Welcome to the enchanting world of strawberry season, a truly magical time when nature blesses us with an abundance of these vibrant, ruby-red gems! There’s an undeniable allure to their sweet, juicy perfection, inspiring countless culinary creations. For me, these beautiful berries evoke cherished memories of growing up on our family farm, where we cultivated a bounty of fresh vegetables alongside rows upon rows of luscious strawberries. When you have such a generous harvest, the delightful challenge becomes finding simple, yet exquisite, desserts to truly showcase their natural splendor.
Our farm was a place of endless abundance, and not just in the strawberry patches! We were also blessed with an ample supply of fresh, rich whipping cream, courtesy of our beloved cow, Betsy. For my family, discovering a dessert that harmoniously brought together these two incredible farm-fresh ingredients was always considered a triumph. It’s this very spirit of simple, wholesome deliciousness that inspired this particular recipe, a timeless favorite that has its roots deep within my mom’s treasured recipe box. I’ve adapted it slightly, drawing inspiration from a similar classic, to create what I believe is the ultimate easy frozen strawberry dessert. Like many of my mom’s summer treats, this one is designed to be made in a practical 9×13-inch pan, making it effortlessly convenient for serving a crowd during those warm, sun-drenched months.
A friendly reminder before you begin: This delightful dessert requires ample time to set, so planning for overnight freezing is essential to achieve its perfect texture. It’s a small wait for a grand reward!
Crafting the Ultimate No-Bake Frozen Strawberry Dessert
Get ready to create a masterpiece of summer flavors with this incredible no-bake frozen strawberry dessert. The journey begins with a foundational element: a perfectly crunchy graham cracker crust. For this recipe, we’ll be making a double crust batch. Half will form the sturdy base of your dessert, while the other half will be reserved to sprinkle generously over the top, adding an irresistible textural contrast. You’ll start with two sleeves of graham crackers, which you’ll crush into fine crumbs. These crumbs are then combined with rich melted butter and a touch of sugar – the classic, foolproof method for constructing a stellar graham cracker crust.
A Note on Graham Crackers: You might find that simply counting crackers can be a bit misleading due to variations in size and thickness between different brands. However, one consistent factor is that most brands package their graham crackers in 14.4 oz boxes, typically containing three sleeves. Each sleeve can hold anywhere from 8 to 11 crackers. Keeping this weight-based measurement in mind will ensure consistent results across all your graham cracker crust recipes, helping you achieve the perfect crumb-to-butter ratio every time.
The star of our show, the strawberries, requires a quart of berries, which typically translates to about 32 ounces when purchased from the grocery store. First, you’ll want to carefully chop enough of these vibrant berries to yield approximately one cup of finely diced pieces. These will be folded into the filling later, providing delightful pockets of fresh fruit. The remaining strawberries, with their hulls removed, are destined to become a luscious puree. The traditional method often involved a simple potato masher, which still works wonderfully for a slightly chunkier texture. However, in our modern kitchens, a blender or food processor makes quick work of transforming the berries into a beautifully smooth, vibrant puree – a true culinary delight!
Now for the heart of the dessert: the incredibly rich and creamy filling. This decadent mixture is a symphony of flavors and textures, combining softened cream cheese, the sweet indulgence of sweetened condensed milk, light and airy whipped cream, and our freshly mashed strawberry puree. Once these primary ingredients are harmoniously blended, you’ll gently fold in those previously chopped strawberry pieces, ensuring bursts of fresh fruit in every bite. The result is a filling that is both smooth and enticingly textural, a true testament to the simple joy of fresh ingredients.
With your graham cracker crust patiently waiting in the 9×13-inch pan, it’s time to generously spread this luscious strawberry filling evenly over the top. Take your time to smooth it out into a uniform layer. Then, grab the remaining graham cracker crumb mixture you set aside earlier and sprinkle it evenly over the filling. This final crumb layer adds another dimension of flavor and a delightful crunch that perfectly complements the creamy interior. Once assembled, cover the pan tightly and transfer it to the freezer to chill overnight. This extended freezing period is crucial for the dessert to firm up beautifully and develop its signature frozen texture. When you’re ready to serve, remove the dessert from the freezer and allow it to sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. This brief resting period is key, as it softens the dessert just enough to make cutting and serving effortless, ensuring perfect slices every time.
Prepare to delight your senses with each exquisite piece of this frozen strawberry dessert! You’ll experience the smooth, creamy bliss of the strawberry and cream cheese filling, perfectly balanced by the delightful crunch of the graham cracker crust and its crumbly topping. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that truly embodies the essence of summer.
Frozen Strawberry Dessert Recipe
Frozen Strawberry Dessert
Fresh strawberries in a rich and creamy frozen treat, perfect for any summer gathering!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Freeze Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 20
Calories: 292 kcal
Author: Sula
Ingredients
- 2 sleeves of graham crackers (about 16-22 crackers, depending on brand)
- ¾ cup butter, melted
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whipping cream, cold
- 1 quart strawberries (32 oz total)
Instructions
- To make the crust, crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs. You can do this by placing them in a ziplock bag and crushing with a rolling pin, or using a food processor for a quicker, finer crumb.
