Cherry Delight

Cherry delight—what's left to say? A variation of the recipe for this sweet and creamy dessert can be found in spiral bound community cookbooks across the region, and it's no wonder. With a prep time of just 20 minutes, this practically no-bake dessert can be prepared hours before you plan to serve it.

Light and airy whipped cream combines with tangy sour cream to balance the sweetness from the cherry pie filling. For a pretty presentation, line your baking dish with aluminum foil before assembling the dessert. When you are ready to serve, lift the dessert in the foil to a cutting board, then gently pull the foil from underneath the crust by holding the cherry delight in place. Cut into bars, then place on a platter.

Learn how to make cherry delight, and give everyone a bite of nostalgia at the next dessert hour.

What Is Cherry Delight?

A beloved and nostalgic dessert, cherry delight is just as, well, delightful as it sounds. While the exact ingredients may vary, cherry delight typically includes a crumb crust, cherry pie filling, and whipped topping, along with a cheesecake-like filling.

While cherry is a classic flavor, you can also make variations of this dessert using other flavors of pie filling, including blueberry, pineapple, or strawberry, to name a few.

This easy-to-make dessert most likely came about in the mid-20th century with the rise of convenience goods, including canned pie filling. The simple ingredient list and quick prep time made it a favorite for serving at potlucks, picnics, and family gatherings.

Ingredients for Cherry Delight

A graham cracker crust is filled with a whipped cream cheese filling and topped with tangy cherry pie filling for a sweet, eye-catching dessert you'll love. To make cherry delight, you'll need:

• Graham cracker crumbs: The base of the crumb crust. Swap with other types of crisp cookie crumbs, if desired.
• Unsalted butter: Binds the crust.
• Granulated sugar: Gives the crust additional sweetness and helps it bake up to a crisp texture.
• Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor of the crust.
• Heavy whipping cream: Whipped to lighten the cream cheese filling.
• Cream cheese: A creamy base for a cheesecake-like filling.
• Sour cream: Adds a tangy richness to the filling.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the filling.
• Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor.
• Canned cherry pie filling: Spooned over the top of the dessert before chilling for a fruity, vibrant finish. You can use another type of pie filling if you prefer.

How To Make Cherry Delight

Just 20 minutes is needed to whip up this fruity, refreshing dessert. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Prepare crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Press into the bottom of a baking dish, and bake until edges are golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Step 2. Prepare filling: Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks. Beat cream cheese and sour cream in a separate bowl until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Step 3. Assemble: Fold half of whipped cream into cream cheese mixture, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spoon into crust and top evenly with cherry pie filling. Chill until firm, then cut into bars.

Cherry Delight Variations

To change up this cherry delight, consider these variation ideas:

• Crust: Use any crisp cookies for the crumb crust you prefer, including shortbread cookies, chocolate wafers, or gingersnaps.
• Spice: Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice to the crust for added warmth.
• Mix-ins: Sprinkle shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips over the crust before pouring in the filling.
• Top with nuts: Sprinkle with toasted pecans or sliced almonds for a nutty crunch.
• Flavorings: Swap the vanilla extract in the filling with almond extract, or add lemon zest, or a splash of rum or bourbon for added depth.
• Mix up the fruits: Use other types of pie filling as desired for other flavor variations.
  
• Garnish: Top with a few fresh cherries, lemon zest, chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, or leaves of mint or thyme for a pop of color.

Our Tips for the Best Cherry Delight

For the best looking (and tasting) cherry delight, keep these tips in mind:

• Press evenly: For the most even crust, use a small measuring cup to flatten and distribute the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
• Don't overwhip: Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks, but avoid overwhipping, which could cause a grainy texture.
• Room temperature cream cheese: For the smoothest filling, make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature before beginning.
• Fold gently: Fold the whipped cream gently into the cream cheese mixture in two parts to keep as much lightness in the mix as possible.
• Chill until firm: For the cleanest slices, chill the dessert until set, and use a sharp knife dipped into hot water between cuts for slicing.

Can I Make Cherry Delight Ahead?

The crust and cream cheese filling for cherry delight can be prepared, wrapped, and refrigerated up to two days ahead. For the freshest presentation, top with cherry pie filling and chill until set on the day of serving.

How To Store Leftover Cherry Delight

Store leftover cherry delight covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. While the layers may begin to break down over time, it will still be delicious. You can also freeze leftovers for up to two months, but note that the texture may change slightly after thawing. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, if frozen, before serving.

More Cherry Dessert Recipes You'll Love

Whether incorporating fresh, maraschino, or canned cherry pie filling into the mix, these cherry desserts will always be a crowd-pleaser:

• Cherry-Lime Hand Pies
• Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
• Punch Bowl Cake
• Millionaire Pie
• Stone Fruit Lattice Slab Pie
• Cherries-and-Cream Icebox Cake
• Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
• Pineapple-Cherry Dump Cake

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.