Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie – A buttery graham cracker crust filled with sweetened cream cheese and topped with a mountain of juicy fresh strawberries. This gorgeous no-bake pie is the perfect spring or summer dessert. VIDEO below!
This is the story of how three adults ate nearly 3 whole pies in 5 days. Friends, send help. And stretchy pants.
When I decided to make a fresh strawberry pie I had some criteria that needed to be met. I wanted the pie to be no-bake, with a graham cracker crust, a thin layer of cream cheese, and piled high with fresh strawberries. This pie is all about the strawberries.
It took a little bit of (delicious) trial and error for me to get this pie exactly how I wanted it.
First attempt: Tasted great, but the crust didn’t hold together, and the cream cheese filling was too thin. (we ate it anyway)
Second attempt: Still tasted great, the filling was right on, but the crust still needed a little work. (we ate it anyway)
Third attempt: Perfection. (obviously, we ate it.)
So now my belly is happy, my pants are too tight, and I have the perfect recipe for strawberry pie. Side note: If you need me I’ll be at the gym. For like a week.
Fresh Strawberry Pie
The strawberries are the star of this pie! I avoided using any type of glaze or strawberry gelatin, which is typical in a strawberry pie. Most of those glazes and gelatins contain artificial colors and artificial flavors. I couldn’t bear the thought of smothering my beautiful fresh strawberries with dyes and fake flavorings. Instead I toss the strawberries with a little strawberry jam. This gives the strawberries a glossy look and adds a little sweetness.
No-Bake Strawberry Pie
I call this a no-bake pie because the filling and topping are both no-bake. I find that the slices of pie hold together better if the crust is baked prior to filling, but baking the crust is not completely necessary. If you don’t want to use the oven, you can skip baking the crust (see recipe notes), but when you slice and serve this pie, the crust might be a little more crumbly.
I hope this pie makes its way onto your spring and summer table. Enjoy every bite!
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No-Bake Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs about 10 sheets
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or granulated sugar
- pinch salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Filling and topping:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened, not light
- 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 5 cups halved or quartered fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons strawberry jam or preserves heated slightly, if necessary, to thin it out
Instructions
Crust:
-
Preheat oven to 325°F (or see notes for no-bake option). In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter and stir until combined. Dump the mixture into a 9 1/2 inch pie plate. Press it into the bottom and little more than halfway up the sides of the pie dish. I use the bottom of a drinking glass or measuring cup to help pack it in. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
Filling:
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Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. While continuously beating, slowly add sweetened condensed milk and then vanilla extract. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Pour into the cooled crust, then tightly cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
To serve:
-
In a large bowl, combine strawberries and jam/preserves. Place half of the strawberries on top of the pie. After placing a slice of pie on a plate, scoop additional strawberries onto each slice (it's easier to cut and serve this way).
Recipe Notes
If you'd like to make this recipe completely no-bake, you can skip baking the graham cracker crust. Just freeze the crust for 1 hour before filling. If you do bake it, the slices of pie will cut cleanly and be more stable. I prefer baking the crust, but it tastes delicious either way!
This looks amazing, and the photography is spot on! Good job!
Oh my! I think I need to make this today as a little yay it’s FRIDAY after school snack for my kids thanks for sharing! YUMO
Oh Heaven in a bowl! I am pinning this to make soon!
Ermahgerd. Now THIS is a recipe I can make and it looks so impressive! I can’t wait to try it!
this is happening this weekend! Looks amazing!
Update! I made it this weekend and it was SOOO good! At first I thought that I would maybe need more filling, but it was the perfect amount. Good thing you made it three times to perfect it!!! This will become a staple summer recipe for me, thanks for sharing!
Yay! Yes, it is a thin layer of filling. I wanted it to compliment the berries instead of overpower them. I’m so glad that you liked it. And thanks SO much for taking the time to come back and let me know. 🙂
This recipe is a winner! And what beautiful photographs. Thanks for sharing!
Yum! I’m definitely giving this try!
This is my new favorite pie. I ate a whole pie over a few days. I just couldn’t stop eating this deliciousness!
Great idea! It sounds so easy and looks fantastic!
I want to make this, but I know I’d eat the WHOLE thing! Now I’ve got to get some friends over!
Seriously, my mouth just watered. This looks SOOOOO good! Can’t wait to make it. And eat it all. Myself.
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This reminds me of a pie I used to love growing up! I love all the fresh strawberries on top, it would be perfect to serve for Mother’s Day!
Gorgeous! I love no-bake pies!
So, so pretty! How nice that your trial pies were still edible — love it when that happens 😉 Glad you didn’t add the gelatin — I agree that covering those strawberries would be so sad!
Oh my gosh this is SOOOO it! Thank you so much for this beautiful recipe! I have been looking online for the last hour trying to find the perfect strawberry no bake pie for my mom for her birthday in a month but there was something weird about all of them (strawberry jello, not near enough strawberries, artificial strawberry glaze, seriously?! etc) but this is it, thank you so much! Pinning to my Recipes board and printing this out so I don’t lose it!
Thank you! I am so happy to hear that you’re trying it. I was also turned off by all the jello/glazes on other pies which is why I created this recipe. 🙂 My family loves it and I hope yours does too! Enjoy!
Can’t wait to make this. Can it be done two days in advance, or will the crust get soggy?
Hi, Julie. I would suggest one day max to prevent sogginess. And don’t add the berries until right before you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!
I made this today Its chilling in the refrigerator I cant wait to taste it tonight !!! Thank you
Enjoy, Susan!
That strawberry looks delicious – great photos!
Seriously nailed it- I love a fresh strawberry dessert, and this fits the bill!
Just made this pie for the second time this week. The recipe is perfect. Strawberries are in here now so I am sure I will make again.
I’m so happy to hear that you liked it. It’s one of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by!