Description
These Cottage Cheese Cherry Cheesecake Jars with Pretzel Crust are a delightful no-bake dessert combining creamy, tangy cottage cheese and Greek yogurt with sweet cherry filling and a crunchy pretzel crust. Ready in under 30 minutes, they offer a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors in individual jars, ideal for meal prep or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Pretzel Crust
- 1/2 cup Simple Mills vanilla crackers (crushed)
- 1/2 cup salted pretzels (gluten free if needed)
Cheesecake Filling
- 1 1/4 cups cottage cheese (2% low fat, preferably good culture)
- 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
Cherry Filling
- 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen cherries (pitted)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder + 1 tbsp water (for thickening, can substitute cornstarch or tapioca flour)
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the Cherry Filling: Add cherries, maple syrup, and lemon juice to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cherries begin to break down and release their juices.
- Thicken the Filling: In a small bowl, mix the arrowroot powder and water until smooth, then stir it into the cherries. Continue to cook for another 2–3 minutes until the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency.
- Cool the Cherry Mixture: Remove the saucepan from heat, mix in almond and vanilla extracts, then set aside to cool completely before layering.
- Prepare the Pretzel Crust: Add the vanilla crackers and pretzels to a food processor and pulse until you achieve a fine, sandy texture. Set this crust mixture aside.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: Wipe out the food processor bowl, then add the cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Blend for 15–20 seconds until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Jars: In each jar, layer starting with a spoonful of pretzel-cracker crust, followed by cheesecake filling, then cherry filling, another layer of cheesecake filling, and finish with a top layer of cherry filling.
- Finish and Chill: Sprinkle extra pretzel crust on top for added crunch. Chill the jars until ready to serve, allowing flavors to meld and the cheesecake filling to set.
Notes
- Using gluten-free pretzels ensures the recipe is suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
- Maple syrup can be substituted with honey or agave nectar if preferred.
- Arrowroot powder can be replaced with cornstarch or tapioca flour for thickening.
- For best texture, ensure the cherry filling is fully cooled before layering.
- These jars are great for make-ahead dessert and can be kept chilled for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
