This strawberry no bake cheesecake pie combines an extraordinarily creamy no-bake strawberry cheesecake filling with a crunchy, salty and sweet pretzel graham cracker crust. The filling is adapted from regular no bake cheesecake and we’re adding real strawberries without any artificial flavoring. To get enough fruit flavor, apply the same technique used in this strawberry cake recipe by pureeing then reducing strawberries down.
Is this strawberry cheesecake? Is this strawberry pie? It’s neither, but it’s both.
You’re looking at a no-bake strawberry cheesecake filling that tastes like strawberry mousse. It sits in a salty and sweet pretzel graham cracker crust and is prepped in a pie dish, not a springform pan (though that works too!). Baking the crust is key to its structure, so this isn’t completely no bake.
Whatever you call it, this dessert recipe is 100% pure strawberry goodness and perfect for summertime.
Video Tutorial
Strawberry Cheesecake Pie Details
- Flavor: Have you had plain no bake cheesecake before? It’s wonderfully tangy without an overpowering cream cheese flavor. In this strawberry cheesecake pie recipe, we’re flavoring the filling with strawberry. (And I have a no bake pumpkin cheesecake too!) The strawberry flavor is light because we aren’t using the crutch of artificial flavoring. Some strawberry pie recipes call for strawberry flavored gelatin powder, but we’re skipping it here. My #1 piece of advice is to only make this strawberry cheesecake pie when you have super sweet strawberries. You’ll find the flavor lacking if your strawberries aren’t in their prime. So, save this for the warmer months when strawberries are in their peak season. (I tested this recipe in May with the reddest strawberries I could find and the flavor was excellent.)
- Texture: By closely following this recipe, you’ll be rewarded with a slice of ultra smooth and creamy pie that’s reminiscent of mousse. It’s much lighter than a classic cheesecake or cheesecake pie. The filling’s light texture contrasts beautifully with the crisp crunch of the pretzel graham cracker crust and juicy sugared strawberries on top. The best bites are those with extra crust AND sliced strawberries!
- Ease: No bake cheesecake is A LOT easier than traditional baked cheesecake. Without eggs and baking, there’s really no room for huge error. For example, you can’t over-bake the filling and you don’t have to mess with a cheesecake water bath either. We’re essentially cutting every single complicated step and I know that’s music to your ears when it comes to from-scratch desserts!
Pretzel/Graham Cracker Crust Hybrid
Before jumping into the step photos and printable recipe, I want to explain the pretzel graham cracker crust. For the crust, you’ll use 1/2 cup of crushed pretzel crumbs and 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs. Stir these together with melted butter and some sugar.
- Problem Using Only Pretzels: The crust does not set up properly using only pretzel crumbs. It was so sandy and crumbly that we couldn’t even cut slices. (And that’s after baking the crust to help it set, too.) Maybe using more melted butter would help, but that would require additional testing. Instead, using a blend of graham cracker and pretzel crumbs gives us that salty sweet flavor and it still maintains its structure.
- Can I Skip Baking the Crust? I don’t recommend it. Since we’re using pretzels and serving this out of a pie dish, the entire dessert benefits from baking the crust.
SAVE TIME: Bake and cool the crust as you prepare and cool the reduced strawberry puree.
Reduced Strawberry Puree Adds The Flavor
This recipe is similar to strawberry cream cheese pie, but today we are flavoring the filling with strawberries instead of just adding them on top. After or during the crust’s bake and cool time, start preparing the strawberry flavor. We’re following the same exact process that we use for strawberry cake, only starting with a little extra strawberries. Since we’re not baking this dessert, I recommend straining the puree to rid the seeds. Puree the strawberries, strain the puree, then reduce the puree on the stove. If some seeds slip through, don’t worry about—you can’t detect a few here and there.
Depending on the pan and stove heat, reducing the strawberry puree down can take anywhere from 25-35 minutes. The 1/2 cup of reduced puree usually has the consistency of applesauce. Let it cool completely before using in the filling.
