Locations:
Search IconSearch
September 15, 2020/Diet, Food & Fitness/Recipes

Recipe: French Vanilla Cheesecake Topped With Cherries

Light, fluffy and oh-so-good!

A slice of cheesecake with cherry topping on a plate next to a fork

This cheesecake is simple to make and is light and airy because of ingredients such as non-fat cottage cheese and light cream cheese. Topped with cherries, this dessert is definitely something to celebrate.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Ingredients

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 cups non-fat cottage cheese
2 cups light cream cheese
½ cup yogurt cheese (or Greek yogurt)
3 eggs
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened frozen cherries
¼ cup sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly coat a 10-inch spring form pan with canola oil.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and applesauce. Mix well. Press into the bottom of spring form pan. Set aside.
  3. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add vanilla bean and simmer until softened, about 1 minute.
  4. Remove bean from water and when cool enough to handle, slit bean lengthwise. Scrape out vanilla bean paste with a knife and reserve.
  5. In a blender container, puree cottage cheese until smooth.
  6. In a mixing bowl, combine pureed cottage cheese, cream cheese and yogurt cheese and blend with electric mixer on high until smooth, about 2 minutes.
  7. Add eggs, one at a time and blend well.
  8. Add flour, sugar, vanilla bean paste and vanilla extract. Blend well. Pour into crust.
  9. Bake for 48 minutes.
  10. Turn off heat to oven and allow cheesecake to cool slowly in oven for 30 minutes more. Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes before refrigerating.
  11. In a medium saucepan, combine cherries with sugar and bring to a boil.
  12. Reduce heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved and cherries begin to break down, about 10 minutes. Add water, if necessary, to keep from scorching.
  13. When cheesecake is cold, remove spring form sides and slice into 16 portions. Serve 1 tablespoon of cherries over cheesecake.

Advertisement

Nutritional information

Makes 16 servings

Each serving contains:

Calories 175 calories
Protein 9g protein
Carbohydrates 20g
Fat 6g
Cholesterol 59mg
Sodium 328mg
Trace fiber

Recipe courtesy of Speaking of Women’s Health

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Sugar-coated gingerbread cookies on table, with cup of coffee and spoon
December 19, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

A perfect treat any time of year

Round sugar cookies, one with a bite taken out of it, frosted with thin glaze of yellow icing
December 17, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Low-Fat Sugar Cookies

Sweet with hints of vanilla, this lower-fat classic won’t disappoint!

Ramekin of pumpkin pudding topped with walnuts
November 27, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Pudding With Walnuts

A delicious stovetop dessert fit for any season

Slice of pumpkin pie with dollop of whipped topping on white plate with fork
November 7, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Low-Fat Pumpkin Pie With a Crunchy Crust

A delicious classic holiday pie, flavored with ground almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla

Chocolate espresso mousse in serving crock, with spoon, cocoa powder and chocolate nearby
September 10, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Chocolate Espresso Tofu Mousse

A creamy, dreamy and low-cal dessert

Blueberry blackberry banana popsickles
August 20, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Black and Blue Bonanza Popsicles

Fun to make — and fun to eat!

Red berry sauce over glass container of yogurt, with spoon balanced on top
August 13, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Red Fruit Frozen Yogurt Topping

A bright and warm topping for a cool summer treat

Strawberries and cream between homemade biscuits
July 30, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Shortcakes With Orange-Infused Strawberries and Whipped Cream

You don’t have to give up desserts to be heart-healthy

Trending Topics

Person sitting on floor at night next to bed in deep thought, with partner sleeping in bed
Understanding Mental Load: What It Is and How It Affects You

When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line
Can You Take Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Together?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction

Smiling person with headphones on, sweeping floor in living room
Understanding Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT Exercise)

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being

Ad