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Candy Cane Cheesecake Lush

This Candy Cane Cheesecake Lush is a gorgeous no-bake Christmas dessert with layers of graham cracker crust, creamy peppermint white chocolate pudding, cheesecake, Cool Whip, and crushed candy canes. With its pretty red and white layers, it looks absolutely beautiful on a Christmas dessert table.

The bottom starts with a buttery graham cracker crust. Next comes a thick layer of white chocolate pudding that’s tinted Christmas red and flavored with peppermint. A thinner white cheesecake layer filled with crushed candy canes goes in the middle, followed by another beautiful red peppermint pudding layer.

The whole dessert is finished with fluffy Cool Whip and plenty of crushed candy canes.

When you cut into it, you get those gorgeous Christmas layers in every slice.

This is such a fun alternative to cookies and cake for Christmas parties, holiday dinners, or Christmas Eve. And because it’s a refrigerated no-bake dessert, you can make it ahead of time and have it waiting in the refrigerator when you’re ready to serve.

Why You’ll Love This Candy Cane Cheesecake Lush

If you love peppermint desserts at Christmas, this one has everything.

You get creamy white chocolate pudding, cheesecake, peppermint, and crunchy little pieces of candy cane all in one dessert.

It’s also incredibly pretty.

The combination of bright red pudding, white cheesecake, and fluffy whipped topping gives the dessert a candy cane-inspired appearance without requiring complicated decorating.

Best of all, there’s no baking involved.

What Is a Lush Dessert?

A lush is a layered dessert that’s usually made with some combination of a crust, pudding, cream cheese, and whipped topping.

They’re sometimes called dessert lasagnas because all of the different fillings are stacked into distinct layers.

For this Christmas version, we’re using a graham cracker crust and creating alternating red and white peppermint layers.

Once everything has chilled and set, you can cut the Candy Cane Lush into squares and see all of the pretty layers.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

• 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Red Peppermint Pudding Layers

• 2 boxes instant white chocolate pudding mix, 3.3 ounces each
• 3 cups cold whole milk
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, or to taste
• Red gel food coloring

White Candy Cane Cheesecake Layer

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
• 1/2 cup finely crushed candy canes

Topping

• 2 to 3 cups Cool Whip
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

How to Make Candy Cane Lush

Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Crust

Add the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar to a medium bowl.

Pour in the melted butter and stir until all of the crumbs are evenly coated.

The mixture should resemble wet sand and hold together when pressed.

Transfer the graham cracker mixture to the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Press it firmly into an even layer.

I like to use the bottom of a measuring cup to really pack the crust down.

Place the crust in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

Step 2: Make the Red Peppermint Pudding

Add the instant white chocolate pudding mix to a large bowl.

Pour in the cold milk and whisk according to the package directions until the pudding begins to thicken.

Add the peppermint extract.

Start with a little peppermint because the flavor can become strong very quickly. Taste the pudding and add a tiny bit more if you’d like a stronger candy cane flavor.

Add red gel food coloring a little at a time until the pudding reaches a pretty Christmas red.

Gel food coloring works especially well because you can achieve a vibrant color without adding a lot of additional liquid.

Set the pudding aside.

Step 3: Add the First Red Layer

Remove the graham cracker crust from the refrigerator.

Spread a little more than half of the red peppermint pudding over the crust.

This bottom red layer should be nice and thick.

Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it all the way to the edges.

Return the baking dish to the refrigerator while you prepare the cheesecake filling.

Step 4: Make the White Candy Cane Cheesecake Layer

Add the softened cream cheese to a large mixing bowl.

Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.

Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

Beat again until completely smooth.

Gently fold in the Cool Whip.

Once the cheesecake mixture is smooth and fluffy, fold in the finely crushed candy canes.

Try not to overmix once you’ve added the candy canes. You want little pieces of peppermint running throughout the white cheesecake layer.

Step 5: Add the Cheesecake Layer

Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator.

Carefully spoon the cheesecake mixture over the first red pudding layer.

This white cheesecake layer should be thinner than the red layers.

Rather than dumping all of the cheesecake mixture into one spot, place small spoonfuls all over the surface. This makes it easier to spread without disturbing the pudding underneath.

Gently smooth the cheesecake into an even layer.

You’ll now have a graham cracker crust, a thick red peppermint layer, and a thinner white candy cane cheesecake layer.

