Strawberry Cheesecake Pie w/ Vanilla Wafer Crust

By srumbel

Strawberry Cheesecake Pie might just be my favorite strawberry dessert of all time! Its rich and creamy cheesecake but made extra easy in pie form and extra delicious with vanilla wafer crust! Smother the luscious cheesecake in the BEST juicy glazed strawberries and everyone won’t be able to stop singing your praises…and eating your cheesecake.
from carlsbadcravings.com

Ingredients

• Vanilla Wafer Crust
• 45 vanilla wafers, crushed (heaping 1-1/2 cup crumbs)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• Cheesecake
• 2 8 oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Glazed Strawberries
• 2 pounds strawberries, hulled divided
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons strawberry gelatin (powdered Jell-O)
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Details

Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 75mins

Preparation

Step 1

Crust

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until crust just begins to brown. Cool completely.

Cheesecake

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Beat cream cheese until very smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in sugar followed by eggs then egg yolk, one at a time until combined after each addition. Beat in sour cream and vanilla and beat until very creamy, about 1 minute. Pour filling over cooled crust.

Place the pie pan in a large roasting pan and add water until it reaches half way up the sides of the pie pan. Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees F. The cheesecake should still jiggle in the center (it will firm up after chilling), and the edges should be mostly set.

After 45 minutes, turn oven off and crack oven door open. Let cool in cracked oven for 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven and let cool completely on a rack then chill in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, best if overnight.

Strawberries

While Cheesecake is baking, prepare Glazed Strawberries. Add 1 cup roughly chopped strawberries and 1/2 cup water to a blender and puree until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.

Add puree to a small saucepan along with cornstarch, sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, but not too thick.

Transfer to a large bowl and stir in strawberry gelatin and lemon juice. Let cool to room temperature. This will be your Strawberry Glaze.

Slice any extra large strawberries in half and add all remaining strawberries to cooled Strawberry Glaze and stir until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate separately from cheesecake until ready to serve.

Assemble and Serve

When ready to serve, stir strawberries then use a slotted spoon (as strawberries will release juices as they chill) and spoon Strawberries over cheesecake and serve. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.

Servings: 10-12