dessert

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

June 21, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups start with a rich buttery graham cracker crust.

The fresh strawberries and a light and creamy cheesecake are layered in individual cups for a delicious and pretty summer dessert.

I hosted my bunko friends at my house this weekend. When we meet, the host provides dinner, drinks and of course dessert before we play.

For dinner I had decided on a family favorite of ours – crack chicken puffs. They are filled with cream cheese and bacon and wrapped in crescent dough. These bundles taste great but definitely rich.

So for dessert, I was wanting something a little lighter and with a summer feel.

But here’s the deal. Even though I wanted a light dessert, it still had to taste amazing because dessert is my favorite part of a meal.

And the big 2 lb package of strawberries in my fridge was staring me in the face so I pivoted from my usual chocolate and went fruity.

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups are layered with a creamy cheesecake filling and fresh strawberries. And so good!

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

These little cups are so pretty which I love because you eat with your eyes first! The layered trifle look makes this simple dessert look fancy with very little work.

And individual treats are always fun!

These no bake strawberry cheesecake cups use just a few ingredients that you probably already have most of at home.

What You Need:

Graham Cracker Crumbs
Butter
Sugar
Cream Cheese
Heavy Whipping Cream
Vanilla
Strawberries
9 oz Plastic Cups

Making Strawberry Cheesecake Mini Parfaits

To make these individual desserts, you want to make the crust first so that it has time to set up while you make the cheesecake filling.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs (they make these already crushed up so you don’t have to do it yourself), melted butter and sugar in a medium bowl.

Stir until it starts to clump together. Keep stirring until the butter is well combined with the graham crackers and sugar.

Take 2 tablespoons and place it into the bottom of each cup.

Use a fork to gently press the crust into the cup.

Place the cups with the crust into the fridge to set up while you make the cheesecake filling.

No Bake Cheesecake Filling

To make the filling, combine the softened cream cheese with the sugar and mix using a stand or hand mixer until smooth.

Add the Heavy Whipping Cream slowly and the vanilla.

Beat until light and fluffy.

Add the cheesecake filling to the gallon zip bag. Cut off the end so that you can use it as a piping bag (it makes it easier to fill the cups).

Dice the strawberries.

Assembling the Dessert Cups

Now you are ready to assemble the no bake strawberry cheesecake cups.

Your cups should have the graham cracker crust set up now.

Cheesecake Filling

First add a generous squeeze or two of cheesecake filling from your homemade piping bag.

Using a spoon, spread the filling out into an even layer in each cup.

Stawberries

For the next layer, add a tablespoon or two of diced strawberries to each cup.

Then repeat another layer of no bake cheesecake filling and a final layer of diced strawberries.

Put back in the fridge for at least one hour. They are best eaten the same day.

But I will tell you, I ate one for breakfast the day after and it was still just as yummy!

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Cups

Servings

Ingredients

Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

Combine the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl.
Stir it together until it starts to clump together and the butter in well incorporated into the cracker crumbs.
Place 2 tablespoons of the crust mixture into the bottom of each plastic cup.
Use a fork to press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom.
Place the cups in the fridge while you make the cheesecake mixture so that it can firm up a little.
Mix the softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup of white sugar to a large bowl and mix until incorporated.
Slowly add in the heavy whipping cream and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy.
Dice strawberries.
Using a gallon ziplock bag with the cheesecake filling, pipe some filling into each cup.
Using a spoon, spread the cheesecake filling out.
Add a layer of diced strawberries.
Repeat another layer of cheesecake filling and end with a layer of strawberries.
Chill for at least one hour. Best served the same day.

Nutella And Strawberry Puff Pastry

January 17, 2019 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Puff pastry stuffed with Nutella and strawberry sauce for a new take on the traditional chocolate covered strawberry. A Nutella and strawberry puff pastry on your breakfast or dessert table will please everyone in sight!

Valentine’s Day Treat

The Nutella and strawberry puff pastry was inspired by Valentine’s Day that will be here before you know it (didn’t we just finish Christmas?!). My daughter helped me set out all of our pink and red heart shaped decorations this weekend and it put me in the V-Day mood. And made me want to bake something.

A sweet breakfast treat that would have some flavors often associated with Valentine’s day is what I came up with. And when I think of Valentine’s, I of course think of chocolate. But I also think of big, juicy strawberries drenched in delicious chocolate. And puff pastry is just amazing.

This Nutella and strawberry puff pastry is stuffed with a chocolate covered strawberry filling and also shaped into a cute little heart. Such a cute and easy Valentine’s Day breakfast or even dessert that tastes amazing.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Nutella And Strawberry Puff Pastry

Do you know what I love? A fun, holiday inspired treat that doesn’t take ten years to make. All through out the year we make seasonal treats like Halloween Mummy Cakes and Turkey Egg in a Hole Breakfasts. Keeping with my simple holiday motto, before you know it you will have a sweet V-day treat on the table for your family to enjoy.