Step By Step Photos For Filling
The strawberry cheesecake pie’s filling is made in 2 bowls. In the 1st bowl, beat heavy cream into stiff peaks. The air whipped into the cream gives the entire cheesecake its structure and stability. Use the 2nd bowl for the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, cooled reduced puree, and vanilla extract. 1st & 2nd bowl:
Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, then spread into the baked and cooled crust. I like using a large or small offset spatula, which makes it easier and keeps the pie (and slices) looking neat. Instead of the oven, the filling sets in the refrigerator. For a sturdy no-bake cheesecake with beautifully neat slices, refrigerate for at least 8-12 hours. This makes for a great make-ahead dessert!
*Do not freeze the cheesecake to set it because the filling won’t slice and you’ll lose the creamy velvet texture.
Whipped cream and sugared strawberries make a simple dessert look elevated! Both toppings are pretty convenient because you use the same ingredients in the filling.
Helpful Tools I Recommend
- Blender or Food Processor: This is an essential tool to pulse the pretzels and graham crackers as well as puree the strawberries. This blender is fantastic quality for its price.
- Pie Dish: Time and time again, this glass pie dish is an absolute favorite. If using a springform pan, I use and love this one.
- Fine Mesh Sieve: Use this to strain the seeds from the strawberry puree.
- Electric Mixer: You need a handheld mixer or stand mixer for the filling. The whisk attachment can be used for whipping the cream as well as mixing the cream cheese mixture.
- Small Offset Spatula: This is helpful for packing and smoothing the filling into the crust.
- Piping Bag & Tip: Though optional, piping the whipped cream on top adds a beautiful finishing touch. In these photos, I used Ateco 849 and a reusable piping bag.
Strawberry Cheesecake Pie (No Bake Filling)
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 9 hours, 15 minutes
- Yield: serves 10-12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Description
This strawberry cheesecake pie combines creamy no bake strawberry cheesecake filling with a crunchy, salty and sweet pretzel graham cracker crust. To get enough fruit flavor, use strawberries when they are in season.
Ingredients
Pretzel Graham Cracker Crust
- 1/2 cup (50g) crushed pretzel crumbs (from 1 cup salted mini pretzel twists or pretzel pieces)
- 1 cup (120g) graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full sheet graham crackers)
- 3 Tablespoons (37g) granulated sugar
- 5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted
Strawberry Filling
- 1.5 lbs. (about 680g) strawberries, rinsed & hulled
- 1 cup (240ml) cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- 16 ounces (452g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Toppings
- 1 cup (about 150g) sliced strawberries
- 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon (29g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1 cup (240ml) cold heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Crust: Use a food processor or blender to grind the pretzels and graham crackers into a fine crumb. (Or crush both in a zipped top bag with a rolling pin.) Mix the crumbs, granulated sugar, and melted butter together in a medium bowl until combined. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Make sure it is very tight and compact. Use the bottom of a flat measuring cup to press it down tightly. Bake the crust for 15-16 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes (and up to 2 days) before adding the filling. Meanwhile, prep the reduced strawberry puree in the next step.
- Strawberries for the filling: Puree the strawberries completely. You will have 1.5 – 2 cups puree– anywhere around this amount is fine. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, using a spoon to press it down and work it through the strainer. Discard seeds. Stirring occasionally, simmer the strained puree over low-medium heat until you’re left with 1/2 cup or a little over 1/2 cup. This takes at least 25-35 minutes, but could take longer depending on your pan or how juicy your strawberries were. *Do not add sugar or anything to the puree or reduced puree—it’s just pure strawberries. Allow to cool completely to room temperature before using in the filling. (See make ahead instructions below if doing this in advance.)
- Rest of the filling: Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the cold heavy cream into stiff peaks on medium-high speed, about 4 minutes. Set aside. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until perfectly smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the cooled reduced strawberry puree, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract and beat on medium-high speed until combined, creamy, and smooth. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed to help combine. Make sure there are no large lumps of cream cheese. If there are lumps, keep beating until smooth.
- Using your mixer on low speed or a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cheesecake filling until combined. This takes several turns of your rubber spatula. Combine slowly as you don’t want to deflate all the air in the whipped cream.
- Spread filling into cooled crust. Use a small offset spatula to smooth down the top.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. For best results, at least 12 hours is best. The longer refrigerated, the nicer the no-bake cheesecake will set up. I don’t recommend using the freezer to set this cheesecake filling.
