Baked Cherry Cream Cheese Pie

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the softened butter and stir until the mixture is well combined. Use your fingertips to evenly press the mixture across the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, but do not turn off the oven.

2. 2

   Pour the cherry pie filling into the pre-baked crust.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

4. 4

   Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture around the outer edges of the pie, leaving a 3-inch circle of cherries exposed in the center. An offset spatula can help with smoothly spreading the cream cheese layer.

5. 5

   Return the pie to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Cool the pie completely on a wire rack.

6. 6

   Refrigerate the cooled pie for several hours before serving, either in a pie keeper or loosely covered with aluminum foil.