- Transfer the graham cracker crumbs to a medium mixing bowl.
- Melt the butter and add it to the crumbs, along with the sugar. Mix thoroughly until all crumbs are evenly coated.
- Press approximately half of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Reserve the remaining crumbs for the topping later.
- Prepare the strawberries: First, wash and hull all strawberries. Then, chop enough strawberries to make one cup of pieces and set them aside. Mash or puree the remaining strawberries using a potato masher, blender, or food processor until smooth.
- In a separate, large mixing bowl, beat the cold whipping cream until it forms soft peaks, which usually takes about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Stir in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and the mashed or pureed strawberries. Mix until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- Gently fold in the whipped cream and the reserved chopped strawberries into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated, taking care not to overmix.
- Spread the prepared strawberry filling evenly over the graham cracker crust in the 9×13-inch pan.
- Sprinkle the remaining graham cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the filling.
- Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and freeze overnight (at least 8 hours) until completely firm.
Video Guide
Notes
For best results and easier serving, remove the frozen dessert from the freezer about 20 minutes before you plan to cut and serve it. This allows it to soften slightly, making it much easier to slice into neat squares.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 54mg
- Sodium: 201mg
- Potassium: 192mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 22g
- Vitamin A: 599IU
- Vitamin C: 28mg
- Calcium: 94mg
- Iron: 1mg
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Additional Ideas and Frequently Asked Questions about Frozen Strawberry Dessert
Can I transform this Frozen Strawberry Dessert into a pie?
Absolutely! This versatile dessert makes an exceptional frozen strawberry pie. For a standard pie plate, you’ll likely need only a single crust, so simply halve the graham cracker crust recipe provided. For the filling, if using a standard pie plate, halve all the filling ingredients as well. If you opt for a deep-dish pie plate, you can use the entire recipe for the filling, but I recommend decreasing the cream cheese to 4 ounces to prevent it from becoming overly rich and dense. This adjustment will yield generously deep slices of creamy, strawberry goodness.
The main challenge with serving from a traditional pie plate can be removing individual frozen slices neatly. To make this easier, consider lining your pie plate with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides, which acts as a sling for effortless removal. An even more convenient solution is to use a springform pan. Once this dessert is fully frozen, it holds its shape beautifully, allowing you to easily release it from the pan for clean and precise slicing, ensuring every piece looks as good as it tastes.
Is it possible to use frozen strawberries for this recipe?
Yes, frozen berries work wonderfully, especially for the mashed or pureed portion of the recipe! When using frozen strawberries for the puree, simply thaw them slightly before mashing or blending. However, for the chopped berry addition, I personally prefer to use fresh strawberries whenever possible. The vibrant taste and slightly firmer texture of fresh berries add an extra layer of enjoyment and brightness to the dessert. But if fresh, high-quality berries are out of season or unavailable, don’t hesitate to use frozen ones; they will still yield a delicious result.
How long can I store this dessert in the freezer?
Once this frozen strawberry dessert is fully set and frozen solid, it will maintain its quality and delicious flavor for 1 to 2 weeks when stored properly in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in the freezer. Beyond this period, while still safe to eat, the texture and freshness might begin to diminish slightly. Make sure it’s well-covered to prevent freezer burn.
What’s the reason for letting the frozen dessert sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving?
This step is crucial and serves a very practical purpose: it makes the dessert much easier to cut into clean, beautiful slices. As I’ve noted with my Patriotic Torte, once fully frozen, this type of dessert becomes quite solid. Attempting to cut it directly from the freezer can be challenging and might result in cracked or uneven pieces. By allowing it to sit at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes, the dessert softens just enough to yield to a knife, ensuring smooth, effortless slicing. For ultimate convenience, I highly recommend pre-cutting the entire pan into squares after this brief softening period. This way, subsequent servings are a breeze, and you can easily grab a perfect slice whenever you desire.
Other Irresistible No-Bake Dessert Ideas
If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and deliciousness of this frozen strawberry dessert, I invite you to explore more no-bake wonders from my kitchen. These recipes are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without ever having to turn on the oven!
- For another creamy classic, try my No-Bake Cheesecake. You’ll notice I often top mine with a simple strawberry sauce, creating a delightful flavor profile of strawberry and cream cheese that is wonderfully reminiscent of this frozen treat.
- Dive into a nostalgic favorite with another frozen dessert straight from my mom’s recipe box: the incredible S’mores Pie. This one is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a personal obsession I will never grow tired of!
- If your taste buds crave the perfect balance of tart and sweet, my refreshing Lemonade Pie is an absolute winner that will brighten any day.
- For a fun, sweet dip that’s perfect for parties, you must try Dunkaroo Dip, a delightful funfetti cake batter dip. And for a dessert that literally comes together in minutes, nothing beats the elegance and speed of a 3 Ingredient Chocolate Mousse.
I’m “berry” excited for you to try all these fantastic recipes and discover your next favorite no-bake delight!