Cherry Cheese Pie
This Cherry Cheese Pie dessert is made every year at my house for Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and any major occasion. This pie has a creamy lemon kissed filling on a homemade graham cracker crust topped with cherries.
CHERRY CHEESE PIE
This pie screams TRADITION. Imagine Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof shimmying and singing “Tradition”. That kind of tradition.
From as long as I can remember, my family has made this pie for Thanksgiving. Most times we bypass the plates. And the guys don’t appreciate it so we hide it. Then us Larson girls just grab a fork and minutes later…GONE.
It’s not gourmet. I don’t even like cherries so I scrape them off. Oh, but it’s so delicious. It takes me right back to my mom’s kitchen.
Make it with a homemade graham cracker crust to take it to the next level.
You may have a few lumps in the cream cheese layer. Don’t worry. They will go away as it chills.
It’s important to let the pie chill for a couple of hours to firm up.
PRO TIP:
If I’m in a hurry, I place the whole can of cherries in the fridge to chill while the creamy layer is chilling. No one likes warm cherries!
OTHER PIE RECIPES:
- Pecan Cheesecake Pie
- Banana Cream Pie
- Blueberry Custard Pie
- Lemon Pie
- S’mores Pie
- Peaches and Cream Pie
- Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients
- 1 (8 oz package) cream cheese, softened.
- 1 (14 oz can) Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (9 ounce) graham cracker crust
- 1 (21 oz can) cherry pie filling
Instructions
- In large mixing bowl , beat cream cheese until fluffy. If your cream cheese isn't soft enough you will get lumps. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Mix in lemon juice and vanilla until WELL combined. This is important so that it is combined enough and will firm up.
- Pour into graham cracker crust and chill at least 3 hours. Pour on cherries (you might not need all of them) and chill before serving.
Notes
Source: my mom Jeanine Larson
Thank you for this. I lost my recipe for this many years ago and have been looking for it. I first mad this pie as a teenager in the ’60’s. I will be making it this week!
Thank you!
I have made this for many many years and it always turns out delicious my family enjoys it every Thanksgiving and every Christmas
It’s my favorite. I’m making this week!
I tried this recipe over and over and the filling never sets. I even added more cream cheese and less lemon juice, but that did not help.
Do you beat it well. That’s what gets mine to set.
How long will this keep in the fridge?
It’s good for about a week.
A while – like 4-5 days
Cherry Cheese Pie, 🍒
Our family made this every Thanksgiving + Christmas as well.
Such family memories. I Love your blog. XOXO
Thank you! Us too!
I’ve made cheesecakes several times in my life for my family and my church family. Is this cheesecake too? One person commented that it’s not the same as cheesecake. If it’s different, how?
Sounds good! Thanks!
you do not bake this so it’s more of a cream pie.
Cheesecake is baked this pie is a no bake recipe except the gramcracker crust. You do have to bake it.
My husband loves this easy version of cheesecake! I had a larger graham cracker pie shell so made it using two blocks of cream cheese instead of one and added 1/4 tsp. of both almond and vanilla extract for additional flavor. Topped with the pie filling and popped it into the freezer for about 45 minutes to get a quicker chill. Was delicious!
So glad you liked it!
Easy peezy lemon squeezy!! Delicious all time family favorite!! All time go to! Gotta love eagle brand!
Thank you!
What I like to do is put in a package of lemon (or vanilla) pudding mix and add 1/2 ish cup of milk. It makes it more firm so it holds its shape better and adds a wonderful lemony flavor.
Nice tip!
Love cherry cheese pie
My aunt used to make this pie all the time and it was my favorite! I loved the tanginess of cream cheese layer with the cherries on top. It’s so addicting. One important tip is don’t try to substitute with low fat or fat free products. It won’t set up right. Also use the amount called for the lemon juice. The lemon juice makes the milk thick due to the curdling that happens when you mix them. Dont worry it will be smooth you just want to make sure it has enough lemon juice to set up right. Also this pie is creamy and it won’t be as firm as other no bake pies. You can alway whip in some cool whip to get it more sturdy.
Thanks for your tips Cecilia.
I have made this twice and it isn’t firming up. What am o doing wrong?
I’ve made this twice…exactly like you say…& it was runny, both times. Needed to be served in a bowl with a spoon. Still tasted good, but not the cherry cheese pie of my childhood…that held up like a piece of cheesecake.
You must really beat the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk.
This was my dad’s favorite dessert so we had it often growing up. Seriously SO yummy! Thanks for reminding me of this recipe I am going to make it tomorrow. It is also delicious with blueberries.
We always used bottled lemon juice because that’s what we had on hand. My mom also put everything in the blender, and we have never had it turn out runny. Maybe because the blender mixes it up really well. No lumps either. We called it cheesecake. I didn’t learn that this wasn’t traditional cheesecake until I went to college 🤣
Great tips!
Me too, only I was 30 when I found out this wasn’t really cheesecake. I was on a date and ordered the cheesecake. I was so disappointed!!