🍒🍰 Cherry Cream Cheese Bake
A rich and easy dessert combining a buttery crust, creamy cheesecake-like filling, and sweet cherry topping. This Cherry Cream Cheese Bake is perfect for holidays, potlucks, family gatherings, or a simple weeknight treat.
5
⏱️ Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 35–40 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: About 3 hours
- Servings: 12
🛒 Ingredients
🍪 Crust
- 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
🧀 Cream Cheese Filling
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
🍒 Cherry Topping
- 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
Optional Topping
- Whipped cream
- Fresh cherries
- Powdered sugar
- White chocolate drizzle
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter.
- Press firmly into the bottom of the dish.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool slightly.
2. Make the Cream Cheese Layer
- Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing gently.
- Mix in vanilla and sour cream until creamy.
- Spread the filling evenly over the crust.
3. Add Cherry Topping
- Spoon cherry pie filling over the cream cheese layer.
- Spread gently without mixing the layers.
4. Bake
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the center is mostly set.
- Remove from oven and cool completely.
5. Chill & Serve
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Great with:
- Fresh whipped cream
- Vanilla ice cream
- Coffee or tea
- Fresh berries
- Chocolate shavings
💡 Tips & Variations
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest texture.
- Let cream cheese soften before mixing to avoid lumps.
- Swap cherry topping for:
- Blueberry pie filling
- Strawberry topping
- Raspberry preserves
- Peach pie filling
- Add chopped pecans or almonds to the crust for extra crunch.
- For a richer dessert, drizzle with melted chocolate before serving.
🧊 Storage
- Refrigerator: Store covered for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual slices for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
🍴 Approximate Nutrition (Per Slice)
- Calories: 390
- Protein: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fat: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
Cherry Cream Cheese Bake is a dreamy combination of creamy cheesecake flavor, buttery crust, and sweet cherry topping—a simple dessert that tastes like it came from a bakery! 🍒✨