Marry This Cherry Cheesecake Shooters recipe is a creamy and easy dessert, which is made with sweet cherries and cream cheese. It’s the perfect no-bake party dessert, ready in about 30 minutes, plus chilling time.
Jump to RecipeCherry Cheesecake Shooters Recipe Ingredients
- 2 bags (12 Ounce) Frozen Sweet Cherries
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 1/4 cup Whiskey (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. Butter
- Juice Of Half A Lemon
- 1 tsp. Cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp. Almond Extract
- 2 packages (8 Ounce) Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 can (14 Oz. Size) Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 12 whole Graham Crackers
- 1/4 cup Sliced Almonds
How To Make Cherry Cheesecake Shooters
- Make the Cherry Topping: In a medium saucepan, combine the frozen cherries and honey and cook over medium heat until hot and bubbly. If using, pour in the whiskey and let it cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the butter until it melts.
- Thicken and Cool the Topping: In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice and cornstarch together to create a slurry. Pour this into the cherry mixture and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until it has thickened. Stir in the almond extract. Transfer the topping to a bowl and let it cool, then cover and chill completely in the refrigerator.
- Prepare the Crust and Filling: Crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs and spoon a layer into the bottom of your mini wine glasses or shooter glasses. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip the softened cream cheese and the sweetened condensed milk together until light and fluffy.
- Assemble the Shooters: Transfer the cheesecake filling to a pastry bag or a large zip-top bag. Snip off the corner and pipe a generous layer of the filling over the graham cracker crumbs in each glass.
- Garnish and Serve: Top each shooter with a big spoonful of the chilled cherry topping and a sprinkle of sliced almonds.
Recipe Tips
- How to get a perfectly smooth cheesecake filling? The most important step is to make sure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature. This is the secret to a perfectly smooth, lump-free filling that whips up light and fluffy.
- Can I make these ahead of time? Yes, this is the perfect make-ahead party dessert. You can prepare the cherry topping and the cheesecake filling up to 2 days in advance and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Assemble the shooters a few hours before serving.
- What if I don’t have a pastry bag? A large zip-top bag is a perfect substitute. Just spoon the filling into the bag, push it down to one corner, twist the top, and snip a small piece off the corner. This allows you to pipe the filling neatly into the small glasses.
- Do I have to use whiskey in the cherry topping? No, the whiskey is completely optional. It adds a nice warmth and depth of flavor, but you can simply omit it if you prefer a non-alcoholic version.
What To Serve With Cherry Cheesecake Shooters
These individual desserts are a complete and impressive treat all on their own. They are the perfect ending to a dinner party or a great addition to a dessert table. They need no other accompaniment.
How To Store Cherry Cheesecake Shooters
- Refrigerate: Assembled shooters can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The graham cracker crust will soften slightly over time.
Cherry Cheesecake Shooters Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 shooter
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Sugar: 35g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
A lumpy filling is almost always because the cream cheese was too cold when you started mixing. It needs to be fully softened to room temperature to blend smoothly with the sweetened condensed milk.
Yes, you can easily turn this into a no-bake cheesecake. Press a graham cracker crust (crumbs mixed with melted butter) into the bottom of a pie plate or a square baking dish. Top with the cheesecake filling, and chill until firm. Serve slices topped with the cherry sauce.
Yes, you can use fresh, pitted sweet cherries. You may need to add a splash of water to the saucepan with the honey to help them start to break down and create a sauce.
Try More Recipes:
Cherry Cheesecake Shooters Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy16
servings25
minutes15
minutes390
kcalA beautiful and easy layered no-bake dessert featuring a graham cracker crust, a creamy cheesecake filling, and a homemade cherry-whiskey topping.
Ingredients
Topping: 2 (12 oz) bags frozen sweet cherries, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup whiskey (optional), 2 Tbsp butter, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tsp cornstarch, 1/4 tsp almond extract.
Filling & Crust: 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese (softened), 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk, 12 graham crackers (crushed), 1/4 cup sliced almonds.
Directions
- Make the cherry topping by cooking the cherries and honey in a saucepan until bubbly. Stir in the optional whiskey and butter.
- Thicken the sauce with a slurry of lemon juice and cornstarch, then stir in the almond extract. Let it cool and then chill completely.
- Make the filling by whipping the softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk together until fluffy.
- To assemble, spoon a layer of graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of each shooter glass.
- Pipe or spoon a layer of the cheesecake filling over the crumbs.
- Top each shooter with a spoonful of the chilled cherry topping and a sprinkle of sliced almonds.
Notes
- The most important tip for a smooth filling is to ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature before whipping.
- For the best result, the cherry topping should be completely chilled before you layer it onto the cheesecake filling.
- The recipe notes that using two packages of cream cheese makes for a thicker, more authentic cheesecake texture.
- This is a perfect make-ahead party dessert; the components can be prepared a day in advance and assembled a few hours before serving.