- Toppings: About 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving, prepare the toppings. Stir the sliced strawberries and 1 teaspoon (4g) of granulated sugar together. Set aside as you prepare the whipped cream topping. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, remaining sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. Medium peaks are between soft/loose peaks and stiff peaks and are the perfect consistency for topping and piping on desserts.
- Remove pie from the refrigerator. Spoon strawberries on pie and pipe whipped cream around the edges. (I used Ateco 849 piping tip.) Or you can serve each individual slice with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.
- Using a clean sharp knife, cut into slices for serving. For neat slices, wipe the knife clean between each slice.
- Cover and store leftover cheesecake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare the crust (steps 1 and 2) up to 2 days in advance. Cover and store baked and cooled crust at room temperature until ready to use. You can prepare the strawberry reduction (step 3) 1-2 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate, then bring to room temperature before using in step 4. You can also freeze the reduced strawberry puree for up to 3 months. Thaw, bring to room temperature, then use in the recipe. You can prepare the entire filling (steps 3-5) 1 day in advance before spreading into the crust in step 6. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. You can prepare the whipped cream and strawberries for the topping (step 8) 1 day in advance. Cover and refrigerate both until ready to use.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Food Processor or Blender | 9-inch Pie Dish or 9-inch Springform Pan | Fine Mesh Sieve | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Small Offset Spatula | Ateco 849 Piping Tip | Piping Bag (Disposable or Reusable)
- Pretzel/Graham Cracker Crust: It’s ideal to use both pretzel and graham cracker crumbs in this recipe. If desired for more explanation, see section above Pretzel/Graham Cracker Crust Hybrid. If you want a plain graham cracker crust, follow this graham cracker crust recipe. (See Note 6 below if you don’t have graham crackers.)
- Can I Make This in a Springform Pan? Yes. Follow the recipe exactly as written including baking the crust, but use a 9-inch springform pan. When it’s time to serve, use a knife to loosen the chilled cheesecake from the rim of the springform pan, then remove the rim.
- Can I Use Frozen Strawberries for the Filling? Yes. Thaw, then puree, strain, and cook as directed. The puree may take longer to reduce down. For best taste, I recommend fresh strawberries for the topping.
- Can I Make Mini No-Bake Cheesecakes? Yes. Use this crust and filling recipe and follow the instructions in my mini no bake cheesecakes, which are made in a standard muffin pan.
- Non-US Readers: Don’t have graham crackers where you live? Use 135g ground digestive biscuits instead (about 9 biscuits), the same amount of butter, and add a bit more sugar (about 1/4 cup, or 50g). And from what I understand, spreadable cream cheese sold in a tub in countries outside of the US is a little different from the spreadable cream cheese in the US. It’s thicker, sturdier, and more solid and should be OK to make cheesecake. I have no experience with it, but this is what I’ve heard from other non-US readers.
I loved this recipe. I did add lemon curd to the pie mixture. Tastes great.
This recipe turned out great! The cheesecake had a beautiful texture and a nice strawberry flavor. I replaced the crust with the Biscoff crust recipe on this website and layered some Biscoff cookie butter on the top, making it a Strawberry Biscoff pie, which was delicious!
This recipe is a labor of love, that’s so worth it. I cooked down the strawberries the night before to save time and ensure it was cooled. I also added some gelatin to the whip cream and spread it over the entire top. 10/10 everyone loved it. Easily one of my favorites from Sally and I’ve made many from the website.
I made this pie a few years ago, but I felt like it was soooo much fluffy strawberry filling and it desperately needed so much more crust/crunch. I made it again and I decided to make it in a 9×13 pan as bars, so there would be less filling per serving. I did a 1.5x recipe of the crust but kept the filling recipe as written. This results in a perfect pan of bars and the ratio is so much better in my opinion! Also, obsessed with the pretzel & graham cracker crust! Sharing in case anyone else wants to make this as bars. (I don’t put any whip cream or strawberries on top, I don’t find it necessary).
I’d like to use the graham cracker almond crust from the creamy lemon pie for this…do I still bake the crust just 8 minutes like that recipe says? Or do I bake it longer like this recipe says since I won’t be baking it longer since it’s a no bake pie?
