Description
A luscious and refreshing Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie featuring a buttery graham cracker crust, a fluffy cream cheese filling, and a luscious strawberry topping made from fresh strawberries cooked into a thickened sauce and piled with fresh berries. Perfectly chilled for a delightful, creamy dessert with vibrant strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 9-10″ graham cracker crust (prepared and baked)
Strawberry Topping
- 5-6 cups quartered strawberries, stems removed (divided)
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Prepare strawberry sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups (280g) of quartered strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice over medium-low heat. Stir frequently as the strawberries begin to release their juices.
- Crush strawberries: Use a potato masher to crush the strawberries until mostly liquid, allowing some small pieces to remain for texture.
- Cook mixture to thicken: Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute while continuously stirring to avoid lumps and sticking.
- Cool the strawberry sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and transfer the mixture to a heat-proof container to cool faster. Set aside while preparing the cream cheese layer.
- Make cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.
- Whip heavy cream: In a separate clean bowl, beat 1 cup heavy cream until stiff peaks form, indicating it’s thick and fluffy.
- Combine cream cheese and whipped cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and fluffy.
- Assemble first layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared graham cracker crust. Place in the refrigerator to chill while the strawberry mixture finishes cooling.
- Prepare strawberry topping: Once the strawberry sauce has completely cooled, stir in the remaining fresh quartered strawberries until well combined.
- Add strawberry topping: Pour the strawberry mixture over the chilled cream cheese layer, mounding the strawberries towards the center for a beautiful presentation.
- Chill to set: Return the pie to the refrigerator and allow it to set for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, before slicing and serving to ensure perfect texture and flavor melding.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened for a smooth filling.
- For best results, use fresh ripe strawberries to maximize flavor.
- The graham cracker crust should be pre-baked and cooled before adding filling to prevent sogginess.
- Allow the strawberry sauce to cool completely before layering to avoid melting the cream cheese layer.
- You can substitute heavy cream with whipping cream of similar fat content.
- Refrigerate overnight for optimal texture and flavor development.
