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Three cherry cheesecake shooters.
Home || Recipes || Desserts || Cherry Cheesecake Shooters

by 2,711 Comments

Cherry Cheesecake Shooters

Learn to make easy, tasty cheesecake desserts with cherries, almonds and a graham cracker base. 
4.61 from 831 votes
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These cherry cheesecake shooters are the perfect no-bake dessert. Creamy, sweet, and served in individual cups, they’re my go-to treat for easy entertaining. Made with layers of graham cracker crumbs, a rich cheesecake filling, and sweet cherry topping, they’re a fun and elegant way to serve classic cheesecake without the fuss! 

Love cherry desserts? Try my dark chocolate cherry cheesecake parfaits or smashed cherries, amaretti, and ricotta next. 

A picture of cherry cheesecake shooters next to Ree Drummond's cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks A Year Of Holidays.

Table of contents

Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, is one of my biggest inspirations. Her blog, food photography, and storytelling have shaped how I cook and share recipes. Her cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks – A Year of Holidays is packed with step-by-step recipes, gorgeous photos, full holiday menus, and helpful tips to make entertaining stress-free.

One standout? These cherry cheesecake shooters. They take just 15 minutes to prep and are perfect for parties or holidays. Ree serves them in shot glasses for a fun single-serving dessert. They’re creamy, fruity, and super festive, especially with a splash of whiskey (optional, but so good).

This cookbook makes a great gift for any home cook. And these cheesecake shooters? They’re a must-try!

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details! 

  • Cherries – I recommend using frozen, pitted sweet cherries for the best results. Fresh cherries should also work. However, you’ll need to pit them, and will likely need to adjust the cooking time. 
  • Honey – Substitute maple syrup, if preferred. 
  • Whiskey – This is optional, but adds lots of depth and an incredibly rich flavor. Personally, I love vanilla whiskey, but any variety will work. 
  • Butter – This adds richness to the fruit layer. I recommend unsalted butter to avoid an overpoweringly salty taste. 
  • Cornstarch – This acts as a thickener, creating an almost jam-like consistency so that the cherry filling holds its shape. 
  • Lemon – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best! The acidity adds brightness and helps thicken the filling. 
  • Cream Cheese – Make sure to use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese for the best taste and texture. Allow it to come to room temperature for easy mixing. 
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk – This combines with the cream cheese to create a rich, creamy cheesecake filling. 
  • Graham Crackers – I make my own graham cracker crumbs, but you can sometimes find ready-to-use crumbs in the baking aisle of your local grocery store. Look for gluten-free varieties if you need to keep these cherry cheesecake shots gluten-free. 
  • Sliced Almonds – Sprinkled on top of the dessert, these add a subtle nutty taste and a nice crunch. If preferred, substitute chopped walnuts or pecans. 

How to Make a Cherry Cheesecake Shooters Recipe

  1. Create the cherry filling. Combine the cherries, honey, and whiskey (if using) in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then, add the butter, and continue to cook until the mixture is hot and bubbly. 
  2. Thicken. In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch and lemon juice. Then, add the mixture to the cherry filling, and cook to thicken. Transfer the cherries to a bowl and chill them in the refrigerator. 
  3. Whip the cream cheese. Use a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment to whip the cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth and fluffy. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag or sealable bag with the tip cut off, and chill the mixture in the fridge. 
  4. Crush the graham crackers. Place the whole graham crackers into a large plastic bag. Use a rolling pin or a heavy-bottomed pot to crush them into fine crumbs. 
  5. Assemble the sooters. Spoon the crumbs into the bottom of a miniature wine glass or small shot glasses. Then, add a layer of the cream cheese mixture, followed by the cherry mixture. Top with almonds as garnish. Repeat, using all the ingredients. Enjoy!
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Cherry Cheesecake Shooters from Ree Drummond's cookbook, A Year of Holidays.
Three cherry cheesecake shooters.