Step 6: Add the Second Red Layer

Spoon the remaining red peppermint pudding over the cheesecake layer.

Again, place small spoonfuls over the surface first and then gently spread them together.

This helps keep those beautiful red and white layers separate.

Smooth the pudding into an even layer.

Step 7: Add the Cool Whip

Spread a generous layer of Cool Whip over the final red pudding layer.

You can make the top completely smooth or create soft swirls with the back of a spoon.

I love the fluffy white topping because it really makes the red pudding underneath stand out.

Step 8: Chill

Cover the baking dish and refrigerate the Candy Cane Lush for at least 4 to 6 hours.

Overnight is even better.

The chilling time gives the pudding and cheesecake layers time to become firm enough for slicing.

Step 9: Add the Candy Canes

Just before serving, sprinkle crushed candy canes generously over the Cool Whip.

You can completely cover the top or concentrate them down the center of the dessert.

I recommend adding the final candy cane topping shortly before serving because crushed candy canes can begin to soften and bleed into whipped topping after sitting for a long time.

The Perfect Red and White Christmas Dessert

The layers are what really make this dessert special.

From bottom to top, you’ll have:

Graham cracker crust

Thick red peppermint white chocolate pudding

Thin white candy cane cheesecake

Another red peppermint pudding layer

Fluffy white Cool Whip

Crushed candy canes

When you cut the dessert into squares, you can see every layer from the side.

It has that classic red-and-white candy cane look without having to make a complicated decorated dessert.

Why Use White Chocolate Pudding?

White chocolate pudding gives the dessert a creamy flavor while also providing a pale base that can easily be tinted red.

Chocolate pudding obviously wouldn’t give you the same bright Christmas color.

Vanilla pudding can work if you can’t find white chocolate, but I really like the white chocolate flavor with peppermint and cheesecake.

It makes the dessert taste a little richer and more special for Christmas.

How Much Peppermint Extract Should I Add?

Peppermint extract is strong, so this is one ingredient where more isn’t necessarily better.

Start with the amount in the recipe and taste the pudding.

If you want a stronger peppermint flavor, add just a tiny bit more.

Remember that you’re also adding crushed candy canes to the cheesecake layer and the top, so the finished dessert will have more peppermint flavor than the pudding alone.

Use Gel Food Coloring

I recommend red gel food coloring rather than traditional liquid food coloring.

You can create a much deeper red with a relatively small amount.

Add a little at a time and stir thoroughly before adding more.

If you want a softer dessert, you could also make the pudding pink instead of deep red. The pale pink, white cheesecake, and crushed candy canes would be beautiful for Christmas, too.

How to Keep the Layers Separate

The secret is chilling and gentle spreading.

After you add the first red pudding layer, put the baking dish back into the refrigerator while you prepare the cheesecake.

Then, when you’re ready to add the white layer, spoon small amounts across the entire surface.

Gently connect those spoonfuls instead of dragging a large mound of cheesecake across the pudding.

Use the same technique for the second red layer.

It doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect, but taking a little extra time here will give you much prettier slices.

How to Crush Candy Canes

Place unwrapped candy canes inside a zip-top bag.

Seal the bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin.

You don’t want every piece turned into peppermint dust. A combination of fine crumbs and tiny crunchy pieces gives the cheesecake layer great texture.

For the topping, I like leaving a few slightly larger pieces because they look so pretty against the white Cool Whip.

Make It Ahead for Christmas

Candy Cane Lush is an excellent make-ahead Christmas dessert.

In fact, I prefer making it the night before.

Prepare the entire dessert through the Cool Whip layer, cover the baking dish, and refrigerate overnight.

Before serving the next day, add the freshly crushed candy canes to the top.

That gives you plenty of chilling time while keeping the candy cane topping looking fresh and pretty.

How to Cut Clean Slices

For the prettiest red and white layers, make sure the dessert is thoroughly chilled.

Use a sharp knife and wipe the blade clean between cuts.

A small serving spatula makes it easier to lift each square out of the pan without disturbing the surrounding pieces.

The first piece is usually the trickiest. Once it’s out, the rest become much easier to serve.

Christmas Party Dessert

This would be absolutely adorable on a Christmas dessert table.

The red and white colors make it especially pretty alongside Christmas cookies, fudge, peppermint bark, hot chocolate, and other holiday treats.

