Easy Cherry-On-Top Maraschino Cherry Ice Box Cake Recipe by Heather Holter

Love maraschino cherries? Meet your new favorite dessert recipe! My kids make all sorts of smoothies and frozen snacks and freeze them, and it's so much like ice cream I thought I'd try to make a frozen cheesecake-type dessert.

To make this sweet cherry cake you will need graham crackers, granulated sugar, butter, cream cheese, maraschino cherries, heavy whipping cream and a box of cheesecake instant pudding mix. This maraschino cherry ice box cake recipe does freeze, so it seems like an ice cream cake. The cake can also be put into the refrigerator if you like a softer dessert with a pudding-like texture.

Serve this fruity cake for dessert or as a fun after-school snack.

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Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes plus 4 hours to freeze or chill 
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes plus 4 hours to freeze or chill 
Servings: 12

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Filling 

• 1 box (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 
• 1 jar (12 ounces) maraschino cherries
• 1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice (from the jar)
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 box (3.4 ounces) cheesecake instant pudding mix

Helpful Products

• Electric Mixer
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Whisk
• Rubber Spatula
• Mixing Bowl

Recipe Notes

• If you freeze the cake, take it out of the freezer a few minutes before you slice it so it can soften a bit.

• Store the cake in an airtight container. 

Here's how to make it: 

1. To make the crust, mix all the ingredients together well until it looks like wet sand. Press into a 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for about 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
   
2. Coarsely chop all but 12 cherries (save these whole for the top). Set aside. With an electric mixer whip the cream cheese until smooth. Add cherry juice and whip until incorporated. Stir in the chopped cherries.
   
3. Add the whipping cream and whip until fluffy, but it will not be as stiff as whipped cream. Add the pudding mix and stir until well incorporated.
   
   
4. Spread the filling over the cooled crust. Add the cherries to the top, placing them so each piece will have a cherry on top.
   
5. Refrigerate or freeze for 4 hours.
   
6. Slice and serve.
   

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories: 285

Total Fat: 18.9g

Saturated Fat: 11.1g

Cholesterol: 56mg

Sodium: 263mg

Total Carbohydrate: 27.8g

Dietary Fiber: 1.3g

Total Sugars: 16.9g

Protein: 2.1g

Vitamin D: 16mcg

Calcium: 23mg

Iron: 1mg

Potassium: 58mg

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by VeryWellFit. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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