Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

By Addie

Strawberry season is winding down, so I thought I would offer up a yummy strawberry dessert. This combines four of my favorite flavors: home made graham cracker crust, sweet strawberries, cheesecake, and dark chocolate. Have mercy! Now, if you are short on time you can always purchase a ready made graham cracker crust but I promise you, you will not regret the time put into a home made crust. It truly makes the pie.

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie is a great make-ahead summer dessert that always brings raves. It’s cool and creamy, easy to make, and it definitely puts a smile on everyone’s lips!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups sliced strawberries (plus more for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 8-oz package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Dash of nutmeg
• 1 8-oz container Cool Whip
• Extra berries and melted dark chocolate chips for garnish

Details

Adapted from seashinemag.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine cracker crumbs and sugar in a mixing bowl. Stir in the melted butter. Firmly pat the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a pie dish. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack.

In a small bowl, take 1½ cups of the sliced strawberries and mash them with a potato masher. Mix with the sugar and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with the vanilla extract and nutmeg until smooth and creamy. Add the crushed strawberries and blend well. Fold in the remaining ½ cup of the sliced berries and the Cool Whip. Spoon the mixture into the cooled pie crust.

Refrigerate for about an hour and then garnish with sliced strawberries and drizzled chocolate or with chocolate covered strawberries.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.