🍒❄️ Cherries in the Snow
Light, creamy, fluffy, and wonderfully nostalgic, Cherries in the Snow is an easy no-bake dessert made with tender angel food cake, sweet cherry pie filling, and a cloud-like cream cheese topping. It’s the perfect make-ahead dessert for holidays, potlucks, family gatherings, and summer celebrations.
⏱ Recipe Information
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: About 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 10–12
Difficulty: Easy
Method: No-Bake
🛒 Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 oz (227 g) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 angel food cake, cut into bite-size cubes
- 2 cans (21 oz / 595 g each) cherry pie filling
Instructions
🍰 1. Prepare the Angel Food Cake
Cut the angel food cake into approximately 1-inch cubes.
Set aside.
If your cake is particularly soft, chilling it for 20–30 minutes before cutting will make it easier to cube neatly.
🧀 2. Make the Cream Cheese Mixture
Place the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
Beat until completely smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar and continue beating until well incorporated.
Add the milk and vanilla extract.
Beat until smooth.
Make sure the cream cheese is properly softened so the mixture doesn’t become lumpy.
☁️ 3. Fold in the Whipped Topping
Add the thawed whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture.
Using a spatula, gently fold until completely combined.
Don’t vigorously stir—the goal is to keep the mixture light and fluffy.
🍒 4. Prepare the Cherry Filling
Open both cans of cherry pie filling.
Give them a gentle stir to loosen the cherries and sauce.
Keep them chilled until you’re ready to assemble the dessert.
❄️ 5. Assemble the First Layer
Use a 9 × 13-inch baking dish or a large deep serving dish.
Arrange approximately half of the angel food cake cubes evenly across the bottom.
Press them down very gently into an even layer.
☁️ 6. Add the Creamy Layer
Spread approximately half of the cream cheese-whipped topping mixture over the cake.
Smooth it gently with a spatula.
🍒 7. Add the Cherries
Spoon approximately half of the cherry pie filling evenly over the creamy layer.
Spread the cherries gently so the bright red filling is distributed throughout the dessert.
🔄 8. Repeat the Layers
Add the remaining angel food cake cubes.
Follow with the remaining cream cheese mixture.
Finish with the remaining cherry pie filling.
Spread the cherries evenly over the top.
❄️ 9. Chill
Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or a lid.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
For the best texture and flavor, chill overnight.
The cake absorbs some of the creamy mixture while the layers firm up, creating that classic soft, cloud-like texture.
🍒 10. Serve
Scoop the chilled dessert directly from the dish or cut it into squares.
For an extra pretty presentation, garnish with:
- Fresh cherries
- Whipped cream
- White chocolate shavings
- A dusting of powdered sugar
Serve cold.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
Soften the Cream Cheese
Room-temperature cream cheese blends much more smoothly.
Don’t Overmix the Whipped Topping
Fold gently to keep the filling airy and fluffy.
Chill Overnight
Although four hours works, an overnight chill gives the angel food cake more time to absorb the creamy flavors.
Use a Deep Dish
The layered dessert can be quite tall, so a deep 9 × 13-inch dish works especially well.
Keep It Cold
This dessert is best served directly from the refrigerator.
🍓 Delicious Variations
Strawberry in the Snow
Replace the cherry pie filling with strawberry pie filling.
Blueberry in the Snow
Use blueberry pie filling for a beautiful purple-and-white version.
Mixed Berry
Combine cherry and blueberry pie fillings.
Chocolate Cherry
Add a layer of chocolate pudding or chocolate shavings.
Almond Cherry
Add ½ teaspoon almond extract to the cream cheese mixture for a classic cherry-almond flavor combination.
Coconut Cherry
Sprinkle shredded sweetened coconut between the layers.
🧊 Storage
Cover tightly and refrigerate.
Best enjoyed within: 3–4 days.
Because the dessert contains cream cheese, whipped topping, and fruit filling, keep it refrigerated at all times.
❄️ Can You Freeze It?
Freezing isn’t recommended for the fully assembled dessert because the cream cheese and whipped topping can change texture after thawing, and the angel food cake can become soggy.
For the best creamy, fluffy texture, make it fresh and refrigerate.
🍒❄️ Recipe Summary
Cherries in the Snow is the ultimate easy layered dessert: pillowy angel food cake, silky cream cheese filling, fluffy whipped topping, and sweet cherry pie filling come together in one beautiful, no-bake treat.
It’s incredibly simple, can be made ahead, and is especially gorgeous when served chilled.
Creamy, fluffy, fruity, and absolutely dreamy—one spoonful and you’ll understand the name! 🍒❄️✨