Indulge in layers of vanilla wafer crust, sweet cherry filling, silky cheesecake and airy vanilla pudding
with my easy homemade Cherry Cheesecake Lush recipe. So creamy and delicious!
Can I make this cheesecake ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the entire cheesecake lush up to 2 days in advance. Just be sure to store it
covered in the refrigerati% until ready to serve
Should the cream cheese be room temperature?
Yes, letting the cream cheese soften to room temperature before mixing makes for the smoothest, lump-
free filling. If ifs too cobd, small bits may remain unmixed.
What can I substitute for vanilla wafers?
Graham crackers or gingersnaps both make excellent substitutes. Just adjust amount as needed to
fit your baking pan. Finely crush them into crumbs before mixing with the melted butter.
Do I need to bake the cheesecake after assembly?
Nope! All the components (except the crust) are no-bake, so once ifs layered you can sinvty let it chill
thoroughly in the fridge before slicing_
How long will the cheesecake lush last refrigerated?
stored in an airtight ctMtainer, it will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge. The cookies may soften
over time but it will stm taste great!
Can I use a different flavored pie filling?
Absolutely! Cherry works wonderfully but any 21-ounce can of pie filling like blueberry, stravierry or
apple can be substituted. Just avoid chunkier fillings like peach.
What size pan should I use?
A 9%13 inch baking pan is best to get the right thickness and layering of ingredients. But any similar size
casserole dish between 12 and 9×13 inches would
Ingredients:
• 1 and 1/3 cups cherry pie filling
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 and 1/3 cups chopped pecans
• 3 and 1/3 cups vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (about 76 cookies)
• 4 cups cool whip. divided
2 packages (80z each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
2 cups milk
• 2 packages (3.40z each) vanilla instant pudding mu
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350’E Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter.
2. Crush vanilla wafers into fine crumbs until you have 3 and 1/3 cups. Pour the vanilla wafer crumbs
into a bowl and mix with the melted butter until coated.
3. Press the buttered vanilla wafer crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to completely cool.
4. V’hile the crust is cooling, make the cheesecake layer. In a large bow, beat together the cream
cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in 2 cups of the cool whip until fully incorporated. Set
aside.
5. In another bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla pudding mixes for 2 minutes until thickened. Let
stand for 5 minutes to fully thicken, then fold in the remaining 2 cups cool whip_
6. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled vanilla wafer crust. Top with fre cherry pie
filling, spreading evenly.
7. Carefully spread the vanilla pudding mixture over the cherry pie filling layer.
8. Top Vith the remaining 1 and 1/3 cups cool w•hip and sprinkle the pecans evenly over top.
9. Refrigerate fw at least 2 hours before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Notes:
• Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before beating to ensure it blends smoothly and
doesnt get lurnpy-
• I-Jse an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese filling until light and fluffy. This helps incorporate more
air for a creamier texture.
If you don’t have vanilla wafer cookies on hand, graham crackers make a fine substitution for the
crust. Just adjust the amount as needed to M your baking dish_
• Feel free to use another favor pie filling instead of cherry, such as blueberry, apple or strawberry. Just
make sure its a 210z can_
• For best results, thaw the cool whip completely and drain off any liquid before folding it into the
filings.
Be gentle when spreading the layers to lyevent them from mixing together too much. Clean the
spatula between layers.
Chill the cheesecake lush overnight to allow the flavors to meld together. The pecan topping wil also
soften slightly_
• Gamish slices wih fresh cherries or whipped cream if desired.
Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The vanilla wafers may soften
over time _
• For easy slicing, run a knife under hot water first and wipe clean between cuts. Dip knife in hot water
as needed