This homemade cherry cheesecake is easy to make, and is so delicious! This creamy cheesecake topped with cherry sauce makes the perfect dessert!
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
For the cheesecake:
- 3 packages (24oz, 750g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
For the cherry sauce:
- 3 cups cherries, pitted and halved (fresh or frozen)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
For the crust:
- In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and sugar.
- Drizzle the melted butter over top and stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Press the graham cracker crust evenly over the bottom of a 9” springform pan, and about 2 inches up the sides.
- Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes. It should look dry after baking.
- Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool.
- Decrease the oven temperature to 275F.
For the cheesecake:
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese until it is smooth and fluffy.
- Add the Greek yogurt and whip to combine.
- Add the sugar, vanilla, and eggs, and whip until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Pour the cheesecake batter into the cooled crust, smoothing the top.
- Bake the cheesecake at 275F for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until an instant read thermometer placed in the centre of the cheesecake reads 150F.
- Once the cheesecake has reached 150F in the centre, turn off the oven, prop open the oven door with a potholder or the handle of a wooden spoon, and let the cheesecake sit in the warm oven for an hour.
- After an hour, take the cheesecake out of the oven.
- Run a thin, sharp knife around the edge of the pan, and let it cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature. This will take 3-4 hours.
- Once it’s cool, chill the cheesecake overnight (or for at least 8 hours) in the refrigerator before slicing and serving it.
For the cherry sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, stir together the cherries, lemon juice, corn starch, and sugar.
- Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the cherries have broken down a bit and the sauce has thickened.
- Chill the sauce and serve over top of the cheesecake.
- Cover any leftover cheesecake with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.