Description
Pineapple Heaven Cheesecake delivers a tropical paradise of creamy goodness and zesty fruit flavors. Layers of graham cracker crust, silky cream cheese filling, and tangy pineapple create a refreshing summer treat you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
- 1 package (8 oz/226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 container (8 oz/226 g) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 can (20 oz/567 g) crushed pineapple, drained well
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup shredded sweetened coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Pulverize graham crackers, melting butter and sugar to create a cohesive, slightly moist crumb mixture that will form the dessert’s foundational layer.
- Crust Setting: Press the crumb blend uniformly into a springform pan’s base, compacting it to establish a sturdy, even platform for the creamy filling.
- Filling Creation: Whip cream cheese with powdered sugar until achieving a velvety, smooth consistency, eliminating any potential lumps that might disrupt the dessert’s texture.
- Cream Integration: Gently fold vanilla extract and whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture, generating a light, pillowy filling that promises an ethereal mouthfeel.
- Pineapple Incorporation: Thoroughly drain crushed pineapple, then delicately fold the fruit and its reserved juice into the cream cheese blend, ensuring an even distribution of tropical flavor throughout the filling.
- Assembly and Chilling: Spread the pineapple-infused cheesecake mixture atop the prepared crust, creating a perfectly leveled surface, then refrigerate for a minimum of four hours to allow the filling to set and flavors to harmonize.
- Final Flourish: Before serving, elevate the dessert’s presentation by adorning with optional embellishments like shredded coconut, fresh pineapple chunks, or a delicate whipped cream swirl.
Notes
Drain Pineapple Completely: Remove excess moisture from crushed pineapple using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to prevent a watery cheesecake and maintain a firm, creamy texture.
Whip Cream Cheese Smoothly: Use room temperature cream cheese and beat thoroughly to eliminate lumps, creating a silky-smooth base that ensures a professional-looking dessert.
Chill for Perfect Setting: Allow minimum 4-6 hours of refrigeration, preferably overnight, to help the cheesecake develop maximum flavor intensity and achieve an ideal firm consistency.
Customize Dietary Options: Substitute graham crackers with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or crushed gluten-free cookies, and use low-fat cream cheese for a lighter version suitable for different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 240 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg