Bing cherries are in season, and our local grocery store had some beauties! I used to LOVE bing cherries when I was a kid, and hadn’t had them in years. My hubby had never had them before, so it was way overdue to make something special using this exquisite variety of cherry!
Bing cherries have a flavor all their own, and are naturally sweet, so you never really have to add any sugar to them! To me, they taste almost like a cherry crossed with a plum! And they’re a deep, dark aubergine color, just like like plums, too!
You can enjoy these cherries straight from the bowl, but they’re also fun to bake and cook with.
Since I already had some puff pastry sheets in the freezer, and a lonely block of cream cheese in the fridge begging to be used, I decided to whip up a cherry-cheesecake kind of “strudel” for a nice summer brunch!
I had plenty to make two of them, so I gifted the first one to our next door neighbors for a surprise Saturday morning treat!
They were super simple to make, so let’s get started!
First I just mixed the cream cheese “cheesecake” filling the mixer adding a nice amount of fresh lemon juice and zest!
Since I don’t own a cherry pitter, I used an old hack that works like a charm! (This is a little messy, so protect your working surface with an old junk towel and have some paper towels handy!)
Simply place a tall, narrow decorating tip onto a cutting board. Remove stem from cherry, and place stem end onto tip. Press cherry, gently and slowly, down onto tip until you feel the pit. then press the rest of the way forcing the pit out. It’s that easy! (And it doesn’t wreck the cherry if needing them to be pretty for a whole-cherry dessert or sauce).
Easy-peasy! 😀
Pit all of the cherries and set them aside in a bowl.
Next, roll out the puff pastry a little on a lightly floured surface. Just enough to smooth the creases of the folds a little bit is all.
Place the pastry sheets onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets, and top with the cheesecake filling and pitted cherries.
Next, slice inward on both sides making strips. I used my pastry wheel for this to make them extra pretty! 😉
Alternate back and forth bringing each strip up and over filling, and crossing over each other to make a simple “braid”.
Brush each with egg wash and sprinkle tops with sugar.
Pop into the oven and bake until you can’t take it anymore! Just kidding, you have to wait until they turn golden brown and are slightly puffed, silly!
But the aromas wafting through the house will have you impatient, that’s for sure!
Just look at how beautiful it gets….and that lemon cheesecake filling with the sweet cherries? OMG…..!!
This breakfast, (or even dessert! 😉 ), treat is almost too pretty to eat!! It makes for such an elegant presentation, yet it couldn’t be easier!
Let this cool so that you can slice this easily without squishing out the filling!
You can slice this into small triangles, or slice into slim strips. We have always found this best eaten chilled, but you can enjoy a few pieces while they are still only just slightly warm or room temperature, too.
But no matter how you enjoy it, you’ll be very surprised at the pop of flavors inside!
The burst of lemon cheesecake could be very much enjoyed all on it’s own. But…..
…..ohhhhhh, those heavenly Bing Cherries! They even taste like summer!! 😀
So the next time you’re looking for an easy dessert to serve overnight company, spoil yourselves with, or even make a special treat for an upcoming bake sale, look no further! This simple, but delicious treat fits the bill without breaking the bank, and looks very impressive! 😀
I hope that you give this a try soon while those gorgeous, dark crimson, Bing Cherries are still in season! Enjoy them while they’re here! 😀
*Canned pitted dark sweet black cherries (well drained) can be substituted.
Bing Cherry Cheesecake Strudel (Plus easy no pitter hack!)
Ingredients
For Cheese Filling:
Rest of Ingredients:
Instructions
Notes
Debi
Sunday 18th of August 2019
Can you freeze this recipe
Mm
Friday 18th of May 2018
Hi can i use cherry pie filling? Also will it go soggy if in fridge for 2 days?
Belle
Wednesday 7th of September 2016
Hello, I just found this recipe a couple of days ago and it made my mouth water. I'd love to make this strudel for my guests but would need to do it the night before. I know it shows that it can be served chilled but I'd like for it to be slightly warm when served. Am I able to construct it the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight and then bake it a few hours before serving the next day? Will this ruin the pastry, that is, make it go soggy overnight in the fridge? If I can't leave it overnight without baking it first, will the pastry remain flaky and fresh after being stored in the fridge overnight? Can I reheat the strudel the next day without it affecting the cheese mixture or the pastry? Sorry for all the questions but I really want to try this recipe but don't want it to be a flop when I serve it to my guests!
Kelly
Thursday 8th of September 2016
Hi, Belle! To serve to guests, I highly recommend that it is fresh-baked. What I would do to make this go much faster, is to pre-pit the cherries into a bowl, cover them, chill them, and have them ready to go. You can also have the filling already made as well. *You cam microwave it on LOW at intervals stirring in-between to re-soften it. Start the oven in the morning first. Then roll the pastry flat, and assemble. By the time they are assembled, the oven will be preheated. This part goes so quickly that there really isn't even any need to worry about making them ahead of time! I wouldn't really have them done too much more than a half an hour before wanting to serve to still have them be warm. Don't cover them, either. Just let them sit out on the baking sheet itself, or transfer to serving platter(s) to cut when serving. To me, that would be the best way to go! I hope that helps! :) I do hope that you make this! Your guests will LOVE it! VERY easy, tastes wonderful and looks impressive! Good luck to you, and have fun! Most important! ;) :)
Didi
Monday 17th of August 2015
Drool worthy, that's for sure!!
Kelly
Friday 9th of September 2016
Thanks, Didi!!! :D
Hadia
Sunday 16th of August 2015
Incredibly good, Kelly! I can't wait to try it! Just waiting to finish my low carb diet! How fantastic! The pictures are so gorgeous too!
Kelly
Friday 9th of September 2016
Awww, thank you, Hadia!! :D