Bourbon Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar

What's better than Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar? Bourbon Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar made WITHOUT baking! Decadent, dreamy and sweet, these no-bake cheesecakes are the perfect and portable picnic or backyard BBQ dessert. Word of warning, they're definitely for adults only.

Growing up, my family's go-to dessert of choice was Cherry Cheesecake. Creamy and rich with a graham cracker base and a cherry syrup sauce on top, it was a classic treat you always made sure there was enough of. For family gatherings and holidays, my grandma was in charge of making the cheesecakes (yes plural). By no means was it fancy – it was a simple, easy and crowd-pleasing dessert that became tradition.

When I was old enough, my grandma and I would bake holiday cherry cheesecake together, and when I had learnt the recipe she handed the duty of making cheesecakes over to me. Following her careful recipe, what to look for when it baked (texture, colour, wobbliness) and placing a layer of sour cream and literally the cherries on top, now looking back I had earned my sous chef title with our family chef, and later passed the tradition on to my sister.

"Cheesecake will always taste like love". - Shonda Rhimes

Like all families, eating the same dessert year after year loses its appeal, and eventually, cheesecake was phased out. With the years, my grandma's memory faded, my sister and I stopped baking it, and while I don't remember the recipe ingredient for ingredient, I do bet that together we could replicate it. But until then, our Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar is a sweet and simple reminder of a beloved family recipe, and if anything, a wonderful memory of my time in the kitchen with my grandma.

Now, this is obviously not my grandma's cheesecake (although she wouldn't have minded the booze), our Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar is the perfect, portable and dreamy dessert for picnics, backyards and dining al fresco. With no baking required, the mix of rich mascarpone and fluffy ricotta creates the classic dense and creamy texture with a bourbon cherry twist, adding another level to this family favourite.

Ingredient List

• Cherries (preferably fresh)
• Maple syrup
• Orange
• Cinnamon stick
• Nutmeg
• Bourbon or Rye
• Graham cracker crumbs,
• Butter
• Mascarpone cheese
• Ricotta cheese (try our Fresh Homemade Ricotta Cheese)
• Sugar
• Vanilla

How to Make Cheesecake in a Jar

Step 1. Soak the Cherries

Add ¾ cups of water, ½ cup of maple syrup, a cinnamon stick, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg and a ½ inch strip of orange peel to a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1 cup bourbon. Add the 1 pound of pitted cherries and allow to marinate for at least 20 minutes.

Chef's Tip: To remove the cherry pits, using a narrow spouted bottle, place the cherries on top and push the pit through with a chopstick.

Step 2. Make the Fillings

Combine 1 cup of graham crackers and 2 tablespoons of melted butter in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of mascarpone, ½ cup of ricotta, 1/'3 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth.

Step 3. Assemble the Cheesecake

Add two heaping tablespoons of the graham crumbs to the jar and press down. Add a layer of cheese and smooth out. Place a single layer of cherries on top, then add another layer of cheese. Sprinkle remaining graham crumbs on top of cheese and add a final layer of cherries. Cover and place in the fridge to get cold.

Recipe Card