Ingredients
- Crust ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 2/3 cup butter, melted
- Cheesecake filling ingredients:
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 cups whipped cream* or Cool Whip
- Cherry pie filling:
- Homemade cherry pie filling recipe requires 3 cups of pitted cherries. If you don't have fresh cherries, you can use a large can of pre-made cherry pie filling instead.
Preparation
Step 1
1. Combine crust ingredients in a bowl and stir until well-mixed.
2. Spread the graham cracker mixture in a glass 9x13-inch casserole dish. Press the crust firmly into the dish. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
3. To make the cheesecake filling, beat cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar on high until mixed. Add whipped cream and continue to beat on high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Spoon the cheesecake filling over the graham cracker crust. When all of the filling has been dabbed on, use a plastic spatula to spread it evenly.
5. Refrigerate the cheesecake while you make the cherry topping.
6. Spread cooled cherry pie filling over the cheesecake. Or, for an even more attractive presentation, spoon the cherry pie filling on each piece as you serve it! Store in the refrigerator.
Additional Notes:
Yield: 24 servings
*To make the 3 cups of whipped cream for this recipe, combine these ingredients in a bowl:
1 3/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Beat with an electric mixer for a couple minutes, until fluffy and stiff!