Cake Mix Cherry Cheesecake

By Aubrey · Published: July 3, 2023 · Last Updated: July 3, 2023
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Luscious, creamy Cake Mix Cherry Cheesecake minimizes the work yet results in a gorgeous summer indulgence that will wow your guests!

Cool, mouthwatering, and oh-so-hard to resist, cheesecake is practically its own food group! I mean, entire restaurant chains are dedicated to this decadent dessert, and for a good reason! This rich Cake Mix Cherry Cheesecake gives you the same delicious goodness as a Cheesecake Factory slice, but with the help of boxed cake mix and cherry pie filling, this recipe is simple to make!

Cake Mix Cheesecake is not Complicated

You had me at Cheesecake. It’s one of my favorites! Still, cheesecake can be challenging to create. Traditional cherry cheesecake takes up to 9 hours to complete, uses 15 or more ingredients, needs special springform pans, and even requires a water bath while cooking. Sheesh – I’m exhausted just imagining it!

But this Cake Mix Cherry Cheesecake is easy. It gives you all the dreamy creaminess of a classic cheesecake with far fewer ingredients and just over an hour of cooking time! (Though it should be chilled before serving.) This is the best cherry cheesecake recipe for simple summer entertaining!

Other Recipes for Cheesecake Toppings

One of the beauties of cheesecake is the endless number of toppings you can use to change it up!

Strawberry Salsa tastes fresh and fantastic on top of your cheesecake and is perfect for the finishing touch to a Mexican fiesta!
Slice your cheesecake into bite-sized pieces and use this Chocolate Fondue for a decadent dipping sauce absolutely everyone adores!

Ingredients

Crust: Yellow cake mixes, eggs, vegetable oil

Cheesecake Filling: Cream cheese, sugar, eggs, milk, lemon juice, vanilla extract

Topping: Can of cherry pie filling

How to Make Cake Mix Cherry Cheesecake

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Then grease a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside one cup of cake mix for the filling. Pour the remaining cake mix, eggs, and oil into a large mixing bowl and combine until crumbly.

STEP TWO: Press the mixture into the bottom and 3/4 of the way up the baking dish’s sides to make the cheesecake’s crust. Set that aside for now.

STEP THREE: Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large mixing bowl until it’s fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each. Stir in the 1 cup of cake mix and beat for one minute on medium speed. Drop the mixer to low speed and mix the milk, lemon juice, and vanilla until combined.

STEP FOUR: Pour the cheesecake filling over the cake crust in the pan. Bake for 65-75 minutes until the center is set and the crust is golden.

STEP FIVE: Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool in the dish on a wire rack until room temperature, about 2 hours.

STEP SIX: Top the cooled cheesecake with the cherry pie filling. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before cutting it into squares and serving.

Tips for Success

For a classic cheesecake look, make this recipe in two 8-inch round pans that can be sliced into pie wedges.
To check if the cheesecake is done at the 65-minute cooking mark, don your oven mitts and gently jiggle the pan. If only the center jiggles slightly, it’s done. The center will continue to firm up as it cools. If it is still runny or jiggly at the edges, continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
To make this dessert gluten-free, use a gluten-free boxed cake mix instead of a regular one. Easy!

How long will cheesecake last?

Properly stored, cheesecake will last a week in the refrigerator. The best way to store a cheesecake is to cover in plastic wrap and seal it in a cake keeper or other closed container. When you remove the cheesecake to serve it, return it to the refrigerator promptly once it is plated. Never leave it out more than an hour before returning it to cold storage.

What’s the best way to slice a cheesecake?

So, how do you make neat cheesecake slices? First, always make sure the cheesecake is thoroughly chilled before serving. Then fill a bowl with boiling water and dip your cutting knife in the hot water before cutting the first slice. After each cut, wipe off the blade. Dip the knife into the hot water again before making each consecutive cut. This ensures smooth, pretty slices.

Other Cherry & Cheesecake Ideas:

*This post was originally posted on 04/08/2014.