Cherry Cheesecake Lush
If you love lushes and you love cheesecake, you'll love this cherry cheesecake lush! It's a layered dessert with a vanilla wafer crust, cheesecake filling and topped with a whipped cream and cherries.
Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Cherry cheesecake lush is a delicious no bake dessert.
It's a perfect dessert for hot summer days, when you're attending a potluck, or simply craving a this easy dessert.
It's a very easy dessert to make and tastes wonderful. It's sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients for Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Vanilla wafers: Choose a high-quality brand for the best flavor and texture in your crust.
Unsalted butter: Make sure it's melted completely to mix easily with the crushed wafers.
Cream cheese: Bring it out of the fridge about 30-60 minutes before starting to allow it to come to room temperature.
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract gives the best flavor.
Whipped topping
Cherry pie filling: Make sure the can is 21 ounces to completely cover the top layer evenly.
How to Make Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Add the vanilla wafers into a food processor and blend them until they turn into crumbs.
Mix in the melted butter and blend it again until everything is well mixed.
Press this crumbly mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish to create the crust and put it in the fridge to chill while you make the filling.
Take a hand mixer or use a stand mixer and beat the softened cream cheese until it's smooth.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and keep mixing until it becomes creamy and well blended.
Carefully fold in half of the whipped topping until it’s fully mixed with the cream cheese mixture, then spread this over the chilled crust evenly.
Spread the cherry pie filling over the cream cheese layer.
On top of the cherries, spread the rest of the whipped topping.
Place the dish back in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 2 hours until it is set.
When it's ready, cut the cherry cheesecake lush into squares and serve it chilled.
Tips & Tricks to Make the Best Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Here are some tips to make the best cherry cheesecake lush:
Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before you start. This helps it blend more easily and smoothly.
Mini Lush: Make individual portions in small cups or jars. This is great for parties and makes serving easier.
Cool Time Savers: If you're in a hurry, pop the dessert in the freezer for about an hour instead of the fridge. Just make sure it doesn't freeze completely.
How to Store Leftovers
For any leftovers, cover the dish with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge. They'll stay good up to 3-4 days.
You'll find the longer they stay in the fridge, the more soft and almost soggy the crust gets, so keep this in mind.
F.A.Q.'s
Can I use a different type of crust instead of vanilla wafers?
Yes, you can substitute the vanilla wafers for another type of cookie, such as graham crackers, shortbread cookies, or even chocolate wafers. Follow the same instructions for crushing the cookies and mixing with the melted butter.
What if I don’t have a food processor to crush the cookies?
If you don't have a food processor, you can place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or a heavy pan until they are fine crumbs.
Can I use a different fruit topping instead of cherry pie filling?
Definitely! This recipe is versatile, and you can easily swap out the cherry pie filling for other flavors like blueberry, strawberry, or even apple pie filling. Choose your favorite or mix and match for a variety of flavors.
Can I freeze Cherry Cheesecake Lush?
While you can freeze Cherry Cheesecake Lush, keep in mind that the texture of the whipped topping and cream cheese layer may change slightly after freezing. If you do freeze it, make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator before serving.
What if I want a thicker cheesecake layer?
If you prefer a thicker cheesecake layer, you can increase the amount of cream cheese in the recipe to 24 ounces (three 8-ounce packages). You may also want to increase the amount of powdered sugar slightly to maintain the right level of sweetness.
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Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Ingredients
- 11 ounces vanilla wafers
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 8 ounces whipped topping like Cool Whip
- 21 ounces cherry pie filling
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the vanilla wafers until they are crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse until well combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish to form the crust. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined and creamy.
- Fold in half of the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture gently until fully incorporated. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the chilled crust.
- Spread the cherry pie filling over the cream cheese layer. Then, spread the remaining whipped topping over the cherry layer.
- Refrigerate the Cherry Cheesecake Lush for at least 2 hours, or until set.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
