Best 4 Light Cherry Cheesecake Recipes

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Indulge in the delightful symphony of flavors with our light cherry cheesecake, a dessert that captivates the senses with its creamy texture, vibrant cherry filling, and a hint of tangy zest. This delectable cheesecake is a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring a graham cracker crust that provides a sturdy base, a creamy and velvety cheesecake filling made with reduced-fat cream cheese, and a luscious cherry topping that bursts with sweetness and tartness. Whether you're a cheesecake aficionado or simply seeking a delightful treat, this light cherry cheesecake is sure to satisfy your cravings. And with our three variations—classic, chocolate, and swirl—you can create a cheesecake that perfectly matches your taste preferences.

Let's cook with our recipes!

LIGHT CHERRY CHEESECAKE



Light Cherry Cheesecake image

This cheesecake boasts a velvety texture with less fat than the original, thanks to lighter versions of cream cheese and sour cream, plus plenty of cottage cheese.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 12

Nonstick cooking spray
8 graham crackers (3-by-5 inch)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, such as safflower
3 cups low-fat (1%) cottage cheese
8 ounces reduced-fat bar cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 bags (12 ounces each) frozen cherries

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with rack set in lower third. Assemble a 9-inch springform pan with the rimmed side of the pan facing down. Coat pan with cooking spray; line side with a long strip of waxed or parchment paper.
  • In a food processor, grind graham crackers until fine crumbs form. Add oil, and pulse to moisten. Transfer crumbs to prepared pan, and press firmly into the bottom. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until crust is lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, wipe bowl and blade of food processor. Blend cottage cheese and cream cheese until very smooth and glossy, scraping down bowl as necessary, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup sugar, sour cream, eggs, flour, vanilla, and salt; blend just until filling is smooth.
  • Pour filling onto crust (crust can be hot or warm). Bake until barely set in center, about 1 hour. Turn oven off; let cake cool in oven 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
  • Make topping: In a large skillet, combine cherries and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Boil over high heat until liquid is thick and syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
  • To serve, unmold cheesecake (peel off and discard paper). Transfer to a serving platter; top with cherry topping.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 333 g, Fat 12 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 16 g

THE BEST UNBAKED CHERRY CHEESECAKE EVER



The Best Unbaked Cherry Cheesecake Ever image

Light and fluffy unbaked cheesecake. Very fast and easy to make. Husband refuses to eat baked cheesecake after eating this!

Provided by LuCynda

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Cheesecake Recipes     No-Bake Cheesecake Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup margarine, softened
¼ cup sugar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 (12.5 ounce) can cherry pie filling (or other filling of your choice)

Steps:

  • Mix together graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated and crumbly. Press into a pie plate, going up the sides as much as possible.
  • Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth and spreadable. Whisk whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until smooth. Pour cream cheese into prepared crust. Smooth the top with a spatula, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. Spread the cherry pie filling over the top, and refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 295.8 calories, Carbohydrate 30.7 g, Cholesterol 47.7 mg, Fat 18.5 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.5 g, Sodium 165 mg, Sugar 17.3 g

LIGHT CHEESECAKE



Light Cheesecake image

Our family adores cheesecake, but I wanted to serve something healthier. I came up with this lighter version that I make for both holidays and everyday. -Diane Roth, Adams, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h25m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1-1/4 cups crushed reduced-fat vanilla wafers (about 40 wafers)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon plus 1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
2 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese
1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine wafer crumbs, butter and 1 teaspoon sugar. Press onto the bottom and 1/2 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Bake 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 325°., In a large bowl, beat cream cheeses and remaining 1-1/4 cups sugar until smooth. Beat in sour cream, cornstarch and vanilla. Add eggs and egg whites; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled., Remove rim from pan. Top cheesecake with strawberries.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 311 calories, Fat 13g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 74mg cholesterol, Sodium 310mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 10g protein.

LIGHT CHERRY CHEESECAKE



Light Cherry Cheesecake image

Make and share this Light Cherry Cheesecake recipe from Food.com.

Provided by scarley

Categories     Cheesecake

Time 1h30m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

nonstick cooking spray
8 graham crackers (3-by-5 inch)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, such as safflower
3 cups low fat cottage cheese (1%)
8 ounces reduced-fat bar cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 (12 ounce) bags frozen cherries

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with rack set in lower third. Assemble a 9-inch springform pan with the rimmed side of the pan facing down. Coat pan with cooking spray; line side with a long strip of waxed or parchment paper.
  • In a food processor, grind graham crackers until fine crumbs form. Add oil, and pulse to moisten. Transfer crumbs to prepared pan, and press firmly into the bottom. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until crust is lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, wipe bowl and blade of food processor. Blend cottage cheese and cream cheese until very smooth and glossy, scraping down bowl as necessary, 4 to 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup sugar, sour cream, eggs, flour, vanilla, and salt; blend just until filling is smooth.
  • Pour filling onto crust (crust can be hot or warm). Bake until barely set in center, about 1 hour. Turn oven off; let cake cool in oven 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours and up to 2 days.
  • Make topping: In a large skillet, combine cherries and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Boil over high heat until liquid is thick and syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
  • To serve, unmold cheesecake (peel off and discard paper). Transfer to a serving platter; top with cherry topping.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 346.9, Fat 14.7, SaturatedFat 7.6, Cholesterol 119.7, Sodium 526.3, Carbohydrate 39.4, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 31, Protein 15.2

Tips:

Use fresh cherries. Fresh cherries will give your cheesecake the best flavor. If you can't find fresh cherries, frozen cherries will also work. Just be sure to thaw them before using. Use a springform pan. A springform pan is the best type of pan to use for a cheesecake because it allows you to remove the cheesecake from the pan easily. Don't overmix the cheesecake batter. Overmixing the cheesecake batter can make the cheesecake tough. Mix the batter until it is just combined. Bake the cheesecake in a water bath. Baking the cheesecake in a water bath helps to prevent the cheesecake from cracking. Chill the cheesecake before serving. Chilling the cheesecake before serving allows it to set properly and develop its full flavor.

Conclusion:

This light cherry cheesecake is a delicious and easy dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It is made with a creamy cheesecake filling, a graham cracker crust, and fresh cherries. The cheesecake is baked in a water bath, which helps to prevent the cheesecake from cracking. The cheesecake is then chilled before serving. This cheesecake is a surefire crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.

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