Description
Sweet summer strawberry delight merges creamy layers with fresh fruit in a chilled dessert perfect for warm afternoons. Crisp graham cracker base and silky cream cheese filling make refreshing magic that welcomes cool pleasure on your plate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lb (907 g) strawberries, fresh, washed, dried, stemmed
- 16 oz (452 g) cream cheese, full-fat, room temperature
- 1 cup (236 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup (236 ml) heavy whipping cream, for topping
- 2 tbsps strawberry jello mix
- 2 cups (240 g) graham cracker crumbs
- ½ cup (113 g) butter, unsalted, melted
- ¼ cup (48 g) sugar, granulated
- ½ cup (65 g) sugar, powdered
- ½ cup (65 g) sugar, powdered, for topping
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, fresh
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract, pure
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Combine graham cracker crumbs with melted butter, pressing the mixture firmly and evenly into a 9×9-inch pan to create a solid foundation, then chill while preparing subsequent layers.
- Strawberry Preparation: Dice and slice strawberries, patting them dry to ensure optimal texture and prevent excess moisture from compromising the dessert’s structure.
- Cream Components: Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form, gradually incorporating powdered sugar to achieve a glossy, stiff consistency. In a separate bowl, blend cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and silky.
- Filling Integration: Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, maintaining its delicate airiness. Separate the mixture, folding strawberry Jello and diced strawberries into one portion to create a vibrant, fruity layer.
- Layer Assembly: Arrange sliced strawberries in an overlapping pattern across the chilled crust. Spread the plain cream cheese filling evenly, then carefully distribute the strawberry-infused layer for a visually appealing and flavorful result.
- Topping Finale: Whip remaining cream with powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, then apply as a smooth topping or create decorative piped patterns across the dessert’s surface.
- Chilling and Setting: Refrigerate the assembled dessert for 4-6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and the texture to set completely before serving a refreshing, elegant treat.
Notes
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours to ensure the dessert sets perfectly and flavors meld together, creating a harmonious taste experience.
- Moisture Management: Pat strawberry slices dry to prevent excess liquid from making the crust soggy, maintaining the dessert’s ideal texture.
- Whipping Technique: Use a chilled mixing bowl when whipping cream to achieve faster, more stable peaks with better volume and structure.
- Layering Precision: Spread each layer carefully and evenly to create a visually appealing and consistent dessert that looks as good as it tastes.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg