Strawberry Cheesecake Crunch (Printable)
Creamy cheesecake meets juicy strawberries and sweet crispy topping for an irresistible layered dessert.
# What You'll Need:
→ Crust & Crunch Topping
01 - 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
→ Cheesecake Filling
06 - 16 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
→ Strawberry Layer
10 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
11 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
12 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, crushed freeze-dried strawberries, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Mix until well blended and evenly moistened.
03 - Spread half of the crunch mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 10-15 minutes until slightly golden and crisp. Let cool completely. Reserve remaining unbaked mixture for topping.
04 - Beat softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl until completely smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating again until creamy and well incorporated.
05 - In a separate chilled bowl, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined and smooth.
06 - Combine diced fresh strawberries with granulated sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Toss to coat evenly and set aside for 10 minutes to release juices.
07 - In a 9x9-inch dish or individual serving glasses, layer in this order: half the baked crunch, half the cheesecake filling, all the macerated strawberries, remaining cheesecake filling, and finish with reserved unbaked crunch mixture. Sprinkle white chocolate chips on top if using.
08 - Refrigerate assembled dessert for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and texture to set properly before serving.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of creamy cheesecake against that sweet strawberry crunch is absolutely addictive
- You can assemble it ahead and pull it out right when guests arrive looking impressive
02 -
- The unbaked crunch topping on top is what makes this special, so resist the urge to bake it again or you will lose that lovely contrast
- Letting the assembled dessert chill for at least 2 hours is not optional, it allows the flavors to meld and the layers to set properly
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients for the crunch layer, as the ratio of butter to crumbs needs to be precise
- The unbaked topping will stay perfectly crunchy for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator before starting to soften