Description
Light and fluffy dessert with cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling, and whipped topping. Easy to make and perfect for potlucks!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained well
- 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
- 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- Graham crackers or vanilla wafers, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Soften the Cream Cheese: Ensure cream cheese is softened to room temperature to avoid lumps.
- Beat the Cream Cheese: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add Sweetened Condensed Milk: Pour in the sweetened condensed milk. Mix on low speed initially, then increase to medium until fully incorporated.
- Incorporate Vanilla Extract: Add the vanilla extract and mix until evenly distributed.
- Drain the Crushed Pineapple: Drain the crushed pineapple very well using a fine-mesh sieve or paper towels to remove excess liquid.
- Gently Fold in the Pineapple: Fold the drained pineapple into the cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula until evenly distributed.
- Add the Cherry Pie Filling: Gently fold in the cherry pie filling until evenly distributed, being careful not to break up the cherries too much.
- Fold in the Whipped Topping: Gently fold in the thawed whipped topping until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Add Nuts (Optional): If using, gently fold in the chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Cover and Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Serve: Serve chilled in individual bowls or a large serving dish. Garnish with extra cherries or chopped nuts if desired. Serve with graham crackers or vanilla wafers for dipping, or as a topping for cake.
Notes
- Adjusting Sweetness: Reduce sweetened condensed milk or use sugar-free whipped topping if too sweet.
- Fruit Variations: Experiment with blueberry or strawberry pie filling.
- Adding Texture: Add crushed graham crackers or chopped pretzels for extra crunch.
- Making it Ahead: Can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes