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Candy Cane Lush is a layered, no bake dessert that’s perfect for holiday baking with white chocolate and peppermint cheesecake flavors. A homemade graham cracker crust, whipped cream, peppermint cheesecake, and white chocolate pudding layers make this a show-stopper dessert.

For more candy cane inspired desserts be sure and try Candy Cane Pie, Candy Cane Brownies, and Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites.

A square of the layered lush on a white plate

Candy Cane Layered Lush Dessert Recipe

This layered no bake dessert is a show-stopper for your holiday dessert table. I love no bake lush desserts because they’re simple to make, with simple ingredients that get shared between the layers, and they slice so beautifully because of the layers.

This candy cane lush version is made with a graham cracker crust, peppermint cheesecake layer, and a white chocolate pudding layer – with some homemade whipped cream on top and inside the cheesecake layer.

Pan of no bake lush dessert with a side view of the layers

The cool and smooth peppermint flavors pair perfectly with the thick, creamy, and chilled dessert layers.

If you prefer chocolate + peppermint then be sure and make this Chocolate Peppermint Lush – same idea as this one, but instead of white chocolate it has a chocolate pudding layer.

Top view of the pan of no bake layered lush.

Simple Ingredients Needed

This recipe may look challenging because of its four layers and longer ingredient list. But, most the ingredients are shared between layers and there is absolutely no baking involved – just mixing and blending. I promise, it’s so much easier than the ingredient list might make it look.

Graham Cracker Crust Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crumbs : I buy the box of graham cracker crumbs from the store (makes it so easy!) but you could also finely crush up about 9 whole graham cracker sheets to get the amount needed.
Granulated Sugar
Melted Butter : You can use salted butter or unsalted butter, it just depends on preference, I prefer salted butter when baking so that is what I use.

Homemade Whipped Cream Ingredients

Heavy Whipping Cream
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla Extract

Peppermint Cheesecake Layer Ingredients

Cream Cheese : Make sure the cream cheese is well softened so it does not create lumps in the cheesecake mixture. Softened cream cheese blends in smoother.
Powdered Sugar
Peppermint Extract
Finely Crushed Peppermint Candy Canes

White Chocolate Pudding Layer Ingredients

White Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
Half and Half
Finely Crushed Peppermint Candy Canes : This is garnish for the top of the peppermint lush dessert.

A piece of the peppermint lush on a plate with a fork.

How To Make No Bake Peppermint Lush (Printable Recipe Cared)

Make The Graham Cracker Crust : In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar. Pour in the melted butter and stir until all the cracker crumbs are coated well in the butter, and the mixture resembles wet sand.

Press the crust mixture firmly into the bottom of a square 8×8-inch baking dish. You can use the bottom of the measuring cup, or back of a spoon, to help firmly pack the crumbs down. Place it in the freezer while you prepare the other layers.

Make The Peppermint Cheesecake Layer : In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and peppermint extract, and continue beating the mixture until light and fluffy; about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the crushed candy canes.

Evenly spread the peppermint cheesecake mixture over top the chilled crust, then return the baking dish to the refrigerator while you prepare the other layers.

Make The Homemade Whipped Cream : In a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer, or use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Start on low speed and increase the speed as it thickens.

Make The White Chocolate Pudding Layer : In another mixing bowl, whisk together the white chocolate instant pudding mix and the half and half, for about 2-3 minutes or until it is nicely thickened.

Gently stir 1 cup of the homemade whipped cream into the pudding mixture. Once combined, evenly spread the white chocolate pudding mixture on top of the cheesecake layer inside the baking dish.

Final Layer & Fridge Time : Spread the remaining whipped cream on top for the final layer. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours (or up to overnight) before serving.

Just prior to serving, garnish the lush with the crushed peppermint candy canes. Cut into squares and enjoy!

How To Store Peppermint Candy Cane Lush

Refrigerator : Keep the dessert covered, stored in the fridge, for up to 3-4 days. The lush is best served within 24 hours of making it, otherwise as it sits in the fridge, the peppermint topping and whipped cream layer on top can get a little melty over time.
Make-Ahead Instructions : This is the perfect dessert to make a day in advance as it needs lots of chill time. It actually tastes better after it has had several hours to chill in the fridge, so I always make it the night before and refrigerate it overnight, before serving it the next day. Be sure to hold off on the crushed peppermint garnish until right before serving it, otherwise it will dissolve and melt into the whipped cream topping and bleed its red color into it.

Close up of the top whipped cream and peppermint layer

Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen

If you prefer a firmer graham cracker crust you can bake it. I opt for the no-bake route and it has always worked out beautifully, however, baking the crust is an option. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Make sure it is completely cooled before adding any layers into it! This is very important.
Be sure your cream cheese is softened before mixing it. Softened cream cheese blends smooth and fluffy, without any lumps. Leave the cream cheese out at room temperature for up to 2 hours. You can also pop it in the microwave (unwrapped!) for about 20 seconds to get it softened without making it warm or melted.
For the garnish, crush the peppermint candy canes right before adding them on top, so that they will stay nice and crisp and not melt into the whipped cream layer on top.
Don’t substitute any of the ingredients. It’s so important in this dairy-filled no bake dessert that you are using exactly what it calls for. This will ensure that the lush sets up the correct way, it’s thick, and can easily be cut into squares. Use the heavy whipping cream, full fat cream cheese, and half and half. It’s all necessary and called for for a specific reason.

Candy Cane Lush (No Bake Christmas Dessert)

Candy Cane Layered Lush Dessert Recipe