Unfold the puff pastry sheet. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the first puff pastry sheet. Don’t roll it thin, just spread it out a bit. A couple of firm rolls of the pin horizontal and vertically is all that i did. Do the same for the second puff pastry sheet.

The puff pastry was folded in thirds, so you will see 3 vertical “columns.” The filling is going to go in the middle column. First spread the Nutella out, go light at the top and bottom so that it doesn’t spill out when you wrap it. I used 1/2 cup of nutella between the 2 puff pastry sheet.

If you hate measuring, don’t. Just spread some Nutella! That is the beauty of this Nutella and strawberry puff pastry. It is easy.

Then spread the strawberry topping. I used a tablespoon per pastry.

Create the Puff Pastry Braid

Now you need to cut the pastry so that the braid can be created. I use a pizza cutter. Start on one side and cut until you meet the filling. Skip over the filling and cut the same size on the other side. I try to do about an inch thick but I am not very meticulous and it works out fine.

Fold over first strip of pastry from the left and then the right starting at the bottom. Continue overlapping the strips until you get to the top. You may need to pinch the ends at the top and bottom a little to prevent the filling from spilling.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Gently take the two separate pastry braids and shape them into a heart shape if you want this to have even more of a Valentine theme.

Using a silicone brush, spread a beaten egg over the top of the pastry. This is optional but it gives a nice shine to the top.

Bake the Pastry

Bake at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. Watch it close so that it doesn’t burn on the bottom. Mine was done in about 13 minutes.

Top with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

I hope you enjoy this Nutella and strawberry puff pastry recipe for Valentine’s Day or anytime you are craving the combo of strawberries and chocolate!

Nutella and Strawberry Puff Pastry

Cook Time

10-15 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

2 TBSP Smucker's Strawberry Topping Separated
1/2 Cup Nutella Separated
1 Box Puff Pastry
1 Whole Egg Beaten
Powdered Sugar (For Garnish)

Cook Time

10-15 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

2 TBSP Smucker's Strawberry Topping Separated
1/2 Cup Nutella Separated
1 Box Puff Pastry
1 Whole Egg Beaten
Powdered Sugar (For Garnish)

Instructions

Thaw puff pastry on the counter for 30-45 minutes
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Gently unroll the first puff pastry and remove paper.
Using a rolling pin, gently roll out the puff pastry slightly.
Spread 1/2 of the Nutella down the center of the puff pastry.
Spread 1 tablespoon of the strawberry topping on top of the Nutella.
Cut 1 inch segments of the puff pastry on the left using a pizza cutter, skip the middle (where the filling is), cut 1 inch segments on the right side. Repeat until the entire pastry is cut.
Starting at the bottom, fold in the left side of the pastry over the middle. Next lay the right side over the left that you just folded. Continue to "braid" until you reach the top.
Repeat with the remaining puff pastry and remaining Nutella and Strawberry topping.
Place on a greased baking sheet. If you wish, shape the two puff pastries into the shape of a heart.
Brush the top lightly with beaten egg.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Oatmeal Cream Pie Turkey Treat

November 19, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Your kids can create an easy oatmeal cream pie turkey treat after Thanksgiving dinner. The DIY turkey dessert is fun and simple to set up for the kids to enjoy.

How is Thanksgiving already here? Last year I had just had a baby and I don’t think I really cared what holiday it was because I was so tired. But this year I decided to get ambitious and host our family Thanksgiving for 15 people. So while I am trying to figure out how to brine a turkey fun activities like this oatmeal cream pie turkey treat will be occupying my 4 year old.

We did a test run on this easy to make turkey dessert a few weeks ago. My daughter had lots of fun arranging the colorful feathers on her cute little turkey.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Oatmeal Cream Pie Turkey Treat

I was in a turkey breakfast theme earlier this month. Turkey shaped Bagels with Apple feathers and Turkey shaped Eggs in a basket were hits at the breakfast table. We love fun shaped food! So we expanded to a cute after school treat with this oatmeal cream pie turkey treat dessert.

You could even set up a little oatmeal cream pie turkey treat station for the kids to make after Thanksgiving dinner. So while you are eating your favorites like 5 minute caramel pie or pumpkin cheesecake, the kids can DIY their own sweet turkey.

What You Need:

Oatmeal Cream Pie

Airheads

Candy Eyes

Candy Corn

Store bought desserts with a holiday twist became a favorite of ours over Halloween. They are so easy and provide a no bake way to get kids involved in the kitchen. The steps to make these oatmeal cream pie turkey treats are very simple.

I prepped everything, gave my 4 year old some guidance on how it would look and then let her get to work. To prep the oatmeal cream pie, take a knife and gently separate the two cookie pieces. Just do it carefully since the oatmeal cookies are very soft.

