No-Bake Cherry Pie

This easy No-Bake Cherry Pie recipe has a soft, fluffy cream cheese cherry pie filling with a hint of lemon in a buttery graham cracker crust. It's a cool and creamy no bake dessert that takes just minutes to make with simple ingredients, and is perfect for summer gatherings, holidays, or special occasions. 

For more easy no-bake desserts, try Blueberry Strawberry Pie and Blueberry Cream Pie next!

Growing up in the Midwest, family gatherings always meant hotdishes, sloppy joes, sweet salads, and my favorite desserts with pie filling and cream cheese layered on graham cracker crusts.

This no-bake cherry cheesecake pie is a twist on that classic cherry cream cheese dessert-only here, the filling is mixed into the lemony cream cheese instead of layered on top. It's smooth, creamy, and full of cherry flavor.

Not a fan of whole cherries in canned filling? I'll show you how to break them up for a softer texture.

And since it doesn't need the oven, it's perfect when the oven is tied up with holiday dishes like Tomahawk Ribeye and Sweet Potato Casserole.

🍒Ingredients

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe and exact amounts.

• Cream cheese. Use block cream cheese --- cream cheese spread in a tub won't set up firmly. 
• Lemon juice and zest. Fresh lemon juice and zest brighten the flavor of the cream cheese and cherry pie filling. 
• Canned cherry pie filling. I use Duncan Hines Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling or  Favorite Day Cherry Pie Filling from Target. Aldi cherry pie filling tastes good, but has a brownish color, which can be off-putting. You can also use homemade cherry pie filling or try my tricks to make canned cherry pie filling taste better. 
• Premade graham cracker pie crust. I used a premade graham cracker crust from Aldi-my new favorite for its thickness, sturdiness, and great price. When I have time, I prefer my thick, buttery homemade graham cracker crust. 
• Whipped cream or Cool Whip. Fold in one cup of fresh whipped cream or frozen (thawed) whipped topping like Cool Whip or Truwhip (a "healthier" Cool Whip). For whipped cream, whip ½ cup cold heavy cream to stiff peaks -- no need to add sugar, but you can if you prefer.  

🥧Substitutions or Variations

• Crust. Swap the crust for an Oreo cookie chocolate crust, shortbread crust, or gingersnap crust. 
• Almond extract is a natural pairing with cherries. Start small, even a few drops will add flavor. 
• Toppings. Top the pie with Lemon Whipped Cream and fresh lemon zest, or Chocolate Whipped Cream with chocolate shavings.

🥣How to Make No Bake Cherry Pie

Step 1: In a large bowl, whip softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Fold in the cherry pie filling.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold whipped cream (or one cup Cool Whip) into the cherry pie filling. 

Step 3: Pour or spoon cherry pie filling into the graham cracker crust. Chill 4-6 hours, up to overnight, until firm. 

Step 4: Serve chilled pie with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, crushed graham crackers, toasted almonds, and fresh cherries or fresh berries. 

👉Top Tip: For smaller cherry pieces, use a pastry blender or two knives to gently chop them right in the mixing bowl before folding them in. The filling may be a little looser, but it still firms up well enough to slice, see image below. It will be a deeper shade of pink, too.

🎁Storage & Freezing

• Cover no-bake cherry pie with tented aluminum foil or plastic wrap to protect the fluffy filling, or store slices in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. The graham cracker crust may soften over time, but it still tastes great. 
• Freeze the pie or individual slices on a baking sheet until firm (2-3 hours), then wrap well with plastic wrap and again in foil or place in a freezer-safe container. Store for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge before serving-or enjoy it slightly frozen for a cool, cherry ice cream treat.

❓FAQs

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