Description
Homemade strawberry cream pie delivers a delightful summer dessert perfect for gatherings. Sweet strawberries nestled in silky cream create a refreshing treat you’ll savor with each heavenly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (907 g) strawberries (washed, hulled, and dried)
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 baked pie crust (completely cooled)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- Zest from ½ lemon (optional)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- 3 oz (85 g) strawberry gelatin
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Cream Preparation: Blend cream cheese and sugar until achieving a velvety, uniform consistency, creating a luxurious base for the pie.
- Whipping Process: Incorporate heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract, whipping vigorously until forming robust, glossy peaks that hold their shape.
- Flavor Enhancement: Gently fold in lemon zest, introducing a subtle citrus note without compromising the whipped cream’s delicate structure.
- Crust Layering: Spread the cream mixture evenly across the pre-chilled pie crust, establishing a smooth, elegant foundation for the dessert.
- Strawberry Arrangement: Create a visually compelling design by strategically placing whole and sliced strawberries, generating depth and texture across the surface.
- Glaze Creation: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, and cornstarch, whisking constantly over medium heat until the mixture transforms from cloudy to translucent.
- Glaze Refinement: Remove from heat, stirring in strawberry gelatin until completely dissolved, producing a glossy, vibrant ruby-colored coating.
- Final Assembly: Delicately drizzle the cooled glaze over the strawberries, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coverage that accentuates the fruit’s natural beauty.
- Chilling Stage: Refrigerate the pie for 2-4 hours, allowing layers to solidify and flavors to harmonize into a cohesive, indulgent dessert.
Notes
- Chill Wisely: Refrigerate cream cheese and whipping cream for 30 minutes before whipping to achieve maximum volume and smooth texture.
- Zest with Precision: Grate lemon zest carefully, avoiding the bitter white pith, to add a bright, subtle citrus note without overpowering the strawberry flavor.
- Glaze Mastery: Whisk cornstarch mixture continuously to prevent lumps and achieve a clear, glossy strawberry glaze that sets perfectly.
- Set Perfectly: Allow pie to rest in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight, to develop full flavor and achieve ideal slice-able consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg