Cherry Delight

Is it too hot to turn on the oven where you live? Then come, dear child, and let me show you how to make one of the easiest desserts on earth: cherry delight. For starters, it requires zero baking. You can assemble it in about 25 minutes and pop it in the fridge to chill and set up hours before you plan to serve it. Secondly, it lives up to its name. With a buttery vanilla wafer crust, light cream cheese center, and tangy cherry pie filling—straight from the can—on top, it really is a delight.

This is one of those impossibly simple no-bake desserts that has no business being so delicious. The crumbly crust, the creamy filling, the burst of sweet cherries... one bite and you'll see. Put this on your list of summer desserts to try this year!

Can you use a different flavor pie filling?

Absolutely! Blueberry, peach, or even apple would be delicious. Consider swapping the almond extract for vanilla extract depending on the pie filling you use. Almond extract pairs perfectly with cherry and peach, but vanilla extract is a better fit for blueberry and apple pie fillings. If you want to go the strawberry route, use this strawberry delight recipe!

Can you make cherry delight ahead of time?

Yes—in fact, you should! For the dessert to fully set up, it needs to chill for at least four hours, but it can hang out in the fridge for longer. For the best presentation, try to serve it within 12 hours of assembling. Leftovers will still be good for up to five days, but the crust will soften the longer it sits.

Speaking of the crust, it can be made, pressed into the pan, and frozen up to two days before you add the filling. If you're looking to get a jump on dessert prep, that’s a great place to start!

How To Make Cherry Delight

INGREDIENTS

Vanilla wafers: These make the crust sweet, buttery, and crisp. Once crushed and mixed with butter, they create a firm, sandy crust that holds together nicely.

Light brown sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness plus a subtle caramel-like richness to the crust.

Butter: Melted salted butter binds the crust together and gives it that rich, classic flavor. The salt also helps balance the sweetness. If you only have unsalted butter, just add a small pinch of salt.

Heavy cream: Heavy cream makes the filling light, fluffy, and almost mousse-like. It keeps the cream cheese layer from feeling too dense. Don’t substitute milk or half-and-half here, since they won’t whip properly.

Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the filling without making it grainy. It also helps the whipped cream stay smooth and stable.

Cream cheese: This gives the filling its rich, tangy cheesecake flavor and thick, creamy texture. Make sure it’s softened so the filling turns out smooth, not lumpy.

Almond extract: Almond extract adds a sweet, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with cherry. Just keep in mind, a little goes a long way!

Cherry pie filling: Canned cherry pie filling adds the fruity sweetness and glossy topping that makes this dessert so pretty and nostalgic. It also makes this dessert extremely easy!

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Start by pulsing the vanilla wafers and brown sugar in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Then slowly drizzle in the melted butter and keep processing until the mixture looks like damp, coarse sand.

Next, press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a greased baking dish. The flat bottom of a measuring cup works great here and helps you get a nice even crust.

Whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar together until stiff peaks form. This step gives the filling its light, fluffy texture, so make sure the cream is nice and cold before you start. Remove the whipped cream to a separate bowl, then beat the cream cheese and almond extract together in the mixing bowl. Once that’s smooth and fluffy, fold in the whipped cream with a rubber spatula. Try not to overmix here—you want to keep all that air in the filling.

Spread the creamy filling over the chilled crust. An offset spatula helps smooth the filling into an even layer, covering the crust corner to corner.

Spoon the cherry pie filling over the top. Gently smooth it out so you get a little cherry goodness in every bite.

Chill the dessert until it’s fully set before slicing. Cherry delight is best when it’s nice and cold, fresh out of the fridge!

A full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.