Cherry Delight Recipe

This classic cherry delight recipe starts with a simple graham cracker crust, then it’s topped with a cream cheese and cool whip cheesecake layer, and covered with cherry pie filling. It does not require an oven or stovetop – just a mixing bowl and 9×13 pan, and refrigerator. 

This cherry dessert is simple to prepare, easy to transport, and can be made ahead of time.  The bright red cherries make it a pretty holiday dessert, especially for Christmas or Valentine’s Day. 

 How to prepare cherry delight dessert

Crush 2 sleeves of graham crackers — I like to put them in my food processor, but you can also put them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. Add 3/4 cup of softened butter to the cracker crumbs. Mix with a fork, or use your fingers. When the butter is mixed in, press the crumbs into a 9×13 pan. Set in the fridge to chill. 

Graham cracker crust, ready to chill.

While the crust is chilling, put two 8 oz packages of cream cheese into a bowl and soften in the microwave for a little bit. (or just set them on the counter ahead of time to soften – this will take about an hour.) Once the cream cheese is soft, beat it with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat again. Add one cup of the cool whip, mix in briefly, then add another cupful – mix – then add the rest.

Carefully spread the filling onto the crust.

Spread the cheesecake filling carefully over the graham cracker crust. Then pour two cans of cherry pie filling over the top. Chill completely. 

You need two cans of cherry pie filling.

This recipe will keep for several days, although it just doesn’t last long around here! It is an excellent dessert to make ahead for a branding, processing, or to take to the field if you’re farming. 

Ready to go! Delicious!

Cherry Delight Recipe

Classic cherry delight recipe is a no-bake cherry cheesecake icebox dessert. Perfect for those times you need to make a dessert ahead of time, and the bright red is great for holiday dinners!

4.35 from 32 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Time to Chill 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 15

Calories 351 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pkgs graham crackers crushed, about 18 whole crackers
• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 2 8-oz pkg cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz cool whip
• 2 15-oz cans cherry pie filling

Instructions

 

• Finely crush graham crackers. Mix with softened butter. Press in 9x13 pan and chill while making the filling.
• Place softened cream cheese in mixing bowl, beat till smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat again. Add Cool Whip, one cupful at a time. Mix well.
• Carefully spread cheesecake filling over the graham crust. Pour two cans of cherry pie filling over top. Chill 1 hour for a firm crust, or serve immmediatey.

Notes

You can soften the cream cheese and/or the butter in the microwave if necessary. Just do 15 seconds at a time, until it is soft. Or, you can set them on the counter until soft - about an hour or two depending how warm it is in your house.

You can use any flavor of pie filling; blueberry, peach, raspberry, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 451mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 310IUCalcium: 62mgIron: 2mg

Keyword cheesecake, cherry delight, dessert, nobake

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