This No Bake Cherry and Pistachio Cheesecake with Animal Cracker Crust is a perfectly easy layered dessert recipe. It's quick, easy and utterly delicious!
The base is made from animal crackers, then there is a layer of cherry cheesecake, followed by a layer of pistachio cheesecake.
I could not decide what kind of cheesecake to make for this event. Then my Pink Lemonade Cheesecakes were featured on Buzzfeed.
After I finished jumping up and down, and screaming I started to scroll through all the other cheesecakes that were featured in the post.
I happened upon a Cherry and Pistachio Cheesecake from Best Friends for Frosting and knew it would be my jump off point for my recipe.
Cherries and pistachios are my two favourite things, and I pair them often.
Somehow I've never combined them in a cheesecake which is shameful considering how often I make cheesecake. So, I've fixed that little oversight.
For this recipe, I used fresh cherries in the cherry layer. I popped them in the food processor and pulsed until they were tiny itty bitty pieces.
Then I used real pistachios for the pistachio layer. Those were ground up in the food processor as well.
If you don't want to have itty bitty pieces of either you could substitute cherry juice for the cherry layer, and pistachio jello pudding for the pistachio layer. Both would work perfectly.
Give this no bake cheesecake a try today!
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No Bake Cherry and Pistachio Cheesecake with Animal Cracker Crust
Ingredients
For the Base:
- 4 cups animal crackers crushed
- ¼ cup butter melted
For the Cherry Cheesecake Portion:
For the Pistachio Cheesecake Portion:
- 1 package gelatin
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup pistachios shelled
- Green food colouring optional
For the whipped cream topping:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
Instructions
For the Base:
- Add the animal crackers to a food processor, Pulse until they become fine crumbs.
- Add the melted butter and pulse again until combined.
- Pour and press into a 8 inch spring-form pan.
For the Cherry Cheesecake Portion:
- In a small bowl combine the gelatin and ¼ cup sugar. Pour the boiling water over top and stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool before adding to the cream cheese mix.
- In a stand mixer combine the cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar. Whisk until fluffy.
- Add the pitted cherries to the food processor and pulse until the cherries become fine pieces. Add this mixture to the cheesecake mixture, mix until combined.
- Add the cooled gelatin to cheesecake mixture, whisk on high until it thickens.
- Pour this mixture over top of the crumb layer. Pop in the fridge and allow to set up for at least 2 hours, up to 4 hours.
For the Pistachio Cheesecake Portion:
- In a small bowl combine the gelatin and ¼ cup sugar. Pour the boiling water over top and stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool before adding to the cream cheese mix.
- In a stand mixer combine the cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar. Whisk until fluffy.
- In a food processor pulse the pistachios until they become paste-like. Transfer that to the cheesecake mixture and whisk on medium speed until combined.
- Add the cooled gelatin to cheesecake mixture, whisk on high until it thickens.
- Add the food colouring if desired. Mix well.
- Pour this mixture over top of the cherry layer. Pop in the fridge and allow to set up for at least 2 hours, up to 4 hours.
For the whipped cream topping:
- In a stand mixer combine the heavy cream and sugar, whisk on low initially then gradually increase to high speed until the mixture is fluffy. Spread over top of the cheesecake. If you like you can top with fresh cherries and crushed pistachios.
- Serve with a big old cherry and pistachio loving smile!
Nutrition
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Toodles! xx
Betsy | JavaCupcake.com
LOVE the animal cracker crust on your cheesecake! PINNED!
Helene D'Souza
We absolutely love cheesecakes at home and especially my husband can finish a whole one by himself. The problem is the last time I made one it melted away the second I took it out of the fridge and that was super frustrating. Therefore I always wait until I get a cooler climate and since I am back to Europe now for some time, I just thought I should give it a go soon again and I will start with your gorgeous cheesecake recipe Kim! =)
John@Kitchen Riffs
Fun cheesecake! Never would have thought to use animal crackers for the crust. Of course I would have saved a ton of them to garnish it, too. 😉 Really creative -- thanks.
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking
I love both cherries and pistachios but have never ever thought of combining the two together! Love it and absolutely in love with the color contrast! Would make such a great Christmas desserts as well. Wonder if frozen cherries could be used instead of fresh.
Thanks for sharing and joining us Kim
Becca from It's Yummi!
beyond. gorgeous.
Coco in the Kitchen
See? THIS is why I love you, Kimmee! xx
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon
The layers in this are simply fabulous! Gorgeous cake!
Heather @ French Press
this cake is beyond stunning, love the layers and the animal cracker crust...genius!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
This is simply brilliant!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
What a clever cheesecake! I love the combination of pistachios and cherries.
Cate @ Chez CateyLou
Animal cracker crust - how fun is that?! And I love cherries and pistachios together, plus the color combo couldn't be pettier! Pinning! Happy Cheesecake Day!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
I've been dying to see your cheesecake ever since you described it on the Facebook page, Kim. That animal cracker crust has stolen my heart! This is absolutely gorgeous - the contrasting colours of red and green look so pretty, and I love that you used fresh cherries and real pistachios for both colour and flavour. I'd devour this in a heartbeat!
Choc Chip Uru
What a fantastic idea to layer your cheesecake this way 😀
It looks so delicious, and who can resist the combo of cherries and pistachios!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Swoon!! LOVE the cherry and pistachio layers! PINNED 🙂
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
Looooooove the animal cracker idea!! How fun! We have to do cheesecake day again next year. This has been so fun right?!
Liz
Before I even started reading, I was thinking, THIS has both of Kim's favorites: cherries and pistachios! And it is stunning!!! I'm sure the taste matches its beauty! Well done, my friend!!!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
If you lived closer, I'd be knocking on your door begging for a piece of this beauty! GORGEOUS!
Shaina
LOVE LOVE LOVE this combination. And the colors! That "minty" green is one of my favorites. This sounds so yummy, Kim, I would gladly jump the Canadian border for a slice of this!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry
I absolutely love this one Kim. Especially because of the pistachios which i am addicted to.
Lisa @ Wine & Glue
Absolutely gorgeous, Kim! Pinned!