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February 4, 2013

Light Cherry Cheesecake

8

Light Cherry Cheesecake

Can we talk cheesecake for a minute?

Perfectly light and creamy cherry cheesecake - you'll never guess the secret ingredient in this recipe! #recipe #dessert #cheesecake

Yes? Okay, great, because I want to tell you about this one.

See, in my house, cheesecake is the one dessert we can all agree on. And by “agree,” I mean that cheesecake is a dessert that the Tall Boy will actually eat.

Last week, we went out to dinner with my in-laws, and  Doodle talked them into getting him a slice of strawberry cheesecake for dessert. We ended up taking it home, and the next evening, I spotted the Tall Boy finishing off the last bit of the slice after Doodle went to bed.

So I decided maybe I’d be a good wife and make him his own cheesecake.

Perfectly light and creamy cherry cheesecake - you'll never guess the secret ingredient in this recipe! #recipe #dessert #cheesecake

Except I really love cheesecake, too.

And I sort of have this problem when it comes to dessert…it’s called no willpower.

So, I decided if I was going to have an entire cheesecake hanging out around the house, it was going to have to be a lightened up version.

Perfectly light and creamy cherry cheesecake - you'll never guess the secret ingredient in this recipe! #recipe #dessert #cheesecake

This cheesecake takes only 8-ounces of reduced-fat cream cheese, and uses 3 cups of cottage cheese and half of a cup of reduced-fat sour cream.  Since I normally hate don’t care for cottage cheese, I was a little apprehensive about trying this recipe.  But guess what?

It totally worked.

I’ll be honest, this cheesecake wasn’t as heavy or rich as your normal cheesecake, but the consistency was perfect.  This cake was nice and light, perfectly creamy, and just about as guilt-free as you can get when it comes to cheesecake.

Perfectly light and creamy cherry cheesecake - you'll never guess the secret ingredient in this recipe! #recipe #dessert #cheesecake

So I ate two slices.

That’s totally acceptable, yes?

Light Cherry Cheesecake
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 8 graham crackers (3-by-5-inch size)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 cups low-fat cottage cheese
  • 8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • ½ cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 bags (12 ounces each) frozen cherries
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 325, with rack in the lower third. Spray the sides and bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
  2. In a food processor, pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and pulse until crumbs are moist. Press the crumbs firmly into the bottom of your springform pan. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned.
  3. While crust is baking, combine cream cheese and cottage cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until mixture is smooth and glossy, about 4 or 5 minutes. Add in ¾ cup sugar, the sour cream, eggs, vanilla, flour and salt; mix just until filling is smooth.
  4. Pour filling into crust. Bake until the cake is just barely set in the middle; about 1 hour. Turn off your oven and let the cake cool in the oven for 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 2 hours, or up to 2 days.
  5. While cake is baking, combine frozen cherries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a large skillet. Boil until the liquid is thick and syrupy, about 10 to 15 minutes. Let fruit mixture cool, then transfer to a bowl. Cover bowl, and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days.
  6. To serve, unmold cake. Transfer to a serving platter and top with cherries.
Notes
recipe from Martha Stewart
3.5.3251

31 Comments

  1. Meghan @ The Tasty Fork
    Meghan @ The Tasty Fork on February 4, 2013 at 9:11 am

    I don’t care of cottage either, so if you like it in this cheesecake, I’m sold! Pinning!
    Meghan @ The Tasty Fork recently posted..Follow Friday – This Gal CooksMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:24 pm

      Seriously Meghan…you can’t tell there is cottage cheese in this!

      Reply
  2. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
    Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel on February 4, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Oh my goodness. A lightened up cheesecake?! My face needs some one-on-one time with this.
    Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Strawberry Nutella Heart Pie PopsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:25 pm

      Ugh, I had a lot of one-on-one time with this. It’s hard to classify something as guilt-free when you eat half the cake yourself.

      Reply
  3. Shirley
    Shirley on February 4, 2013 at 9:44 am

    My mouth is watering just looking at this cheesecake………SERIOUSLY……. Your pics are amazing.

