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A No Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie with a pretzel crust is the perfect easy pie recipe! This is like eating a strawberry pretzel salad but in pie form – with a thick sweet cream cheese layer and no jello!
No Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
This pie has it all: salty pretzels, creamy sweet cheesecake, and yummy strawberries. It’s an twist on a classic cream cheese pie! There are three amazing layers to this pie: pretzel crust, cheesecake with cool whip, and strawberry pie filling. You could also top this with fresh berries!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It tastes like you put strawberry pretzel salad into a pie form – without jello or gelatin!
- Easy to make and no bake!
- It’s the perfect cream cheese pie with strawberries on top.
Ingredients Needed
- Pretzels – I love the addition of a salty pretzel crust! Twists or rods will work.
- Sugar – To sweeten the crust and the pie.
- Melted Butter – We use this to bind the crust. I used Challenge butter. Remember how I said my dad won’t eat any other kind? Still true.
- Cream Cheese – for the cheesecake filling – make sure your cream cheese is softened. Use Challenge Cream Cheese if you can find it!
- Cool Whip – whipped topping helps the filling come together fast.
- Strawberry Pie Filling or fresh strawberries for the topping
How to make Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
- Let’s talk about PRETZEL CRUST! I crushed my pretzels in a food processor, but you can also use a rolling pin. The finer they are, the easier the crust sticks together.
- Stir together the crust ingredients and press into a 9-inch pie plate.
- Once the crust is done, we fill the pie! Beat cream cheese with sugar and a teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. I used granulated sugar but you could use powdered sugar if you prefer.
- Fold in the whipped topping until smooth.
- Spread cream cheese mixture in the pie crust.
- Spread your strawberry pie filling on top of your cream cheese layer and chill to set.
Recipe Swap
- This pie would also be good with a graham cracker crust, Oreo crust, or shortbread cookie crust. If you’re not going to use the pretzel crust, I suggest graham cracker crust!
- Top the pie wtih FRESH strawberries instead of pie filling if they’re in season!
Tip From Dorothy
Expert Tips
- Always use high quality ingredients – I use Challenge Butter because it’s my favorite kind and is made with happy cows at family owned dairies. It’s also award winning! I love Challenge Cream Cheese too, check their website to see where to find it.
- Traditionally cream cheese pies are served in a graham cracker crust, but the pretzel crust is SO good.
- Not all pie fillings are the same color! If you find that your can of strawberry pie filling isn’t as vibrant as you’d like, add a few drops of red food coloring to it before topping the pie.
- Always start with room temperature cream cheese to aovid lumps in your cream pie.
- To substitute whipped cream in placed of the Cool Whip, beat 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture (by hand, not with a mixer).
FAQs
Store this pie in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I don’t recommend freezing this pie. You can, without the topping, but the crust might get soggy.
I don’t recommend whipped cream cheese. It might not set up correctly. Be sure to use block full fat cream cheese.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups (150g) finely crushed pretzels (about 3 cups pretzel twists)
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted Challenge Butter , melted
For the filling:
- 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (226g) whipped topping
- 1 20 ounce can Strawberry Pie Filling or use fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Make the crust: stir finely crushed pretzels and sugar with melted butter. Press into a 9” pie plate. Chill until ready to fill.
- Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Whisk or fold in whipped topping until no lumps remain. Spread in prepared crust.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
- When ready to serve: top with strawberry pie filling or chopped strawberries.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Make sure your pretzels are finely crushed so they stick together – the larger the pieces the harder it is to get them to form a crust and it will be more crumbly.
- Skip the pie filling and top this with fresh berries if you prefer.
- Not all pie fillings are the same color! If you find that your can of strawberry pie filling isn’t as vibrant as you’d like, add a few drops of red food coloring to it before topping the pie.
- To substitute whipped cream in placed of the Cool Whip, beat 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture (by hand, not with a mixer).
- Always start with room temperature cream cheese to aovid lumps in your cream pie.
Recipe Nutrition
Favorite No Bake Pies
This post was sponsored by Challenge Butter in 2016. Post has been updated.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie is a no bake cheesecake with a pretzel crust – or use graham cracker crust – and a strawberry pie filling on top! The perfect easy pie recipe.
106 degrees this week. SAY WHAT? I’ll take all the no-bake desserts I can get. Love this!ย
This PIE! Seriously such a fun idea….I’ll take pie salad any day! ๐
Looks wonderful!m
Yum! I’ll take this salad, salad/pie, salad/dip anyway I can get it. My eldest son is anti-jello as well, but like cottage cheese. He might just buy into this one! lol
Love that this is no bake and comes together so easily!ย
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