Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
These Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars have a buttery graham cracker crust, a creamy no-bake cheesecake filling, and a thick layer of sweet strawberry pie filling. This classic dessert is perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, holidays, and summer cookouts when you need an easy make-ahead dessert everyone will love.
Summertime is the season for grilled foods, cookouts with friends, and lazy weekends around the pool. It’s also the time to have a quick and easy dessert for those last-minute plans that require very little prep work. My Easy Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe, Strawberry Trifle Dessert, and Easy Banana Pudding Recipe are all cool, creamy desserts perfect for a summer day.
If you enjoy this strawberry cheesecake, be sure to try my Fourth of July Cheesecake, featuring both strawberry and blueberry pie filling for a patriotic twist.
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Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
I love cheesecake! This recipe is a three-layer cheesecake with a creamy center and strawberry topping. The crust does need at least 10 minutes of baking time, but the creamy cheesecake filling is a NO Bake recipe.
- Easy No-Fuss Dessert
- Made with Simple Ingredients
- Perfect Make-Ahead Dessert
- No Water Bath Required
- Easy to Transport
Ingredients You’ll Need
All of the ingredients are easy to find in most grocery stores. For a full ingredient list, see the printable recipe card below. This easy recipe, with just a few ingredients, makes the perfect summer dessert for any time of year.
- Graham Crackers: The crust is made with graham cracker crumbs mixed with butter and sugar.
- Butter: I usually use salted butter because that’s what I keep in my refrigerator. Unsalted butter will work just fine for this sweet graham cracker crust.
- Sugar: White sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness to the crust.
- Cream Cheese: Room temperature cream cheese is needed for the cheesecake mixture. I use two packages of regular cream cheese.
- Cool Whip: A big tub is needed for this recipe.
- Confectioners Sugar: Confectioners sugar (powdered sugar) is used for the cheesecake filling.
- Vanilla extract: My favorite flavoring.
- Strawberry Pie Filling: I have used a homemade strawberry pie filling and two cans of store-bought pie filling, and they both work great.
Do you have extra strawberries? Check out this post on Freezing Fresh Strawberries. Frozen strawberries make the perfect pie filling.
How To Make Easy Cheesecake Dessert
Step 1: Prepare the crust. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar. Press the mixture firmly into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow the crust to cool completely.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Filling. Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Fold In Topping. Fold in the whipped topping and mix until well combined.
Step 4: Assemble the Cheesecake. Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Be careful not to disturb the crust too much.
Step 5: Spread Pie Filling. Spread the pie filling evenly over the top of the crust. Be generous.
Step 6: Chill and Serve.
If you are looking for a great Strawberry Salad, try Strawberry Spinach Salad. It’s light and tasty with an amazing dressing.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
- When it’s strawberry season, feel free to serve fresh berries or juicy strawberries alongside each slice of cheesecake. Fresh strawberries are the best.
- Suppose you don’t have a food processor; no worries. Place graham crackers into a Ziploc bag or any zip-top plastic bag and pound until they are fine crumbs.
- This recipe works with a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
- Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Softened cream cheese will ensure a creamy filling.
- Cool the crust completely before adding the filling.
- Lightly spray your hands with cooking spray before pressing into the baking dish.
- Place into the refrigerator to chill for several hours before serving.
Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling is easier than you may believe. With just 6 simple ingredients, you can have the best homemade pie filling you have ever tasted. Check out this post on How to Make Pie Filling Recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this recipe will be fine to make a day or two in advance. They keep well in the refrigerator. I had made this dessert two days in advance, and it was great! This dessert will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator — if it’s not eaten before then.
Using a spatula or knife, cut into squares and serve. Use a sharp knife, wiping it clean between cuts for neat bars.
Wrap the container with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Overnight is the best. This allows plenty of time to chill. This dessert will last for several days in the fridge.
Summer Dessert Recipes
If you tried this Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
- 2 sleeves graham crackers, finely crushed
- ½ cup butter
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 (8oz. packages)
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
- 16 ounce Cool Whip
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cans Strawberry Pie Filling or Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- For the Crust: Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a bowl and mix well.
- Transfer to a 13″ X 9″ baking dish and press down firmly to form the crust.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10 -15 minutes or until lightly brown. Set aside to cool completely.
- For the Cheesecake: Using a mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and vanilla.
- Fold in the whipped topping and mix until well combined.
- Carefully spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust. Be careful not to disturb the crust too much.
- Spread Pie Filling over the top of the cream cheese layer. Don’t be stingy with the topping. Make it thick!
- Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
Notes
- Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Softened cream cheese will ensure a creamy filling.
- Cool the crust completely before adding the filling.
- Place in the refrigerator and chill for several hours or overnight before serving.
This looks so yum! I can’t wait to try it!
What an awesome summer recipe! Thank you for this! Can’t wait to make it again!
What a perfect summer dessert for a BBQ! I adore cheesecake, and these bars look so easy to make. I can’t wait to make them!!
I like how quick and easy it is to whip up these bars! Using the strawberry pie filling is a great shortcut. Perfect recipe to bring to my next church potluck meal!
Making these for the 4th of July! The perfect summer dessert!