You could even make an entire candy cane-themed dessert table with peppermint brownies, candy cane cookies, peppermint cheesecake, white chocolate treats, and this lush as the centerpiece.

Candy Cane Lush Variations

Once you’ve made the basic recipe, there are several fun ways you could change it.

Oreo Candy Cane Lush: Replace the graham cracker crust with crushed Oreo cookies.

Chocolate Peppermint Lush: Use a chocolate cookie crust and add mini chocolate chips to the cheesecake layer.

Pink Candy Cane Lush: Use less food coloring to create soft pink pudding layers.

Extra Cheesecake Candy Cane Lush: Double the cheesecake filling if you want a much thicker white layer.

Peppermint Bark Lush: Add finely chopped peppermint bark between the layers.

White Chocolate Candy Cane Lush: Sprinkle white chocolate curls over the finished dessert with the crushed candy canes.

How to Store Candy Cane Lush

Keep the dessert covered in the refrigerator.

Because it contains pudding, cream cheese, milk, and whipped topping, it needs to stay chilled.

For the best appearance and texture, I would enjoy it within about 3 days.

The candy canes will gradually soften as the dessert sits, but the flavor will still be delicious.

Can I Freeze Candy Cane Lush?

You can freeze lush-style desserts, although the texture of the pudding and whipped topping may change slightly after thawing.

For the best results, I recommend making this dessert fresh and refrigerating it overnight rather than freezing it.

Tips for the Best Candy Cane Lush

Use instant pudding. Cook-and-serve pudding won’t set the same way in this recipe.

Use cold milk. This helps the instant pudding thicken properly.

Don’t overdo the peppermint. You can always add more, but you can’t take it back out.

Use softened cream cheese. Cold cream cheese can leave lumps in the cheesecake layer.

Keep the white layer thinner. The thinner cheesecake center makes the red layers more prominent and gives the dessert that beautiful candy cane appearance.

Chill between layers when needed. A few extra minutes in the refrigerator can make spreading much easier.

Chill before cutting. Give the dessert at least 4 to 6 hours to set.

Add the final candy canes last. They’ll look prettier and stay crunchier.

Jennie’s Thoughts

I love how pretty this dessert looks once you cut into it.

The whole idea was to make the layers actually look like a candy cane, so I wanted those red peppermint pudding layers to be thicker with just a thinner white cheesecake layer running through the center.

Then you get another pop of white from the Cool Whip on top and all those crushed candy canes.

And I really like using white chocolate pudding for the red layers. White chocolate and peppermint already taste amazing together, and because the pudding starts out so light, you can tint it whatever shade of red you want.

The cheesecake layer might be my favorite part, though. Those tiny crushed candy cane pieces throughout the creamy white filling give you little pops of peppermint and a bit of crunch.

This is definitely one I’d make the night before a Christmas party. Pull it out of the refrigerator the next day, add the crushed candy canes to the top, and you have this beautiful layered Christmas dessert ready to go.

If you’re looking for an easy no-bake Christmas dessert that’s festive enough for the center of the dessert table, save this Candy Cane Lush.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Candy Cane Lush made with?

This version has a graham cracker crust, red peppermint white chocolate pudding, a thinner candy cane cheesecake layer, another red pudding layer, Cool Whip, and crushed candy canes.

Do I have to bake the graham cracker crust?

No. This recipe uses a refrigerated graham cracker crust, making the entire dessert no-bake.

Can I use vanilla pudding?

Yes. Instant vanilla pudding can substitute for white chocolate pudding, although the flavor will be slightly different.

Why should the cheesecake layer be thinner?

The thinner white cheesecake layer allows the two red pudding layers to remain the dominant layers, creating a pretty red-and-white candy cane appearance when the dessert is sliced.

Can I make Candy Cane Lush the night before?

Yes. It’s actually a great overnight dessert because the layers have plenty of time to set. Wait until shortly before serving to add the final crushed candy canes.

Can I use peppermint candy instead of candy canes?

Yes. Crushed round peppermint candies can be substituted if candy canes aren’t available.

Does Candy Cane Cheesecake Lush need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Keep it refrigerated because the filling contains milk, pudding, cream cheese, and whipped topping.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 4–6 hours
Total Time: About 5 hours
Servings: 12–15