Tell us a more mouthwatering summer combo than fresh strawberries and sweet cream? These strawberries and cream no bake cheesecake bars combine our favorite things in an easy and quick recipe. Bits of ripe, ruby strawberries are suspended in the smooth, slightly tangy cream cheese filling. Slice, spoon over sweetened strawberries, and serve!
The strawberries and cream no bake cheesecake bars do need an overnight chill, so plan accordingly. For a cleaner cut, pop them into the freezer about an hour before slicing. Clean off your knife between cuts. Recipe may be doubled in a 9 X 13-inch pan.
ingredients
directions
Criss-cross two pieces of foil to line the inside of an 8 X 8-inch cake pan. Use enough foil so that it hangs over the sides and can be used to lift the bars out of the pan.
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, ¼ cup sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Stir together until evenly moistened. Tip the mixture into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or small drinking glass to press the crust into the bottom of the pan. Chill in the refrigerator.
Put the softened cream cheese and ½ cup sugar into a large mixing bowl. Blend with a hand mixer (or a stand mixer) until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Stop and scrape down the bowl to make sure there are no lumps. Add the sour cream and vanilla. Blend until combined. Set aside.
In a clean bowl, add ½ cup cream and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Whisk by hand (it’s a small amount) or use an electric mixer to whip until medium peaks.
Next, fold the strawberries into the cream cheese mixture. Then fold in the whipped cream until combined.
Remove the crust from the refrigerator and scrape in the strawberry mixture. Use an offset spatula to spread until smooth. Refrigerate the bars for at least 8 hours or overnight.
For the topping, slice fresh strawberries and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir and set aside 20 minutes to macerate.
Whip ½ cup cream with the remaining sugar until medium peaks form. Pipe or decorate the tops of the bars with the whipped cream as desired. Spoon over the macerated strawberries and their juices before serving.