No-Bake Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake with silky-smooth chocolate filling, topped with a layer of whipped cream infused with chocolate liqueur soaked-cherries.

Cheesecakes are my weakness. The unlimited flavor combination creates an endless backlog of recipes to try and create. Not complaining here, I just know I have some work cut out in populating recipes for this blog. Chocolate or fruit flavored cheesecakes are a popular go-to, when you combine the two it’s even better! Another great combo is peanut butter and chocolate. View my popular Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake post for that recipe.

This No-Bake Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake has the best of both worlds. Rich chocolaty crust with a layer of silky-smooth chocolate filling, topped with another layer of tangy whipped cream infused with chocolate liqueur soaked-cherries. That’s a mouth-full to say and it’s even better in your mouth.

Traditional baked cheesecakes have a denser, creamier texture, while this no-bake cheesecake has a unique mousse-like texture. The mixed in melted chocolate hardens in tiny pieces as it cools, creating little flavor bursts with each bite. The liqueur soaked cherries meld into the whipped cream layer, adding sweet and tart flavor throughout the cheesecake. Looking for more no-bake cheesecake recipes? Try also the Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake, for another fruit-based option!

Food Science & Cooking Tips

– Chocolate can be melted in microwave or double boiler. Be careful to not over-heat and seize up the chocolate.
– Soaking the cherries in liqueur infuses flavor and helps break down the structure slightly to make them moister and reduce tanginess. This Black Forrest Brownies recipe has infused cherries as well.

Food Photography:

I shot this in natural light at 1/200 sec, f/ 2.0 . It was important to show the detail in the layers of this unique cheesecake. An overhead image did not show the internal detail as well. You can discern the layers, but not the important cherry pieces interlaced between. A cleanly cut slice on its side perfectly shows this detail. I happened to cut a nice slice that went right through a section of cherry pieces. The recipe has an elegant flair and a simple white dish creates this mood. Some whole cherries in the foreground creates a more complete scene and adds needed color to the photograph.

Products used in this recipe:

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set
3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, Blue/Green/Yellow
Cuisinart 5-Speed Hand Mixer
T-fal Nonstick Cookware Set, 10-Piece
Leakproof 9 inch Springform Pan

More cheesecake recipes you might like:

• Raspberry Mini Cheesecakes
• Mini Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecakes
• Chocolate Pudding Cheesecake
• Apple Cider Cheesecake
• Swirled Vanilla Cheesecake
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cupcakes

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No-Bake Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake with silky-smooth chocolate filling, topped with a layer of whipped cream infused with chocolate liqueur soaked-cherries.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Course Cheesecake

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 397 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Crust

• 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs I used Oreo’s with filling removed
• ½ cup butter melted
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar

Filling

• 1 cup fresh or frozen pitted cherries chopped in half
• ½ cup chocolate or almond flavored liqueur
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
• ¾ cup cold water
• 2 ½ 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup sugar
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

 

• In medium bowl combine fine cookie crumbs, melted butter and 1/3 cup sugar. Press into bottom and 1-inch up sides of a greased 9-inch spring form pan. Set aside.
• Place cherries in small bowl with liqueur to marinate. Drain after desired amount of time and discard or drink liqueur.
• In small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water (do not stir). Let stand for 1 minute, and then heat on medium-low heat, stirring until gelatin is completely dissolved. Take off heat and cool.
• In large bowl, beat softened cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar until combined, stir in cooled gelatin. Divide cream cheese mixture in half.
• In separate small bowl, melt chocolate chips in microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in-between, until melted. Cool slightly; while still in liquid form, stir into one half of the cream cheese mixture. Pour over prepared crust and spread evenly.
• In separate large bowl, beat whipping cream with mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold in other half of cream cheese mixture and drained cherries. Pour over chocolate layer in crust. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight to set the cheesecake. Garnish with more cherries if desired.

Nutrition Facts

No-Bake Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

Amount per Serving

Calories

397

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

30

g

46

%

Saturated Fat

 

17

g

106

%

Cholesterol

 

78

mg

26

%

Sodium

 

172

mg

7

%

Potassium

 

125

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

 

28

g

9

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

17

g

19

%

Protein

 

2

g

4

%

Vitamin A

 

845

IU

17

%

Vitamin C

 

1.1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

41

mg

4

%

Iron

 

1.1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword chocolate cherry cheesecake, easy no bake cheesecake, no bake cheesecake

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

– Recipe adapted from Taste of Home: No-Bake Recipes. Print. Summer 2014.