Hi Beth! Bake it longer, like this recipe says, since this filling is no-bake.
Glad I decided to make the strawberry puree in advance because I started reducing the puree at 3:40pm…it is now 5:20pm and STILL not reduced down to ½ cup I hope the final product turns out worth all this hassle in the end
I think you could freeze individual wedges for future use. As a single, who likes to cook, the whole pie is just too much at any one time.
Hi, the recipe was fabulous. I have a strict dietary regiment and altered the ingredients although I did that I followed the directions and was able to create a similar experience. Thank you for creating a recipe that was easy to follow. I made a gluten free shortbread for the crust, swapped out the jello for plain gelatine and half the cream cheese was dairy free and halved the sugars and substituted the white sugar to an organic cane sugar. I can tolerate some dairy and this was definitely a treat. Thank you!
Hi Sally, do you think I could use cherries instead of strawberries? Would the amounts change? I want to make this for my dads birthday and cherries are his favourite.
Hi Tahni, we haven’t tested this with other berries or fruits, but can’t see any issue with it as long as you use 1/2 cup of reduced puree in the cheesecake filling. Let us know what you try!
Is it possible to make this into bars in a 9 x 13 inch pan?
Hi Samantha, we haven’t tested it, but it should work. If you try it, please report back!
Would this work in a quiche pan (like a deep removable bottom tart pan)?
Can’t see why not!
Excellent recipe! Very light and not too sweet. I cut the recipe in half and made 12 mini cheesecakes. I did a standard graham cracker crust. I stabilized the whip cream on top with a bit of gelatin. Next time I will add a bit of gelatin to the whipped cream that goes in the filling as well to make a bit firmer. And next time I might switch to an oreo crust since I love chocolate and strawberry together. Another fabulous Sally recipe!
I made this recipe for an event that got cancelled — can I freeze the pie without the toppings for a few weeks? Thanks Sally! The filling tasted amazing as I was making it 🙂
Hi Becca! Absolutely. Thaw it in the refrigerator and serve cold.
Hi! I love this recipe and used it last year in a dessert auction. I am wondering if the strawberry puree can be substituted with 1/2 cup of freeze dried strawberries that are blended/pureed instead?
Hi Lieu, we haven’t tested anything, but let us know if you do!
Making for a school benefit to sell, should I omit the whipped topping and strawberry topping if it will be sitting out for a bit?
Or can you add the topping and keep it chilled?
Hi Amanda, it would be best to leave the toppings off as they could weep into the pie. Will you have a way to keep the pie cold at the bake sale? This pie should be kept cold.
Was wondering if I can make mini strawberry cheesecake from this receipe? My family and friends love starberry, and would be easier to separate everything compared to cutting slices.
Hi Lubana, you sure can make this in mini cheesecakes. We’re unsure of the exact bake time, as it will depend on the size. Keep a close eye on them. Hope you enjoy it!
What can I use to make this non dairy? What can I use in place
Of the cream cheese? I know I can use the full fat coconut cream for the heavy cream.
Hi Linda, We haven’t tested this recipe with any dairy free substitutes. So that you don’t waste time and ingredients experimenting you may wish to find a recipe that is specifically written to be dairy free. But if you do decide to try anything let us know! If you are interested, here are all of our dairy free recipes.
Hi Sally! I want to use this recipe as a filling for a layer cake between two layers of sponge- do you think it will be set enough to hold up as a cake filling after it chills or should I add gelatin?
Hi Madeleine, we don’t recommend this no bake cheesecake as a sturdy layer between or under cakes (unless it’s a very light sponge cake). We haven’t tested it, but we suspect it simply isn’t stable enough to support cake layers. What you could try is creating a dam with buttercream around the edges of the cake, then lightly filling the inside with this cheesecake filling, so that it doesn’t come out the edges. Let us know what you try!
Is there somewhere that lists the calories for your recipes?
Hi Julie, We don’t usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients. Plus, many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients listed. However, there are many handy online calculators where you can plug in and customize your exact ingredients/brands. Readers have found this one especially helpful: https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp