01 -
In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter until combined.
02 -
Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish or springform pan to form an even layer. Refrigerate the crust while you prepare the filling.
03 -
In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
04 -
In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and combined.
05 -
Spread the cheesecake filling evenly over the chilled crust. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours, or until set.
06 -
If using canned cherry pie filling, spoon it over the chilled cheesecake just before serving.
07 -
If using fresh cherries, mix them with a bit of sugar and let them sit for about 30 minutes to release their juices. Spoon over the cheesecake before serving.
08 -
Slice and serve the cheesecake chilled, with cherry topping on each slice.