No-bake desserts don’t have to be soft or messy, and this strawberry cream cheese pie proves it. Made with fresh or frozen strawberries, a creamy cheesecake-style filling, and a buttery graham cracker crust, it slices clean and holds its shape even on a warm day. It’s an easy, make-ahead dessert that’s perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or anytime you don’t want to turn on the oven.
The Summer Pie That Never Falls Apart When You Slice It
If you’ve ever skipped making a fresh strawberry pie because you were worried it wouldn’t slice cleanly, this is the one to try. A little gelatin gives the filling just enough structure to hold its shape without sacrificing that rich, creamy texture. It’s packed with strawberry flavor, doesn’t rely on cornstarch, and each slice lifts easily out of the buttery graham cracker crust, no sliding, no mess.
Featured reader review
“I made this No-Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie last weekend to hand out to our neighbors. Everyone raved. This recipe is a keeper plus the pie is so delicious. Thank you for the recipe.”
CRYSTAL
It will need to refrigerate for a few hours to let everything set up. If you need a berry dessert right away, try a simple blueberry self-saucing pudding.
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Cream cheese, whipped cream, and strawberries come together for a smooth, creamy filling, while a little gelatin helps it stay firm enough to slice cleanly, even in the heat. It’s the kind of pie you can count on to hold its shape without fuss.
Serve it with extra fresh strawberries on top for a simple finish. Since it’s completely no-bake, it’s ideal for hot summer days or cookouts when the oven is off limits. And because frozen berries work just as well, you can make it any time of year.
If you still have extra berries, it’s the perfect excuse to make a batch of homemade strawberry jam or throw them into a simple cobbler.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want your strawberries to go bad while you’re waiting to make your favorite strawberry recipes, learn how to keep strawberries fresh for two weeks, it’s a game changer.
If you don’t want to firm up the pie with gelatin, another option is to use eggs whites like in a light and airy strawberry chiffon pie.
Strawberry Cream Pie Recipe Ingredients
Get a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
- Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are combined with orange juice and sugar and are allowed to macerate. This allows the sweetness of the berries to be concentrated. You can use fresh or frozen strawberries for this pie. You could also try using other berries like raspberries, blueberries or blackberries.
- Unflavored Gelatin – Gelatin provides structure to the pie so it stays together. You can find this in the bakery aisle of most grocery stores.
Pro Tip: To help a graham cracker crust pie come out of the pie pan easier, spray the pie pan first with cooking spray.
How To Make a No-Bake Pie
Step 1: Make the graham cracker crust.
Step 2: Make the strawberry puree.
Step 3: Make the cream filling.
Add the strawberry puree.
In a small bowl, combine the gelatin with water and the remaining orange juice. Microwave for 10 seconds to dissolve the gelatin. It should be fully liquid before allowing it to cool slightly and adding it to the strawberry mixture.
Step 4: Chill and serve.
Chill the pie in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
Since this no-bake strawberry cream cheese pie is so rich already, I don’t think it needs additional whipped cream on top. Instead, cut the pie and serve it with sliced fresh strawberries. Grab a fork and dig into a luscious, fruity, creamy dessert.
How to Store a Cream Cheese Pie
This pie can be stored in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
You can also freeze this pie whole or in individual slices. Let it thaw in the refrigerator.
Inspired by a recipe from California Strawberrries
If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.
Easy No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Pie with Fresh or Frozen Berries
Ingredients
Fruit Puree
- 1 cup strawberries cut
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons orange juice
Filling
- 1 tablespoons gelatin unflavored
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 16 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
Graham Cracker Crust
- 15 crackers graham crackers 2 cups crumbs
- 7 tablespoons butter melted
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Equipment
Instructions
CRUST:
- Place graham crackers in a food processor or place in a resealable bag and us a rolling pin to grind into crumbs. Add melted butter and salt and combine. Place in a pie dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Press down with a flat surface like the bottom of a glass. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
PUREE:
- Place cut strawberries in a bowl with 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons of orange juice. Stir to combine and let sit for 30 minutes. Then use a blender, food processor or immersion blender to blend until smooth.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt and beat until smooth. Add the pureed strawberries and beat until combined.
- In a small bowl, add gelatin with 2 tablespoons of water and 3 tablespoons of orange juice. Stir to combine and microwave for 10 seconds to allow it to dissolve. It should be liquid form. Let it cool slightly and add to the strawberry mixture, beating until combined.
- Change to the whisk attachment on the stand mixer and add unbeaten heavy cream to the cream cheese mixture. Start on low and once incorporated, beat on high for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour into the prepared crust and smooth the surface with an offset spatula. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until it has set.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- You don’t beat the heavy cream separately, you add it directly to the cream cheese strawberry mixture and then beat it on high so that the entire mixture is slightly fluffy but the cream is fully incorporated.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before you start to make the pie while keeping the heavy cream refrigerated. This makes it much easier to whip up and get that smooth, airy filling.
- Allow the pie to sit in the refrigerator for the full 4 hours. The wait is necessary to allow the gelatin to fully set and allow this pie to be perfectly firm and sliceable.
- Don’t forget to spray the pie pan with cooking spray to make it easier to remove the slices.
Nutrition
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Mary Lee says
Followed exactly..must say lots of steps but absolutely worth it!! Used strawberries from our garden yay!! One question and hope you can answer soon can this be frozen and survive with the cream cheese?? Tysm for a great recipe!!!
Barbara Curry says
Yes, you can freeze it! So glad you loved it.
Jen says
Is cream cheese amount (16oz: 2boxes) a typo? Made twice as much filling aND much lighter colored.
Barbara Curry says
It does use 2 boxes or 18 ounces of cream cheese and is a pale pink. It will come to the top of a large pie pan. If your pie pan in small and you have extra filling, you can put them in individual ramekins.
Roxanne says
Would like to make for a family event, but my sis is allergic to citrus – any suggestions for substitute for the orange juice?
(Thinking maybe pomegranate)
Barbara Curry says
You can leave it out and just use water. I think pomegranate would work, but it’s not necessary for the recipe.
Roxanne says
Thanks, Barbara!
CRYSTAL WESTPHAL says
I made this No-Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie last weekend to hand out to our neighbors. Everyone raved. This recipe is a keeper plus the pie is so delicious.
Thank you for the recipe.
Barbara Curry says
Crystal, I’m so glad you liked it and thanks for the 5 star rating!
Dixie Barker says
Made it. Delicious. Good recipe. Very tasty and great summer dessert. Will now make regularly…. Thanks for the recipe…..
Barbara Curry says
It’s great for summer but you can also use frozen strawberries.
Teena says
Do you know if there is a substitution for gelatin? We use apple pectin at work. It looks so good.
Barbara Curry says
I have not experimented with any gelatin substitutions but I found this post from someone I would consider reliable. I hope it helps. https://www.spatuladesserts.com/substitute-for-gelatin/#%f0%9f%91%a9%f0%9f%8d%b3-different-types-of-gelatin-substitutes
Heidi B says
In a bit of a hurry for a delicious summer dessert when I happened upon this no-bake strawberry cream cheese pie. Delighted to share that my three sons enjoyed every last bite!! Simple. Fresh. No-bake. Yes, please, and thank you! Pureeing the strawberries and adding a splash of orange juice made for a fragrant refrigerated delight. Thanks!
Barbara Curry says
Thanks so much for adding a review! I’m glad it was a family favorite.