Easy strawberry no bake cheesecake dessert with real strawberries inside a crunchy graham cracker crust – perfect for holiday desserts (it’s a cute pink and red Valentine’s Day idea), kids’ birthday party treats, or even summer BBQ recipes when you don’t want to bake on hot days!
Easy Strawberry No Bake Cheesecake Dessert Recipe
This strawberry cheese cake has a no-bake pie crust and a no-bake filling for the perfect smooth, light and creamy dessert for all year (but especially the perfect summer dessert)! Adding real strawberries to this no-bake cake is what elevates it to the next level, so don’t skip them for this strawberry cream cheese pie. This is a lighter version of a traditional cheesecake recipe.
Refrigerator Strawberry Cheesecake Pie Details
To Make This No-Bake Cheesecake With Strawberries, You’ll Need These Simple Ingredients:
- Strawberry Jell-O (or favorite gelatin)
- Philadelphia cream cheese (room temperature cream cheese and full fat cream cheese)
- Whipped cream (like Cool Whip)
- Crushed graham crackers into fine crumbs
- Unsalted melted butter
- Powdered sugar (Confectioner’s sugar)
- Fresh strawberries (or frozen strawberries)
*See my tip below after the printable recipe card for the best whipped topping for strawberry-flavored desserts or fruit dessert recipes.
RECIPE TIP: Although the recipe only takes minutes to prepare, I recommend refrigerating the prepared dessert 6-12 hours before serving to help the cheesecake set up and prevent the crust from falling apart easily. You can make this cheesecake recipe 1-2 days ahead of time so it’s ready for your party or cookout.
Strawberry No Bake Cheesecake Dessert
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed graham crackers about 16 graham cracker sheets
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3 8- ounce packages cream cheese room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups whipped cream
- 3 ounce package Strawberry Jell-O
- Fresh strawberries for garnish
Instructions
TO PREPARE THE CRUST:
- Place graham crackers in a resealable bag. Using a rolling pin or a kitchen mallet, crush graham crackers into a fine crumbs.
- Add the crushed graham crackers to a medium mixing bowl. Add melted butter and stir until coated. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan or pie pan and slightly up the sides. Press down until the graham cracker crust is compact and pressed tightly.
- Place the crust in the pan in the freezer for 20 minutes while preparing the cheesecake filling.
TO PREPARE THE FILLING:
- In a small mixing bowl, prepare the strawberry Jell-O according to package directions (the Jell-O mix and boiling water). Stir to dissolve. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the cream cheese with the mixer. Slowly add in powdered sugar a little at a time until all of the sugar is mixed in.
- Continue mixing on low speed and carefully add in prepared Jell-O liquid. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and stir in any mixture from the sides.
- Fold in the whipped cream until completely mixed in.
- Remove the crust from the freezer. Gently spoon strawberry cheesecake mix over the crust in the springform pan.
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: To help cheesecake set (and keep crust from falling apart), cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for 6-12 hours (up to 2 days).
- Prior to serving, garnish with whole strawberries or fresh sliced strawberries. I also recommend topping with our homemade lemon whipped cream. (SEE POST FOR MORE TIPS.)
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition Note
Nutrition calculations are approximate. If you're following a special diet, please calculate your own nutrition values.
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Step By Step Instructions and Photos For An East Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
RECIPE INGREDIENTS TIP: Allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature before the recipe. It makes a creamy cheesecake filling and the best ever no bake strawberry cheesecake recipe! So don’t skip this step for a creamy strawberry filling for this easy dessert recipe.
Does no-bake cheesecake get firm?
The gelatin is what helps make a no-bake cheesecake firm. The best way to firm up no-bake cheesecake is to refrigerate it for 6-12 hours or place in the freezer for a few hours. Cheesecake that isn’t baked has more of a light mousse texture (like a fluff) and isn’t as dense as regular cheesecake recipes.
Helpful Tools & Recipe Tips
PIE PAN: You can use a springform pan like this (recommended) or a glass pie pan. Using a springform pan will help the crust easily release from the pan and make it easier to cut through the crust without the crust falling apart.
MAKING THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST: You can also pulse the graham crackers in a food processor, but if you’re making this with kids they’ll have a lot of fun crushing the graham crackers with a bag and mallet! Crushing graham cracker crumbs is always my daughter’s favorite part of recipes like this!
SERVING: Be sure to cover the dessert with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate the cheesecake for 6-12 hours (or more!) before serving. If this is your first time using a springform pan, run a knife around the edge of the crust before releasing it from the springform pan. Use a clean knife for each slice, wiping the knife off between cheesecake slices.
TOPPING RECOMMENDATION FOR STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE: Make our homemade whipped cream with lemon to use for this dessert. I often make this DIY whipped cream and add lemon to use with fruit desserts. We love it on strawberry desserts like this one!
GET THE LEMON WHIPPED CREAM RECIPE
You can also drizzle it with a store-bought strawberry sauce or a fresh strawberry puree over the top of the strawberry mixture on top of the cheesecake before serving.
ALTERNATE RECIPE IDEA: You can make this a no bake strawberry cheesecake bites recipe by pressing the crust into greased, individual muffin tins and adding the filling for individual mini cheesecakes, which works well for party foods for children’s birthday parties or even baby shower desserts.
STORE THE CHEESECAKE: Cover the cheesecake tightly with foil or in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I hope you enjoy this simple strawberry no bake cheesecake dessert! It’s a great dessert for any time of year!
