A No-Bake Delight: The Irresistible Cherry Cheesecake Lush
Calling all dessert lovers! Craving a delicious and easy treat that doesn't require turning on the oven? Look no further than the No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Lush! This layered dessert is a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring a buttery cookie crust, a creamy cheesecake layer, a smooth pudding filling, and a tart cherry topping. Plus, it's incredibly simple to make – perfect for those days when you want a show-stopping dessert without the fuss.
Ingredients:
- For the Crumbly Crust:
- 1 package (approximately 36 cookies) vanilla sandwich cookies, crushed
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the Dreamy Cheesecake Layer:
- 8-ounce package softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (approximately 130 grams)
- 1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
- For the Luscious Pudding Filling:
- 2 small packages of instant cheesecake pudding mix
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
- For the Cherrylicious Topping:
- 1 large can cherry pie filling
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions:
- Building the Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed vanilla sandwich cookies, melted butter, and salt. Mix everything together until the crumbs are evenly coated with the melted butter.
- Pressing in the Crust: Transfer the crumb mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the dish, creating a compact crust.
- A Chilling Interlude: Pop the baking dish with the crust into the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the other layers.
- Creating the Creamy Dream: In a separate large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), cream together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy. This will take about 2 minutes.
- Whipped Delight: Fold in 1 1/2 cups of the thawed frozen whipped topping to the creamed cheese mixture until well combined. This will create the luscious cheesecake layer.
- Layering the Lush: Take the chilled baking dish with the crust out of the refrigerator. Spread the cheesecake layer evenly over the top of the crust.
- Preparing the Pudding Filling: In another bowl, whisk together the cheesecake pudding mixes, milk, and the remaining 1 cup of thawed frozen whipped topping. The mixture will thicken as you whisk it.
- The Grand Finale: Pour the pudding mixture over the cheesecake layer in the baking dish. Finally, top it all off with a generous layer of cherry pie filling.
- A Touch of Elegance (Optional): For a beautiful finishing touch, sprinkle the top with chopped walnuts.
- Setting the Stage for Dessert Bliss: Cover the entire dessert with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours, or until set. The longer it chills, the better the layers will set and the easier it will be to slice.
- Slice and Savor! Once chilled and set, take the dessert out of the refrigerator and slice it into squares. Enjoy the delightful combination of textures and flavors in every bite of this No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Lush!
Tips:
- For a richer crust flavor, use brown butter instead of melted butter. To brown butter, simply melt it in a saucepan over medium heat, swirling it constantly, until it turns a light golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma.
- If you don't have any walnuts, you can substitute them with other chopped nuts like pecans or almonds.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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