Chocolate Cherry Dream Lush 🍒
Indulge in this delightful no-bake Chocolate Cherry Dream Lush, featuring layers of a buttery nut crust, sweet cherry pie filling, a creamy cream cheese mixture, rich chocolate pudding, and a light whipped topping. It's an easy-to-make, make-ahead dessert perfect for any occasion!
Equipment
- 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- Mixing Bowl
- Wire Rack
- Electric Mixer
Ingredients
Crust Layer
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup finely crushed nuts like pecans or almonds, your choice for flavor!
- 0.25 cup granulated sugar or a sugar substitute for a lighter treat
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ½ cup
Cherry Layer
- 21 ounces cherry pie filling 1 standard can, opt for a no-sugar-added version if available!
Creamy Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened light cream cheese works great here
- 1 cup powdered sugar or a powdered sugar substitute
- 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed like Cool Whip, use lite or sugar-free for a healthier twist
Pudding Layer
- 6.8 ounces chocolate instant pudding mix 2 small packages, sugar-free option is perfect!
- 3 cups milk your preferred type; skim, almond, or oat milk makes it lighter
Topping Layer
- remaining frozen whipped topping from the 8 oz container
- 0.5 cup chocolate shavings or sprinkles optional; dark chocolate adds a nice touch!
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, crushed nuts, sugar, and melted butter. Mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish to form an even crust. Bake for just 10 minutes until it's lightly golden. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once your crust is cool, carefully spread the cherry pie filling evenly over the entire surface.
- In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until it's wonderfully smooth and fluffy. Gently fold in the 1 cup of thawed whipped topping. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until the layer is light, creamy, and lump-free. Spread this delightful mixture over the cherry layer.
- In another bowl, prepare the chocolate instant pudding according to the package directions, whisking it vigorously with 3 cups of your chosen milk until it thickens. Once thickened, spread this chocolatey layer evenly over the creamy cream cheese layer.
- Top the chocolate pudding with the rest of your thawed whipped topping. For an extra special touch, sprinkle with chocolate shavings or sprinkles if you like.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight, until it's perfectly chilled and set. This makes it incredibly easy to slice and serve this beautiful, layered dessert!
Notes
This recipe creates a decadent layered dessert perfect for sharing.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 155 kcal
- Total Carbs: 20g
- Net Carbs: 19g
- Fats: 8g
- Protein: 2g