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Thanks, Shirley! This cheesecake was a hit!

      Reply
  4. Mom
    Mom on February 4, 2013 at 10:51 am

    I am so glad I got to try this cheesecake. Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts so I usually eat every crumb and then feel sick (not to mention guilty for all the calories). This was fabulous and left me totally satisfied but not sick from the richness. I LOVED IT.

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Thanks! And thanks for taking some of the leftovers so I didn’t eat it all.

      Reply
  5. Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry
    Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry on February 4, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    A lightened up cherry cheesecake?! I think this quality’s it for breakfast.
    Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry recently posted..Valentine’s Day Gifts For HerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:27 pm

      I think you are right. =)

      Reply
  6. sally @ sallys baking addiction
    sally @ sallys baking addiction on February 4, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Such a pretty cheesecake Ashley! And the photos are gorgeous too of course. 🙂 I’ve never had a lighter cheesecake before but it’s obviously something I will welcome with open arms lol! I love skinny desserts!
    sally @ sallys baking addiction recently posted..mini powdered sugar donut muffins.My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:28 pm

      I was surprised how well this turned out…it really was the perfect consistency and richness! I love skinny desserts, too!

      Reply
  7. Kristen
    Kristen on February 4, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Oh wow, Ashely! I think these are the prettiest cheesecake pictures, ever! Looks so good.
    Kristen recently posted..Bush’s Beans Recipe Exchange {Recipe: Chili Bean Cheese Queso}My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 4, 2013 at 5:29 pm

      What an awesome compliment, Kristen! You just made my day!

      Reply
  8. ashley - baker by nature
    ashley - baker by nature on February 4, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    It’s been wayyyyy too long since my last slice of cheesecake! This lightened up version looks to-die-for!
    ashley – baker by nature recently posted..Chocolate – Chili Roll Out CookiesMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
    Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen on February 4, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Yum-o!!! I wish I could pop over and help you demolish that cheesecake! Love that it is guilt free. You have been pinned
    Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen recently posted..Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s #9My Profile

    Reply
  10. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust on February 4, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    Okay I’m super intrigued by this recipe! I totally want to make it. Because I’m like you! (Hello 5 month cheesecake belly!)
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Truffle Stuffed Brownie PopsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 5, 2013 at 8:54 am

      It really did turn out well, Dorothy…I was pleasantly surprised!

      Reply
  11. Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
    Heather @ SugarDish(Me) on February 5, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    First of all! I am WITH YOU on the cottage cheese. Blech. But I have had good luck with it in cheesecake. This recipe is fantastic! Thanks, Ashley!
    Heather @ SugarDish(Me) recently posted..Peanut Butter Banana Whole Wheat PancakesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on February 5, 2013 at 8:12 pm

      I’d never tried cottage cheese in cheesecake before, but it really worked well! On its own though…no way. 🙂

      Reply
  12. whiness
    whiness on July 30, 2013 at 8:43 am

    Oh my… It looks perfect. It’s just a perfect cheesecake. Beautiful and surely delightful. I’m waitg for an occasion to make it! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Trish - Mom On Timeout
    Trish - Mom On Timeout on January 19, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    This cheesecake looks sooooo good Ashley! Just pinned and shared on FB 🙂
    Trish – Mom On Timeout recently posted..62 Smoothie Recipes to Kick-Start Your Day!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on January 19, 2014 at 3:45 pm

      Thanks so much, Trish!!

      Reply
  14. Amy
    Amy on March 25, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    What’s the calorie count?

    Reply
  15. Matea
    Matea on August 20, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    This cheesecake looks so good! And the fact that it’s a “light” cheesecake means I get an extra piece, right? 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley
      Ashley on August 22, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  16. Kay
    Kay on October 30, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Hi, I would like to know the nutitional factors, and also can I substitute sugar with Truvia to make it even healthier x

    Reply

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Filed Under: Cakes and Cupcakes, Desserts, Healthier Options

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