Light Cherry Cheesecake
Can we talk cheesecake for a minute?
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.
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.
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.
So I ate two slices.
That’s totally acceptable, yes?
- 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
- Preheat oven to 325, with rack in the lower third. Spray the sides and bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- To serve, unmold cake. Transfer to a serving platter and top with cherries.
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10 EASY SLOW COOKER MEALS RECIPE BOOK
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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 Cooks
Seriously Meghan…you can’t tell there is cottage cheese in this!
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 Pops
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.
My mouth is watering just looking at this cheesecake………SERIOUSLY……. Your pics are amazing.
Thanks, Shirley! This cheesecake was a hit!
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.
Thanks! And thanks for taking some of the leftovers so I didn’t eat it all.
A lightened up cherry cheesecake?! I think this quality’s it for breakfast.
Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry recently posted..Valentine’s Day Gifts For Her
I think you are right. =)
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.
I was surprised how well this turned out…it really was the perfect consistency and richness! I love skinny desserts, too!
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}
What an awesome compliment, Kristen! You just made my day!
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 Cookies
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 #9
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 Pops
It really did turn out well, Dorothy…I was pleasantly surprised!
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 Pancakes
I’d never tried cottage cheese in cheesecake before, but it really worked well! On its own though…no way. 🙂
Oh my… It looks perfect. It’s just a perfect cheesecake. Beautiful and surely delightful. I’m waitg for an occasion to make it! 🙂
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!
Thanks so much, Trish!!
What’s the calorie count?
This cheesecake looks so good! And the fact that it’s a “light” cheesecake means I get an extra piece, right? 🙂
Absolutely!
Hi, I would like to know the nutitional factors, and also can I substitute sugar with Truvia to make it even healthier x