as luscious and delicious!
A TREAT FOR ANYTIME OF THE YEAR
Whether served as a refreshing dessert on a warm summer evening or enjoyed as a comforting indulgence during the holiday season, this is a timeless treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Its irresistible flavors and creamy texture make it a crowd-pleaser. So go ahead, treat yourself to a slice of pure bliss with this recipe—it’s the perfect way to sweeten any moment.
ENJOY THIS RECIPE? HERE ARE A FEW MORE DELIGHTFUL DESSERTS!
Easy Cherry Cobbler – This is one of the simplest ways to enjoy a warm baked cherry cobbler made from your own kitchen. Don’t forget the ice cream!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie – Imagine a large warm thick chocolate chip cookie the size of an entire plate! That’s exactly what this dessert is, but so much more!
Key Lime Slab Pie – This light dessert is tart and bright! A full sheet pan of delicious key lime cheesecake that’s perfect to make for gatherings.
Shredded Apple Pie – The best apple pie on the internet! This recipe is one that I hold dear to my heart, and I love sharing it with all my friends and family.
Cherry Delight
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Filling
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Topping
- 1 large can cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees ℉.
Crust
- Mix crushed graham crackers, melted butter and sugar together then press evenly into the bottom of an 11×7-inch baking dish. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and allow crust to cool completely before making the filling.
Cheesecake Filling
- Pour heavy cream into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand-mixer, beat cream until it thickens and small peaks form.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Fold in the fresh whipped cream. Pour filling onto the cooled graham cracker crust and gently spread out evenly over the crust.
Topping
- Spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the cheesecake filling. Cover and place in fridge to set for at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares and serve!
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We’ve made this dessert for as long as I remember and I didn’t know anyone else did! We’re real original and call it Cherry Dessert! So fun to stumble upon someone else making it.
This recipe has been in my family for over 50 years. It was the only “cheesecake” I knew growing up. 🙂
I still make it although have always used Dream Whip instead of the heavy whipping cream.
Me too! We use Dream Whip and we use about 50 crushed vanilla wafers instead of Graham crackers. It seems to make a difference. It is my son’s favorite, but he has to hide a serving to make sure he gets any. His whole family loves it.
How much dream whip?
Been making it for years and years and called it Cherry Delight. Love it, but don’t make it often because I’m lactose intolerant.
I don’t usually make comments but I felt compelled this time. This recipe is at least 50 years old. How do I know? Well, when my wife and I were dating over 50 years ago, My wife’s mother made this for me when I cam calling. My wife still has the recipe card for the desert and It is called Cherry Delight. A wonderful desert and one of my favorite. Happy Valentines Day 2018 and if you like cherries, you will love this desert. We have been married 50 years next month.
That is so awesome! Thanks for sharing, and Happy Anniversary!
Been making this for years also. I double the filling recipe and use 2 cans of pie filling on the top.
This has always been a classic summer picnic dessert. I love it!
I am 62 years old, and this was my favorite dessert since I was a small child. My mom would make this every year for my birthday. Asked for this over regular birthday cake and ice cream.
This looks delicious. However, I don’t have an 11 x 7 baking dish. What RECIPE adjustments would you recommend if using a 9 x 13 pan?
You can also use a 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking dish. If you want to use a 9×13 I would double the recipe 🙂
My hubby loves cherry delight. I printed this recipe out and instead of cherries, I had a bunch of canned blueberries and used those instead. I took it to a thanksgiving family dinner last fall and that has been the most requested dessert I have ever made. I still have a jar of canned cherries to make the actual ‘Cherry’ delight. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this recipe. It has been a huge hit in my family!
Can you use Cool Whip instead of whipping cream?
Yes, absolutely! You can use one 8 ounce container of Cool Whip (thawed) to replace the heavy whipping cream in this recipe 🙂