From Scratch Cherry Delight
A perfect summertime dessert, often found at potlucks and summer picnics around here, our From Scratch Cherry Delight recipe is definitely a favorite! We’ve taken the original recipe and turned it into a completely homemade version. Nothing boxed or premade here and each layer shines! A buttery sugar cookie crust, a smooth cream cheese whip, and topped off with a homemade cherry pie filling. Feast your eyes on this delicious layered dessert!
From Scratch Cherry Delight
A perfect summertime dessert, often found at potlucks and summer picnics around here. This Cherry Delight is definitely a favorite! A buttery sugar cookie crust, a smooth cream cheese whip, and topped off with a homemade cherry pie filling.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Crust
- 3/4 Cup Butter, softened
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- *1/2 cup butter, melted + 1/4 cup sugar set aside for later
Cherry Pie Filling Layer
- 2- 15 oz Cans Canned Cherries in water *do not drain*
- 3 Tbsp Unbleached Flour
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Cup White Sugar
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- Dash of salt
Cream Cheese Layer
- 4 tsp Cold Water
- 1 tsp Unflavored Gelatin
- 1 Cup Cold Heavy Cream
- 2- 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- COOKIE CRUST. The night before or at least 2 hours in advance prepare the cookie crust. Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a microwave safe bowl, soften the butter and whisk in the white sugar and eggs. Next, stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until fully incorporated.
- Press the cookie dough into the 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 15-18 minutes or until it is a deep golden brown. We are looking for an overbaked (but not burnt) cookie here. Once cooled, we will process in a food processor to turn into cookie crumbs.
- Once baked, pull the cookie with the parchment paper out of pan and cool on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, process in the food processor into fine crumbs. Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a microwave safe bowl then mix in 1/4 cup sugar and the crumbs until fully combined and set aside.
- CHERRY PIE FILLING. In a medium saucepan combine all of the pie filling ingredients except the pure vanilla extract. Heat on medium heat and bring to a slight simmer. Continue stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved and the filling has just started to thicken, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract. Set aside to let cool completely.
- CREAM CHEESE LAYER. In a microwave safe bowl, pour in the water and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let sit 3-4 minutes then microwave a few seconds until gelatin is fully dissolved. Cool slightly.
- In another bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add in the cooled gelatin and whip until stiff peaks form again. This creates a stabilized whipped cream that will not turn watery over time.
- In another bowl, whip the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and the pure vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped cream and blend until smooth. Refrigerate mixture until you are ready to assemble the dessert.
- ASSEMBLE. In a 9x13 glass baking dish, press the cookie crumb mixture firmly into the bottom. Next, evenly spread cream cheese layer over crust. Refrigerate 1/2 hour to firm up. Before serving spread cherry pie filling over the top of cream cheese layer.
- ENJOY!
Why my family loves this recipe:
- While this recipe usually calls for boxed and premade ingredients, our From Scratch Cherry Delight is entirely homemade using quality ingredients. Not only is it “better” for you, the quality ingredients make it taste WAY better too!
- My Dad says it reminds him of going over to Grandmas house- it’s one of those desserts you can count on!
- My brother says each layer has it’s own distinct qualities that combine perfectly- “crunchy bottom, creamy middle, and sweet-tart top. Combination of perfection!”
- If you’re looking for a potluck or picnic dessert, this From Scratch Cherry Delight is a classic where we’re from. Always a crowd pleaser!
- Swap out the cherry topping with another kind of fruit such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries. Any of these would make excellent alternatives.
Why make this Cherry Delight from scratch?
Making this From Scratch Cherry Delight using real ingredients from your kitchen will take a bit more time, but it will definitely worth it in the long run! Using homemade ingredients rather than premade or boxed items can be so much healthier because of the absence of preservatives, chemicals, seed oils, artificial dyes, and processed sugars. Real ingredients lead to better tasting food- how food should taste! Your family will appreciate knowing that their food was thoughtfully made by someone who loves and cares about them. Yes, it may take a bit more time and prep in advance, but your family will benefit from the slowed down time together creating something delicious! AND bonus, you will save money in the long run.
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What ingredients make this recipe completely homemade?
Traditionally, Cherry Delight would utilize graham cracker crumbs for the crust, Cool Whip in the cream cheese whip layer, and canned cherry pie filling. We always choose to opt out of boxed or premade items. This started when we realized we had intolerances to some of the ingredients in those packaged items. We have grown to appreciate how it taste much better homemade so, transitioning this recipe to completely from scratch was a no brainer!
To make the crust, first make a large sugar cookie in a pan. Once cooled, crumble the cookie into fine crumbs. This cookie base will give the crust a buttery and sugary flavor. Instead of using Cool Whip, we made our own homemade stabilized whipped cream- essentially whipped cream that won’t get watery over time. And finally, instead of canned cherries filled with high fructose corn syrup, food dyes, and preservatives, we’ve chosen to use canned cherries in water and make a simple pie filling using white sugar, lemon juice, and flour.
Step-by-Step instructions to make From Scratch Cherry Delight:
To make the cookie crust-
- The night before or at least 2 hours in advance prepare the cookie crust. Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees and line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a microwave safe bowl, soften the butter and whisk in the white sugar and eggs. Next, stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Continue mixing until fully incorporated.
- Press the cookie dough into the 9 x 13 baking dish and bake for 15-18 minutes or until it is a deep golden brown. We are looking for an overbaked (but not burnt) cookie here. Once cooled, we will process in a food processor to turn into cookie crumbs.
- Once baked, pull the cookie with the parchment paper out of pan and cool on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, process in the food processor into fine crumbs. Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a microwave safe bowl then mix in 1/4 cup sugar and the crumbs until fully combined and set aside.
The Cherry Pie Filling Layer-
In a medium saucepan combine all of the pie filling ingredients except the pure vanilla extract. Heat on medium heat and bring to a slight simmer. Continue stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved and the filling has just started to thicken, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract. Set aside to let cool completely.
Lets whip up dreamy cream cheese filling-
- In a microwave safe bowl, pour in the water and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let sit 3-4 minutes then microwave a few seconds until gelatin is fully dissolved. Cool slightly.
- In another bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add in the cooled gelatin and whip until stiff peaks form again. This creates a stabilized whipped cream that will not turn watery over time.
- In another bowl, whip the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and the pure vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped cream and blend until smooth. Refrigerate mixture until you are ready to assemble the dessert.
It is time to assemble the goodness-
- In a 9×13 glass baking dish, press the cookie crumb mixture firmly into the bottom. Next, evenly spread cream cheese layer over crust. Refrigerate 1/2 hour to firm up. Before serving spread cherry pie filling over the top of cream cheese layer.
- ENJOY!
