Cherry Cheesecake Dip

Cherry Cheesecake Dip is the no-bake dessert that turns dessert-table anxiety into a five-minute job. This dip layers a fluffy marshmallow-cream-cheese base under a blanket of syrupy canned cherries, and the whole thing comes together faster than it takes to preheat an oven. Set it out with graham crackers and watch it clear off the table before the rest of the spread does.

By Olya Shepard · Baker: Layer Cakes, Cookies & Desserts

Cheesecake and cherries (and other berries) might be my favorite combo, full stop, and I've made more versions of no-bake berry/cherry cheesecakes than any other desserts in my rotation - blackberry cheesecake bars,  cheesecake stuffed strawberries, even a no bake cherry cheesecake. This dip is what happens when all of that gets condensed into one bowl in five minutes.

📝 Cherry Cheesecake Dip At a Glance

⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
❄️ Chill Time: 1 hour
🍒 Serves: 6-8
💰 Cost: About $9 total (roughly $1.25 per serving)
👩‍🍳 Skill Level: Easy, no baking required
🥣 Equipment: Large bowl, hand mixer, rubber spatula, serving bowl

💬 Why You'll Love This Dip

• 🥣 Comes together in one bowl in about 5 minutes, no oven involved
• 🗓️ Make it up to 2 days ahead, so party-day you gets to actually enjoy the party
• ☁️ The marshmallow fluff keeps the texture soft and cloud-like instead of dense, so it scoops easily even straight from the fridge
• 🍓 Every ingredient comes from a package or a can, so there's no odd half-used container left in your fridge after

🍒 Ingredients in Cherry Cheesecake Dip

There's not much that goes into this, but I'm sharing my swap-out notes too, since not everyone keeps almond extract on hand.

For the cheesecake layer

• Full-fat cream cheese - Room temperature, so it whips up smooth instead of lumpy. Low-fat cream cheese works in a pinch, but the texture won't be quite as rich.
• Marshmallow fluff - This sweetens the whole dip and keeps it light instead of dense. Get a small spatula in there; it's sticky.
• Lemon juice - Just a tablespoon, but it cuts through the sweetness so the whole thing doesn't taste one-note.
• Vanilla extract and almond extract - Together with the cherries, this trio plays off each other. If you don't have almond extract, use a bit more vanilla.
• Salt - Just regular table salt, to balance the sugar.
• Frozen whipped topping - Folded in at the end for that light, moussey texture. It holds its shape far longer than fresh whipped cream if this is sitting out at a party, though a stabilized homemade whipped cream will work too.

For the topping

• Cherry pie filling - One 21-ounce can. I use this to keep the whole thing at a 5-minute prep time, though homemade filling works exactly the same way if you'd rather make your own.

How to Make Cherry Cheesecake Dip

Whip the cream cheese - Using an electric hand mixer, whip the cream cheese alone for about 30 seconds until soft and fluffy. Don't skip the mixer here; whisking this by hand is a losing battle.

Add the flavor - Add the marshmallow fluff, lemon juice, vanilla, almond extract, and salt. Beat for another 30 seconds until fully combined.

Fold - Using a rubber spatula, fold in the whipped topping. Work from the bottom of the bowl up and over into the center, turning the bowl a quarter turn between folds, until it's uniform. This keeps the mixture light instead of deflating it.

Chill - Transfer to a serving bowl, smooth the top with your spatula, and refrigerate covered for at least 1 hour (up to 2 days). Top with the cherry pie filling right before serving.

Cherry Cheesecake Dip

A no-bake cheesecake dip made with cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, and whipped topping, finished with a layer of cherry pie filling. Ready in 5 minutes of prep plus a chill, this cherry cheesecake dip is the shortcut version of cheesecake you make when you want the flavor without turning on the oven.

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheesecake dip, cheesecake dip recipe, cherry cheesecake dip

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Author: Olya Shepard

Equipment

• large bowl
• electric hand mixer
• Rubber spatula
• Wide-mouthed serving bowl or pie dish

Ingredients

Cheesecake Dip Base

• 8 ounce full-fat cream cheese room temperature
• 7 ounce marshmallow fluff 1 jar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping thawed

Topping

• 1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling, regular or extra cherries

For Serving

• Graham crackers pretzels, or other dippers of choice

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the Cheesecake Base

• In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, whip the cream cheese for about 30 seconds until soft and fluffy.
• Add the marshmallow fluff, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt, then beat with the electric mixer until well combined, about another 30 seconds.
• Use a rubber spatula to fold in the whipped topping, working from the bottom of the bowl and folding the mixture up and over into the center so you don't deflate the whipped topping.

Chill and Serve

• Transfer the mixture to a wide-mouthed serving bowl or pie dish and smooth the top with your spatula so the cherry filling has an even surface to sit on.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days, before topping.
• Top with the cherry pie filling right before serving, keeping it chilled, and serve with graham crackers or your favorite dippers.

Calories: 243kcal

Notes

If your cream cheese is still cold, skip the counter wait: unwrap it, set it on a microwave-safe plate, and give it 10 seconds per side. Press it with a finger - it should give slightly but not turn soft or glossy. Cold cream cheese is the main reason this style of dip turns out lumpy instead of silky.

This dip firms up more the longer it sits in the fridge. If you pull it out after the full 2 days and it feels a little too stiff to scoop easily, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before serving — it loosens back up without losing its texture.

Hold off on stirring the cherry pie filling into the cheesecake layer, even though it's tempting to swirl it for looks. Once the cherries and syrup get folded in, the dip turns a dull pink instead of showing off the clean white-and-red layers, and it's harder to keep the top neat for photos.

This recipe is a 1:1 swap for any pie filling you have on hand, so if cherry isn't in your pantry, blueberry, strawberry, or even a batch of homemade fruit compote will set up the same way.

Nutrition Facts

Cherry Cheesecake Dip

Amount per Serving

Calories

243

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

13

g

20

%

Saturated Fat

 

9

g

56

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.5

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Cholesterol

 

29

mg

10

%

Sodium

 

255

mg

11

%

Potassium

 

70

mg

2

%

Carbohydrates

 

30

g

10

%

Fiber

 

0.01

g

0

%

Sugar

 

23

g

26

%

Protein

 

3

g

6

%

Vitamin A

 

402

IU

8

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

48

mg

5

%

Iron

 

0.1

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

FAQs

Can I make this dip ahead of time?
Yes. This dip can be made up to 2 days in advance, which makes it a great option for entertaining. Just keep the cherry filling separate until you're ready to serve, so the top stays clean and glossy.

Can I freeze cherry cheesecake dip?
This isn't a great candidate for the freezer. Since the whole recipe only takes about 5 minutes of prep, thawing and rewhipping it later would take longer than just making it fresh.

What can I serve with this dip?
Graham crackers are the classic choice since they echo a cheesecake crust, but pretzels, biscotti, vanilla wafers, and Biscoff cookies all work well too.

How to Store Cherry Cheesecake Dip

Refrigerator: Store leftover dip covered with plastic wrap or foil in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer: Not recommended. The texture doesn't hold up well after thawing, and it's faster to make a fresh batch than to thaw and rewhip this one

More Dips To Enjoy

• Cannoli Dip - All the flavor of a classic cannoli filling, minus the fried shell.
• Warm Muffuletta Dip - A cheesy, savory dip inspired by the New Orleans sandwich.
• Buffalo Chicken Dip - A spicy, tangy party favorite that never lasts long on the table.
• Whipped Goat Cheese Dip with Bacon and Dates - A sweet-and-savory whipped dip that's perfect for a cheese board upgrade.