Description
Cherries in the Snow is a delightful layered dessert featuring airy angel food cake, a smooth cream cheese and whipped topping mixture, and a vibrant cherry pie filling. Easy to assemble and perfect for chilling, this sweet treat offers a balance of lightness and rich cherry flavor, making it an ideal dessert for gatherings and holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake 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 baking dish to form the base of the dessert.
- 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 thawed whipped topping until the mixture is light, fluffy, and spreadable.
- Assemble the Layers: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the angel food cake layer, ensuring all pieces are covered. Next, spoon the cherry pie filling evenly on top of the cream layer, spreading gently to keep the layers distinct.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. This allows the dessert to set and prevents the cake from becoming overly soggy. For immediate serving, you can mix the cake into the cream layer, although layering helps maintain cake integrity over time.
Notes
- For a quicker option, mix the angel food cake into the cream mixture and serve immediately.
- Use a 9 x 13 inch baking dish for best layering results.
- Softening the cream cheese at room temperature helps achieve a smoother cream layer.
- Chilling overnight improves flavor melding and texture.
- Frozen whipped topping should be fully thawed before folding in.
- For a lighter version, consider using a low-fat cream cheese and whipped topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