Cut up the air heads to make smaller feathers. I used leftover Halloween candy for this part!

Now just have your kids arrange the feathers. Replace the top oatmeal cookie and create a turkey face. The candy corn is the nose and I cut a tiny piece of a red airhead for the turkey gobbler.

Here is my little one working very seriously on her oatmeal cream pie turkey treat after Mother’s Day Out one day.

My little one had fun making these quick and easy turkey treats. Would your kids enjoy making this?

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

November 13, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie will be the star of your dinner party or Thanksgiving dessert table. Only 3 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of prep make this recipe easy as pie.

No bake dulce de leche caramel pie was developed from my love of the O’Charley’s caramel pie. Anywhere that gives away free pie every Wednesday deserves a special place in your heart. But sometimes you just need to be able to make your favorite restaurant pie at home. And that is where this recipe will change your life. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic but i think you will really like it!

You may have seen the recipes where you boil the cans of condensed milk for 3 hours until they turn into caramel. You can’t let your water run below the can or it can and will blow up. And your kitchen will be covered in caramel. Your easy pie will be ruined in a flash.

Before I had kids, I made a caramel pie using this method. It is good. It tastes pretty dang close to the O’Charley’s caramel pie. But I knew that I could not do that boiling method with a very busy 12 month old and a chatty 4 year old running through my house. My kitchen surely be covered in caramel that had blown up while I was changing a diaper or fixing a cup of milk.

So I was on the hunt for something easier that would still give me a decadent caramel pie.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

A caramel pie was on my Thanksgiving meal plan. I knew that if I could get brave enough to boil the condensed milk with 2 kids running around, it would be an easy, make ahead dessert to add to my dessert spread.

I was standing in the grocery store, staring at the condensed milk and picturing all the things that could go wrong with this boiling milk project when I had a revelation. Staring me in the face was a little can of dulce de leche. Do you know what that means?

Some nice little company boiled your condensed milk for you, stuffed it in a can and it can all be yours for a couple of bucks. Genius! Here is what you need in order to make this 3 ingredient no bake dulce de leche caramel pie .

What You Need:

1 Can Dulce De Leche

1 Graham Cracker Crust (I used a pack of the mini crusts)

8 oz container Cool whip

(Optional Toppings: Mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts)

Preparing the No Bake Dulce De Leche Caramel Pie

Open your can of dulce de leche. Spread it into the pie crust.

Refrigerate for a few hours to chill. Top with cool whip and serve.

It is so easy your kids can do it. It literally takes less than 5 minutes of prep to make the pie. The longest part is just chilling it which isn’t even totally necessary but I do like it better chilled.

How Much Does It Cost?

Depending on sales at your local grocery store, you should be able to make this pie for less than $6. Making this no bake dulce de leche caramel pie simple and affordable!

Is your family a fan of caramel pie? Do you love no bake, quick and easy dessert recipes?

If you need some simple Thanksgiving breakfast ideas for your kids, try this turkey shaped breakfast bagel and this turkey shaped eggs in a basket.

No Bake Halloween Mummy Snack Cakes

October 6, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes are going to be your best friend when you remember at 8 pm that you are in charge of the dessert at the class party in the morning!

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

These require no baking, you don’t even have to melt chocolate! 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes will get you a platter of cute “Pinterest worthy” Halloween treats. And if you need to make these in the car while sitting in the grocery store parking lot, we won’t judge.

How to Make No Bake Halloween Mummy Snack Cakes

You will need:

Little Debbie Fancy Cakes

Candy Eyeballs or Milk Chocolate Chips

White Icing

My idea of an easy Halloween treat is one that I don’t have to use a microwave, stove or oven. No cookie cutters or rolling anything into bite size balls. I don’t even want to make pudding or jello. I want the definition of simple but also cute, fun and festive. Think open store bought package, do one step & done. If this is you keep reading! You won’t be disappointed with these ultra easy no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes.

These store bought cakes come together quickly to create adorable little DIY mummy faces in just a couple minutes. Step 1 is to open the packages on all your cakes. Step 2, add a dab of icing on the back of each eyeball. Next, stick the eyeballs on the cakes.

On this photo, I used chocolate chips just in case you don’t have candy eyeballs on hand! I think the eyeballs are a little cuter but the chocolate chips still make a convincing mummy.

The fancy cake makers have already perfectly drizzled vanilla icing over the cakes that look just like a mummy wrap (told you, no melting chocolate on my easy desserts). I mean really, can I hug this mysterious “Little Debbie?” I think I love her.

These no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes are sure to be a hit at school or your Halloween party. If you love super simple Halloween desserts, check out these Ding Dong Ghosts & upside down Hostess cupcake pumpkins.

Once you get your no bake Halloween mummy snack cakes done, find 31 non-candy treats to hand out to Trick or Treaters and 16 Halloween favors that won’t get trashed for class party fun.