No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake

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This no-bake cherry cheesecake is an easy summertime treat. This no-bake cheesecake recipe has omega-3-rich walnuts in the graham cracker crust and uses nonfat Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese in the filling to keep saturated fat in check. If you want a bright red topping, use sour cherries. Sweet cherries give it a more purple hue. To make gluten-free no-bake cherry cheesecake, use gluten-free graham crackers.

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Cook Time:
40 mins
Additional Time:
3 hrs
Total Time:
3 hrs 40 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 servings
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

  • 4 cups halved pitted sour or sweet cherries, fresh or frozen (thawed, drained; see Tips)

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar, divided

  • 1/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons water, divided

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • Half a 14-ounce box graham crackers, preferably whole-wheat

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (see Tips)

  • cup canola oil

  • 2 8-ounce packages reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened

  • 2 cups nonfat plain or vanilla Greek yogurt

  • 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Combine cherries, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch with 4 teaspoons water, then stir into the cherry mixture; return to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid thickens and looks syrupy, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

  2. Process graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add walnuts and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a bowl; stir in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Drizzle with oil and stir to combine. Press into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.

  3. Beat cream cheese, yogurt, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Spread over the crust. Spoon the cherry mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Tips: To pit fresh cherries, use a tool made for the job--a hand-held cherry pitter; it also works for olives! Or pry out the pit with the tip of a knife or vegetable peeler.

To toast chopped, small or sliced nuts, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

349 Calories
17g Fat
42g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 349
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 29g
Added Sugars 22g 44%
Protein 9g 17%
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Vitamin A 873IU 17%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Folate 40mcg 10%
Sodium 228mg 10%
Calcium 107mg 8%
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 22mg 5%
Potassium 233mg 5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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