Easy Patriotic Strawberry Cheesecake Cups
A quick and easy no-bake dessert featuring layers of creamy cheesecake filling, fresh strawberries, blueberries, and crunchy graham cracker crumbs, perfect for 4th of July celebrations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ cups graham crackers, crushed
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Place graham crackers in a zip-top bag and crush finely with a rolling pin or pulse in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Set aside about ½ cup for topping later.
- In a large bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes on medium speed. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula, being careful not to overmix to maintain airy texture.
- Hull and slice fresh strawberries. Toss with granulated sugar if desired and let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
- Assemble the cups by spooning about 2 tablespoons of crushed graham crackers into the bottom of each serving cup, then add about 3 tablespoons of cheesecake filling, followed by a layer of sliced strawberries and a few blueberries. Repeat layering once more and finish with reserved graham cracker crumbs on top.
- Refrigerate the cups for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and filling to firm up. One hour is acceptable if short on time.
- Garnish with a fresh strawberry slice or extra blueberries before serving. Serve chilled.
Notes
If cream cheese is not soft enough, microwave for 10 seconds before mixing to avoid lumps. Fold whipped cream gently into cream cheese to keep filling light and airy. Crush graham crackers finely but not into dust for best texture. Macerate strawberries with sugar for extra sweetness and juiciness. Chill at least 2 hours for best texture and flavor melding. Assemble ahead but add fresh berries just before serving to keep them fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: strawberry cheesecake cups, no bake cheesecake, 4th of July dessert, patriotic dessert, easy summer dessert, cheesecake in a cup