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When it comes to whipping up the perfect Cherry Delight recipe, you might have run into a few issues like setting issues or crust complications. But not anymore – I’ve been making Cherry Delight for years and I’m here to help you make it perfect the first time.
This is a wonderful recipe!
-Debbie
Some Cherry Delight recipes use gelatin, which can result in setting issues making your dessert too soft or runny. In my version, we’re using cherry pie filling – it’s my tried and true ingredient for perfection!
Another common issue people run into when making this recipe is a crust that is too crumbly and doesn’t hold together well. This makes it hard to serve and honestly, just a mess. I’ve made this crust what feels like a million times, so rest assured my combination of ingredients and my process results in a crust that is spot on every single time.
This classic Cherry Delight recipe is an incredibly simple yet decadent dessert that is always a hit for parties, plus it only takes 20 minutes to prep.
This no bake cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts to serve at parties during the hot summer months. The cherries give it a tart taste, while the cream cheese filling adds a rich and creamy texture, all on top of a buttery graham cracker crust. When it’s chilled to perfection, it’s a refreshing and irresistible treat.
This is the kind of dessert that works year-round — perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks, but also a great fit for the holiday table with its deep red color. It’s an especially easy win for Valentine’s Day or Christmas. Looking for another fruit dessert? Add raspberry cream cheese pie to the table too for another pop of red!
Why You’ll Love This Cherry Delight Recipe
- Simple ingredients
- Quick and easy
- No bake dessert
- Easy to customize
Classic Cherry Delight Recipe Ingredients
You can make this easy dessert recipe with just a few simple ingredients! Get the full measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
Crust
- Unsalted butter: Don’t forget to melt the butter!
- Graham cracker crumbs: Make your own with graham crackers, or buy the ready-made crumbs.
- Granulated sugar
Filling
- Cream cheese: Make sure you allow time to soften the cream cheese to room temperature.
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cool whip
- Cherry pie filling: I used 1 and 1/2 cans.
How to Make Cherry Delight
This no bake dessert recipe couldn’t be easier and will become a family favorite. Keep scrolling for the full measurements in the recipe card below.
- Make pie crust. In a medium bowl combine all the crust ingredients – the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and granulated sugar. Stir until thick.
- Add crust to pan. Using your fingers, firmly press the crumb mixture into a 9×13 inch pan.
- Fluff cream cheese. In a separate large bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer for 90 seconds, until fluffy.
- Make cream cheese mixture. Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add in 1 & 1/2 containers of cool whip, mix. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust.
- Pour cherry pie filling on top. Add the cherry filling, carefully spooning and spreading over the filling. You don’t want the pie filling to mix into the cream cheese layer. You can use 1 & ½ cans or full 2 cans.
- Chill. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best results. The more time this dessert spends in the refrigerator, the more it will firm up and improve in texture.
Old Fashioned Cherry Delight Recipe Tips
- Make fine graham cracker crumbs. If you’re making your own graham cracker crumbs, you’ll want to use a blender or food processor. The crumbs need to be fairly fine in order to make a good graham cracker crust that will be a smooth layer on the bottom of the dish.
- Make clean cuts. When you slice your cherry delight, use a sharp knife and wipe it off between slices for an easier, cleaner cut.
- Thaw cool whip. If your cool whip is frozen, be sure to let it thaw completely before you use it in this easy cherry delight dessert recipe.
Cherry Delight Dessert Substitutions & Variations
Add nuts: Walnuts make a good addition to this creamy dessert. You can stir them into the pie filling or sprinkle them on top of the finished product.
Switch up the pie filling: This cherry delight recipe would be just as delightful with a different type of pie filling, like blueberry pie filling.
Top it with chocolate. If you like the combination of cherries and chocolate, you could garnish with chocolate shavings or chocolate chips.
Storing Cherry Delight Dessert
This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you don’t have a pie pan with a lid, cover your dessert with plastic wrap as tightly as possible to keep it fresh.
Cherry delight can be frozen too! Assemble this dessert recipe, but don’t add the cherry pie filling. Make sure you put it in a freeze-safe container. Take it out the night before you need it and put it in the fridge to thaw. Add the cherry pie filling the next morning and continue to chill in the fridge until it’s time to serve it.
More Cherry Recipes
- Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake
- Cherry Dump Cake
- Champagne Cherry Poke Cake
- Cherry Chocolate Chip Muffins
More Recipes
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Old Fashioned Cherry Delight Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted, 1 stick
- 2 ½ cups (293g) graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
Filling
- 16 oz (452g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (113g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 12 oz (339g) cool whip, 1 1/2 containers total
- two 21 oz cans cherry pie filling, use 1 & 1/2 cans
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl combine all the crust ingredients – the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar. Stir until thick.1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted, 2 1/2 cups (293g) graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- Using your fingers, firmly press the crust into a 9×13 inch pan.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer for 90 seconds, until fluffy.16 oz (452g) cream cheese
- Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add in 1 & 1/2 containers of cool whip, mix. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust.1 cup (113g) powdered sugar, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 12 oz (339g) cool whip
- Add the cherry pie filling, carefully spooning and spreading over the filling. You don’t want the pie filling to mix into the cream cheese layer. You can use 1 & ½ cans or full 2 cans.two 21 oz cans cherry pie filling
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. The more time this dessert spends in the refrigerator, the more it will firm up and improve in texture.
This is a wonderful recipe. I have had one similar to this for 50 years. It also works great with pineapple. I have since cut the recipe in half as there is just the two of us now and we really don’t need that much dessert.
Thank you
I have spent most of the morning looking for this recipe with no luck. I have made it many times but could not find the recipe.
I like the cherry delight seems like I have a few guests who does not like the cherry delight they like strawberry and I’ve had a few who like blueberries but I’m getting a little older.so I use store bought crust it speeds up a little time before I made my. Crust by hand but it is a very good Christmas 🎄 dish and I like to make pistachio cake that way I have my red and green
Can I use whipping cream instead of cooled whip?
I add a tsp of almond extract on top of the cherries. My family loves this so much there’s never any leftovers.