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Every time I whip up this Cherry Cream Cheese Pie, memories of lazy summer days at my grandma's place come flooding back. The smooth, velvety filling just dissolves on your tongue, and those bright cherries make it look absolutely gorgeous. Since it doesn't need baking at all, I always bring it to gatherings where folks constantly bug me for my secret.
This Dessert Will Win Your Heart
You won't need to fire up your oven for this fantastic pie. Most of what you need is probably sitting in your kitchen now, and you can easily swap out the topping. When cherry season's over, I've thrown on strawberries or blueberries instead and it turns out just as tasty.
What You'll Need
Get yourself some properly softened cream cheese. You'll want condensed milk (the sweetened kind) for that perfect sweetness, plus a bit of lemon juice and some vanilla to brighten everything up. To save myself some trouble, I normally pick up a ready-made graham cracker crust and grab a can of cherry pie filling to spread on top. It's crazy how something so basic can taste so incredible.
How To Make It
Combine your soft cream cheese with your condensed milk vanilla and lemon juice until everything's completely smooth. Then spread this dreamy mix into your graham cracker crust. Stick it in your fridge for at least 8 hours or do what I do and make it before bed. When you're ready to dig in add the cherry topping and watch everyone get excited.
Helpful Hints
Your cream cheese needs to be super soft before you start or you'll end up with chunks. You can fix this dessert up to 3 days before you need it but wait to put cherries on until right before everyone eats. Want something even creamier? Just use twice the cream cheese. And don't stick to just cherries – fresh summer berries work great too.
Storage Advice
This tasty treat will stay good for around 3 days in your fridge if it doesn't vanish before then. I always wait to add the cherry part until right before I serve it so everything stays pretty and the colors don't blend together.
Dress It Up
Everyone notices this cherry cream cheese pie whenever it shows up at the table. Try it with some vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream on the side. It works great for backyard cookouts Christmas dinner or just because you want something sweet and creamy on a random Tuesday.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Do I have to use softened cream cheese?
- Yes, soft cream cheese mixes without clumping. Let it reach room temp for an hour to make your pie silky smooth.
- → Can I swap the cherry topping for another flavor?
- Absolutely, switch it up with blueberry, strawberry, or apple pie filling if you'd like a change.
- → How long will this pie stay fresh?
- It'll stay good in the fridge for about 5 days. Just wrap it well or pop it in an airtight container.
- → Can I make the graham crust myself?
- Sure! Mix crushed graham crackers with melted butter, press it into a pan, and chill until firm before adding filling.
- → Why won’t my filling set properly?
- Lemon juice helps it firm up, so don’t skip that part. Also, give it at least 8 hours in the fridge to chill.