Cherry Topping for Cheesecake (from a Can)

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This Cherry Topping for Cheesecake recipe is sweet, tart, loaded with cherries, and super easy to make by dressing up a can of store-bought pie filling.

spoon dropping cherry topping onto a piece of cheesecake

When you need a quick topping for cheesecake, it’s easy enough to open up a can of cherry pie filling and call it good.

But canned fruit pie filling can sometimes be too tart, too sweet, have way more goo than fruit, or just generally lack the depth of flavor of a homemade cherry sauce.

With a few simple ingredients you can turn a simple can of cherry pie filling into a truly cheesecake-topping-worthy dessert. No cherry pitter necessary!

You’re going to love this

Delicious sweet dessert topping for everything from cheesecake and ice cream to pancakes and oatmeal.

Fast and easy way to doctor up a can of cherry pie filling

Simple ingredients amp up the flavors and textures of an ordinary can of pie filling

How to make canned cherry pie filling taste better

To enhance the flavor of a can of cherry pie filling, you first need to figure out what it’s missing. Some of the most common problems are:

Too sweet
Too tart
Not enough fruit
Lacking homemade flavor

A great way to solve these problems is by adding contrasting flavors to counterbalance the tartness and sweetness like a little sugar or other sweeteners, or a sour component.

Other simple steps you can take include adding more fruit, and stirring in extracts, spices, and other flavorings.

This cherry topping for cheesecake recipe includes my favorite ways to make a can of pie filling taste better.

There are many more great additions you can make to cherry pie filling to enhance the flavors. Check out this post to read all about them.

Ingredients

Canned cherry pie filling. Sometimes the ingredient list will tell you which type of cherries that are used -- sweet or tart -- but usually it just says "cherries." You may need to taste it first to figure out what you need to add to your cherry sauce recipe.

Fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Fresh lemon juice and zest brightens up the flavors of the cherries without making it too tart.

Frozen dark sweet cherries. Thawed and drained frozen cherries thicken and add a fresher cherry flavor to the pie filling. You can also use drained canned cherries.

Choose sour cherries (also called tart cherries) or sweet cherries, depending on what the pie filling needs. Since this cheesecake topping isn't cooked, I don't recommend fresh cherries because the textures will be different.

Pure maple syrup. Maple syrup adds rich sweetness to the pie filling.

Almond extract. Almonds and cherries are a delightful flavor combination. Just go easy on almond extract. ¼ teaspoon is really all you need.

Nutmeg. A dash of nutmeg adds a warm “what’s that?” flavor to the background. It isn’t overly powerful at all.

Step-by-step Instructions

Ready for this? It’s easy.

In a large bowl add the pie filling, fresh lemon juice and zest, thawed and drained cherries, maple syrup, almond extract, and nutmeg.

Stir the cherry mixture until combined.

white bowl of cherry pie filling on a wooden board with a black and white napkin

Serve with your favorite cheesecake recipes. Or check out my easy No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe (below).

cheesecake with cherry topping, a piece of cheesecake with cherry topping, and a bowl of cherry topping

Storage & Freezing

Store leftover pie filling in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze pie filling in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

The BEST No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe

a piece of no bake cheesecake on a white plate with cherry topping

Cherry topping is delicious served with this no-bake cheesecake recipe. It's a great recipe for Valentine’s day or any special occasion, but easy enough for any time of year.

This smooth and creamy cheesecake is lightly sweetened with powdered sugar and has that classic cheesecake tang from cream cheese and sour cream.

The homemade graham cracker crust is rich and flavorful with graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and cinnamon and is thick and sturdy enough that it doesn't need to be baked.

The best part about this no-bake cheesecake recipe is it doesn't come with all the challenges of a traditional cheesecake like a water bath, worrying about the springform pan leaking, or the dreaded cheesecake cracks.

I like to spoon a little cherry topping on top of the cheesecake as well as serve it on the side, so everyone can add their own.

Go to No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe

More Serving ideas

This dressed-up cherry sauce would be delicious with any of these wonderful treats:

Ice cream
Pound cake
Angel food cake
Oatmeal
Parfaits
Trifles
Cobblers
Crisps
Meringues

Expert Tips

Thaw and drain frozen cherries before adding them to the pie filling mixture.

Go easy with the almond extract. ¼ teaspoon is really all you need.

Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled.

Recipe FAQs

Does canned pie filling need to be cooked?

No. Canned pie filling is pre-cooked, which is why it’s so perfect for no-bake desserts. So go ahead and eat it straight out of the can, if you want!

What can I add to canned pie filling?

The best way to improve the flavor of canned pie filling, add some sweetness with sugar or jam, more fruit, flavor extracts, and spices.

Can you freeze cherry pie filling?

Yes, cherry pie filling freezes really well! Place it in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Recipe Essentials

A microplane is a great tool for zesting citrus, shredding hard cheese, and grating chocolate.
I also use a small stiff brush like this one to get the zest off of the underside of the microplane. It’s also great for cleaning.

More Great Recipes for Cherry Topping

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