Cherry Crunch Dessert

 

For those who love cheesecake, but don't like the heavy texture or the time it takes to make a traditional cheesecake, this cherry crunch dessert may just be what you're looking for

Prep Time:15 mins

Bake Time:20 mins

Additional Time:15 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 16

Ingredients

Crust:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons white sugar

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup butter, softened

1 cup chopped pecans

Filling:

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip®), thawed

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Topping:

2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Whisk flour, sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingers until crumbly; stir in pecans. Press crust mixture evenly into an ungreased 9x13-inch baking pan.

Bake crust in the preheated oven until golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, beat confectioner's sugar and cream cheese together in a large bowl until combined. Fold in thawed whipped topping; stir in vanilla bean paste.

Spread cream cheese filling over cooled crust; top with cherry pie filling. Refrigerate until ready to serve.