Description
This layered apple treat is pure magic in every bite. A sweet, buttery graham crust sets the base, followed by a silky cream cheese layer, fluffy whipped topping, juicy apple pie filling, and a sprinkle of crunchy pecans. It’s rich, luscious, and comes together without ever turning on the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust Layer
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 7 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Creamy Middle Layer
- One 8-ounce block of softened cream cheese
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 16 ounces Cool Whip, thawed and divided
Topping Layer
- Two 21-ounce cans apple pie filling
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Start with the crust.
- In a bowl, mix the graham crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter until everything looks evenly moistened. Press this mixture firmly into the bottom of a 13×9-inch dish—use the bottom of a cup to pack it down tightly. Slide the dish into the freezer while you prepare the next step so the crust firms up.
- Make the creamy layer.
- In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla until completely smooth and fluffy. This should take about 2–3 minutes. Gently fold in half of the Cool Whip and spread this mixture evenly over the cold crust.
- Add the apple topping.
- Spoon the apple pie filling across the cream cheese layer, making sure to distribute the apples so every bite gets a little fruit.
- Finish with whipped topping.
- Spread the remaining Cool Whip on top. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours—or overnight for the cleanest slices.
- Garnish and serve.
- Right before serving, sprinkle chopped pecans over the top for crunch. Keep it chilled and serve cold.
Notes
- Use softened block-style cream cheese. Tub-style spreads won’t set up properly.
- Want a lighter option? Try making your own whipped topping instead of using store-bought Cool Whip.
- A drizzle of caramel right before serving makes this dessert taste like caramel apple heaven.
- Swap the graham crackers for Golden Oreos or vanilla wafers if you want a sweeter crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 207 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 139 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g