No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Balls
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Let me introduce you to my bite-sized version of cherry cheesecake. My no-bake cherry cheesecake balls are made with creamy condensed milk and cream cheese with sweet cherry pie filling and a crunchy graham cracker crumb coating.
I love cherry cheesecake around the holidays because my Grandmama used to always make a cherry cream cheese pie for me this time of year. She was actually allergic to the red cherries but still made it because she knew it was my favorite. Now that’s a good grandmama!
The problem I encountered then is still much the same as now. I can hardly be left alone with that pie because it is just too stinking good. So this year, I set out to create a bite-size version of my cherry cheesecake recipe that’s perfect for parties and get-togethers and gives you just the right amount of cherry cheesecake goodness in every bite. I could not be more thrilled with these no-bake cherry cheesecake balls! They are everything I hoped for and more, like .
All you need is cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, cherry pie filling, and those graham cracker crumbs. We simply mix the ingredients together, chill the batter, and then roll it into mini cheesecake balls. They truly are all that is good and wonderful about a cherry cheesecake rolled up into a bite-size ball of goodness. The taste of graham crust sprinkled throughout makes them even better than the original in many ways.
Ready to give them a go?
Recipe Ingredients
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Cherry pie filling
- Cream cheese (here’s how to easily make homemade cream cheese)
How to Make No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake Balls
Place condensed milk, cream cheese, and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and well blended.
If your cream cheese was not room temp, this is going to take a little more time so you really really need to let that get to room temp.
Dump the entire box of graham crumbs on top of the .
Mix again until it is the consistency of cookie dough, scraping down sides if needed.
Like this.
Now, I’m not here to judge or anything but I will tell you that you’re crazy if you don’t get a pinch of this right now to taste!
Dump the entire contents of the cherry pie filling into the dough.
Mix that gently with an electric mixer until just blended and then stop.
We don’t want to overmix because we’ll make all of those little bits of cherries disappear into the dough.
Cover the with and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until well chilled.
Roll refrigerated into one-inch balls and roll those in the additional graham crumbs.
Once all the mini cheesecake bites are made, store them covered in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
These little bites are wonderful to take to a party or family get-together. They remain firm and are so easy to just pick up and pop in your mouth! When you make a batch, keep a few in a container in your fridge to grab a cheesecake bite when the holiday sweet tooth hits!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Recipe Notes
- If you want, you can also add a tablespoon of bottled lemon juice. I added it to one batch and forgot to add it to the other and both were very good. So if you have it on hand, go for it. If you don’t have it on hand, don’t go buy it just for this.
- On the cherry pie filling: I’m usually all about generic ingredients and saving money but when it comes to pie filling, the less you pay the fewer cherries you get these days. With that in mind, I recommend paying the extra fifty cents or so to get a “premium” cherry pie filling and avoiding the generics.
- In the directions, I suggest two boxes of graham crumbs. That is because you will have to skimp to have enough to coat them with. You’ll end up with a lot of extra crumbs but there are so many uses for them during the holidays… like making cherry no-bake cheesecake bites again after these have been inhaled!
- For added flavor and texture, fold in 1/2 cup of coconut flakes when you add the cherry pie filling.
- For something different, substitute the graham cracker crumb coating for melted chocolate instead to make chocolate cheesecake balls. YUM.
- For best results, let them chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
You may also like these recipes:
Cheesecake Toppings & An Easy Cheesecake Recipe
Christmas Tie Dyed Cheesecake Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese at room temp
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 boxes graham cracker crumbs
- 1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Place condensed milk, cream cheese, lemon juice (if using), and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and well blended.2 8-ounce packages cream cheese at room temp, 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice
- Dump the entire box of graham crumbs on top of the cream cheese mixture. Mix again until it is the consistency of cookie dough, scraping down sides if needed.2 boxes graham cracker crumbs
- Dump the entire contents of cherry pie filling into the dough and mix gently with an electric mixer until just blended. Don’t overmix because it will break up all of the cherries to the point that they disappear into the dough.1 21-ounce can cherry pie filling
- Cover with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour or until well chilled.
- Roll into one-inch balls and roll those in the additional graham cracker crumbs. Once all the cheesecake balls are made, store them covered in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
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Can these be made without the cherry pie filling and just served with it, so those of us that cannot tolerate those bits of fruit in our cheesecake can have it without those? I was thinking of serving with strawberry, cherry, and maybe chocolate and caramel toppings, to be dipped? I am not a fan of fruit mixed into my cheesecake (or anything else, really… sorry!
I have made these without the can of cherries and they are great.
I just saved the recipe for Cherry Cheesecake Bites, I am definitely going to try these. They sound delicious.
Hi Christy,
Can fresh fruit be used? These look awesome and I cannot wait to make them.
Thank you for the recipe!
I’m in the process of making these now (can’t wait!), but I wanted to give y’all an FYI – I used Dunkin Hines cherries. I figured Dunkin Hines is a big brand, should be good. There is an ok amount of cherries, but not nearly what you have pictured from Lucky Leaf and the gel was more of a soft set gelatin consistency instead of what is pictured. Not sure how this will affect the taste, but I’m grabbing Lucky Leaf next time, even if I have to go to the market in the next town.
Have you tried making it with just wrapping each cherry with the dough instead of mixing them in? Or do you need the flavor from the pie filling? If so, how did they come out?
I made these and they taste pretty good. I refrigerated the completed product overnight after rolling them in graham cracker crumbs, but they are still soft. Ie when I pick them up I make an indentation in the cheesecake ball. Should they be soft? Is there a way to make them harder/denser?
Thanks
I made these and refrigerated overnight and the dough is so soft that I can’t even make a ball with it. I have baked for many years and never had this type of issue with a rolled dainty. I even ended ypnadding 2 boxes 9f rhe Graham crumbs. Yuck, tastes like raw dough!
I froze them and ate them frozen. I think they are even better that way. Also when making them I put a spoon full of the dough directly in the crumbs sprinkled crumbs over them and then rolled them, that way I didn’t have any problem with them being sticky.
Thanks for sharing your tips Becky!!!