Cherry Cheesecake Shooters

Learn to make easy, tasty cheesecake desserts with cherries, almonds and a graham cracker base. 
COURSE: Dessert
Kosher Key: Dairy
Servings: 18 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 24 ounces frozen pitted sweet cherries (2 12-oz bags)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup whiskey (optional)
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 16 ounces cream cheese, softened (2 blocks)
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
  • 12 graham crackers
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries, honey and whiskey over medium heat and mix to combine. 
    Heating cherries and coffee in a saucepan.
  • Add the butter and continue cooking until the cherries are hot and bubbly.
    Melting butter into cherries.
  • In a separate dish, whisk together the cornstarch and lemon juice. Add cornstarch mixture to the cherries and cook for 2 additional minutes, stirring until the mixture is nice and thick.
    Adding cornstarch to hot cherries.
  • Remove from heat and transfer the cherries to a bowl. Refrigerate until they’re totally chilled and thick.
    Chilling cherries to thicken.
  • In a stand mixer fit with the whisk attachment, whip the cream cheese and condensed milk until fluffy.
    Place the mixture into a pastry bag or plastic zipper bag with a medium hole snipped off the end. Store in a bowl in the refrigerator until ready to use.
    Place the graham crackers into a large storage bag and crush them into fine crumbs.
    Whipping cream cheese and milk in a stand mixer.

To assemble:

  • Spoon a large helping of the crumbs into the bottom of a miniature wine glass or shot glass.
    Graham crumbs in the bottom of glasses.
  • Squeeze in 2-3 tbsp of the cream cheese mixture.
    Piping cheesecake mixture on top of graham crust.
  • Then spoon in 1-2 tbsp of the cherry mixture.
    Adding cherry filling on top of cheesecake in glasses.
  • Top with a few of the slivered almonds and repeat until all of the ingredients have been used.
    Three glasses of Cherry Cheesecake Shooters topped with almonds and berries, a delightful dessert

NOTES

You will also need: Medium saucepan, whisk, mixing bowl, stand mixer, pastry bag or plastic storage bag, miniature wine or shot glasses for serving
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays
Note: I used brandy glasses for a larger serving, which makes it less a “shooter” and more a full-sized dessert. If you wish to do the same, simply divide the crumbs, cherries and cheesecake layers between 8 brandy glasses, then top each serving with sliced almonds. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Cherry Cheesecake Shooters
Amount Per Serving
Calories 277 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 193mg8%
Potassium 233mg7%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 500IU10%
Vitamin C 3.2mg4%
Calcium 106mg11%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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FAQs

Can I make cherry cheesecake shots ahead of time? 

Yes, you can make each part of the recipe ahead of time, including the cherry filling, cheesecake mixture, and crushed graham crackers. You can store these elements separately, covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Then, assemble the shooters when you’re ready to serve. I don’t recommend storing them fully assembled, as the “crust” might become soggy. 

Can I use a different fruit? 

I haven’t tested it, but I think it would work! Try frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or mixed berries, or use fresh or canned peaches. 

More Delicious Cheesecake Recipes

Nutritional information should be considered an estimate only; please consult a registered dietician, nutritionist, or your physician for specific health-related questions. Read more here. Please note that the recipe above is published using a recipe card plugin, with preexisting software which can auto-calculate metric measurements, as well as change the number of servings. Metric conversions and changes to the number of servings (resulting in different ingredient amounts) will only appear in the ingredient list, and are not changed within the step-by-step directions of the recipe.
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Comments

  3. Avatar photoYelena Leychik says

    I am in love with this recipe…. Making it for my party this Saturday! Thank you for the chance to will Her amazing book!

    Reply

  4. Avatar photoIvy Crook says

    Oooooh yum! Ive been following Ree Drummond for YEARS! I swear her Marlboro Man recipes are the reason my husband proposed lol.

    Reply

  8. Avatar photoElissa Schoening says

    cant remember how i found you in the first place but I love having you on Facebook! some of the best recipes!

    Reply

  20. Avatar photoIlana says

    I love The Pioneer Woman. Several times I’ve laughed out loud while reading one of her blog posts. I’ve made several of her recipes and they’ve all been delish!

    Reply

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