Lemon Cherry Cheesecake
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This lemon cherry cheesecake recipe is a little bit magic, combining a fluffy lemon cake with a light cheesecake layer and cherry pie filling on top. This refrigerator cake is the perfect summer dessert.
Today I’m sharing a fun little recipe with you with a bit of cooking “magic” involved. This deliciously magic lemon cherry cheesecake recipe starts out with the cake on the bottom and a cheesecake layer on top, but they switch places during the cooking.
The lemon cake mix is an excellent complement to the light cheesecake layer and cherry pie filling (that is so good) tops it all off to perfection. Another little hint of magic is that instead of cream cheese for the cheesecake filling, we use ricotta cheese. This makes the cake taste lighter but nonetheless delicious.
I love that this is a refrigerator cake and a lighter-tasting dessert (not overly sweet but just enough) with a flavor that promises spring is coming! It’s the perfect spring or summer dessert to take to your next potluck or gathering. It’s also incredibly easy to make.
Simply prepare the cake according to the package directions, beat the remaining ingredients together, and spread on top, then bake! Yep, spoiler: this isn’t a no-bake . But once it’s cooled, you top your with the to make a sensationally scrumptious dessert and then serve it cold.
Recipe Ingredients
- Lemon cake mix (and ingredients to prepare it according to package directions)
- Ricotta cheese
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Cherry pie filling
How to Make Lemon Cherry Cheesecake
Prepare your cake mix according to package directions and pour it into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Combine all of the other ingredients except for the pie filling and blend them well with an electric mixer.
Spoon the all over the top of the cake batter and gently spread to cover.
Well, cover as best as you can. I pretty much did it :).
Bake cheesecake at 350 for one hour or until the center springs back when lightly pressed.
Allow to cool completely and then top with cherry pie filling.
Cover and place in the refrigerator until well chilled.
ENJOY! These slices come out pretty and perfect every time, just like the one below.
Bring a little sunshine into your life with this magic lemon cheesecake.
Storage
Store leftover lemon cheesecake covered loosely in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Serve cooled straight from the fridge.
Notes
- If you like, serve your cake with (here’s our homemade ).
- You can also use any kind of pie filling on this lemon cheesecake. Why not try blueberry pie filling next time?
You may also like these other lovely lemon dessert recipes:
Lemon Meringue Pie With Condensed Milk and Wafers
Easy Lemon Bar Recipe (With Video Tutorial)
Lemon Chess Pie: A Southern Family Tradition
Ingredients
- 1 box lemon cake mix
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cans cherry pie filling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Prepare the cake according to the package directions and then pour the cake batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish.1 box lemon cake mix
- In a large bowl, place ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Drop the cheesecake mixture by spoonfuls over the top of the cake batter, trying to distribute as evenly as possible.32 ounces ricotta cheese, 4 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Bake cheesecake in the oven for 1 hour or until the center springs back when pressed lightly with your finger. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
- Top with cherry pie filling, then cover and place in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled. Serve cold.2 cans cherry pie filling
Video
Nutrition
“Any man’s life will be filled with constant and unexpected encouragement if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day.”
~Booker T. Washington
Baked this as called for but it took an hour and 20 minutes for knife to come out clean and then the caked looked too brown. I did use a tinted glass 9/13 dish. The dish also looked too full for me. To put on topping. I may chill topping and add as I serve. Questions: I used all 4 eggs with cheese mix and additional ones in cake mix as called for. Was this correct? And, should I use larger dish next time? This was a trial run for a special dinner in a couple of weeks
I love anything lemon and my husband’s favorite dessert is cherry cheesecake so this will be a win-win for both of us! I think I will make it for our Valentine’s day dessert. Thanks for all the great recipes and word’s of encouragement. Have a blessed day!!
Thank you so much Pam!!! I hope you both love it and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!!!
I’m a caregiver for the elderly & would love to make this for my residents! I’m thinking cupcakes though. Any thoughts or tweaks I need to make?
Consider making this as written, then use pretty cupcake liners to make individual servings. Just cut small squares and place each liner. Depending on the size you want, use regular, jumbo, paper or foil. When serving a variety of dessert bites, I find this makes a pretty presentation. Would probably go together faster.
Thank you so much for sharing this delicious looking recipe. I think I will just make it for myself for Valentine’s day and I MIGHT share with my husband!
I like the way you think Charolett!!!
Can you leave this out for the Fourth of July party
Will this work with a homemade lemon cake recipe rather than using a cake mix?
I would think so. I haven’t tried it using homemade but I can’t see any reason it wouldn’t.
Be still my heart….lemon *and* cherries? Oh my goodness!
Wow these look so good. Bless you.
I hope you get the chance to try them soon Mary!!