Description
Cherries in the Snow is a delightful, no-bake layered dessert featuring airy angel food cake, a creamy cream cheese and whipped topping mixture, and sweet cherry pie filling. Perfectly chilled, this dessert is light, fluffy, and bursting with juicy cherry flavor, ideal for gatherings or a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Layer
- 14 ounces pre-made angel food cake
Cream Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 block)
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip works great)
Topping
- 42 ounces cherry pie filling (2 cans, 21 ounces each)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Tear or cut the angel food cake into bite-size pieces and arrange them evenly across the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Make the Cream Layer: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar together until smooth and creamy. Then pour in the milk and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined and silky. Gently fold in the whipped topping until light and fluffy, ensuring the mixture is thick but spreadable.
- Assemble the Layers: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the angel food cake layer, covering all pieces completely. Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the cream layer, spreading gently to avoid mixing the layers.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. This chilling step helps the dessert set and prevents the cake from getting soggy, preserving its texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can mix the angel food cake directly into the cream cheese mixture if planning to serve immediately, though layering helps keep the cake from becoming soggy if chilling for a longer period.
- Ensure the whipped topping is fully thawed before folding it into the cream cheese mixture for best texture.
- For a lighter option, use low-fat or reduced sugar alternatives, but note it might alter the texture slightly.
- Use fresh cherries or a homemade cherry sauce for a more natural flavor variation.
- Chilling the dessert overnight enhances the melding of flavors and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
