Cherry Delight, Cream Cheese Cherry Dessert

Cherry Delight, Cream Cheese Cherry Dessert

An easy and delicious dessert any time of year.Cherry Delight is an easy no-bake cream cheese dessert recipe. Cherry Pie filling brings a beautiful red color making it a perfect dessert for Christmas or Valentines Day. Do delicious, you simply can't have just one helping.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Amerian

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 7

Resting time 1

Total Time 1 37

Servings squares

Calories 224kcal

Author Lea Ann Brown

Equipment

8 x 8 casserole pan

Ingredients

For the Graham Cracker Crust
1 1/2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs 10 sheets of of Graham Crackers
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons Brown sugar
7 Tablespoons butter melted
To Make The Dessert
8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
1/2 Cup pecans chopped
21 ounce Canned Cherry Pie Filling
8 ounce Cool Whip Original

Instructions

In a food processor, grind the graham crackers into a consistent granulated state. Add the sugars and pulse to combine.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter in the microwave in 15 second increments until melted. Add the melted butter to the graham cracker mix and pulse in the food processor until just combined.
Press crust into a 8 x 8 square casserole pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes. And then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
In the meantime cream together cream cheese and pecans.
Place dollops of the cream cheese on the graham cracker crust. Use index fingers to gently spread the mixture to cover the crust. Be gentle and patient, the cream cheese will eventually cover the crust.
Spread one heaping cup of Cool Whip over the cream cheese mixture.
Use a spatula to cover the Cool Whip with the Cherry Pie Filling. Again go slow, you don't want to combine the Cool Whip with the pie filling.
Top with another heaping cup of Cool Whip. Garnish the top with with rough chopped Graham Crackers. I use my hands.
Chill overnight.

Notes

Double the recipe and use a 9 x 11 baking dish to serve a crowd.

Tips for Success:

Crust: You can purchase pre-crushed graham crackers on the baking aisle to make a pie crust, but try making your own. Purchase a box of graham crackers, It's easy to make using a food processor. Plus you'll have extra crackers left over for snacks.

Preparing Crust: When pressing the graham cracker crust into the pan, don't pack it too tightly. This will cause it to harden and become hard to remove from the pan when ready to serve. Just press it into the pan until it's well formed to the bottom.

Cream Cheese: Allow an hour for the cream cheese to come to room temperature. You'll really have problems combining it with the pecans and spreading it if you don't.

Cool Whip: Make sure the Cool Whip has completely thawed. Place it in the refrigerator for a 4-5 hours or leave it at room temperature. You can also remove the lid and place it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Important: Use the setting for defrost.

Refrigerate: For best results, once assembled, make sure to refrigerate Cherry Delight for at least one hour before slicing. This will allow the dessert to set up a bit. An overnight rest in the refrigerator is best.

Slicing: As with any cheesecake type dessert, use a sharp knife for slicing and serving. Each time you start a new slice, dip the knife in warm water and wipe clean with a paper towel. This will insure easy neater slices.

Garnish: Top Cherry Delight with some crushed graham crackers, or even some shaved chocolate.

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