The Perfect Fresh Strawberries & Cream Pie

Not too long ago I noticed a Facebook post about a strawberry and cream pie. On the surface it looked good.. but as I read deeper into the recipe I noticed the only thing strawberry about it was the slices on top of the pie. Which is fine if you aren't looking for more strawberries than cream. So today, for my birthday.. I made a revised, Perfect Fresh Strawberries & Cream Pie!

Start with the Perfect Graham Cracker Crust

(this makes one crust for a regular pie dish or deep dish)

Some recipes tell you to just crush the crackers with a rolling pin in a bag..

NO NO NO!.. 

to get a nice even crisp graham cracker crust you must use your food processor. Or borrow your neighbors.. or buy one..

Not a fan of the boxed crumbs either. Trust me.

Start with 9 full size graham crackers

5 tablespoons of butter

2 Tbsp of sugar

place all in your food processor and 

process until small and sandy, crumbly looking,

then press into your pie pan. 

Bake at 375f for 9 -10 minz.. 

watch it.. don't burn it.

 Let crust cool completely. Set aside.

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For the Strawberry Cream Cheese Filling

1 8 oz package Cream cheese, room temp

1/3 C sugar 

1tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 cup strawberry puree ( more or less)

Place the cream cheese in a bowl with the 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla, and strawberry puree, and mix until nice and smooth. set aside.

Helpful Hint. 

I added the puree after my cream cheese mixture was smooth. I continued to beat the cream cheese mixture while adding the puree a bit at a time so as not to add so much that the cream cheese mixture lost it's ability to form. You may choose to add more or less. I played it safe.

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 For the cream filling

1 C Heavy cream

2Tbsp sugar

In a sep mixing bowl add your heavy cream and sugar.

 Beat until very stiff peaks form.

Helpful Hint

Place you bowl and whipping attachment into the freezer and get them really cold. Your cream whips faster and prettier if it isn't battling a warm bowl.

Assemble your Perfect Fresh Strawberries and Cream Pie

Carefully spread your strawberry cream cheese mixture into the bottom of your crust.

Next spread your whipped cream onto your cream cheese filling.

 Place sliced strawberries all over the top of your pie.

***Optional: 1/2 C melted choc chips drizzled over the top of your finished pie.***

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Now enjoy it!

List of ingredients

9 Graham crackers

5 Tbsp Butter

2 Tbsp sugar

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1 Cup Heavy Cream

1/3 cup Sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup strawberry puree

1lb  fresh strawberries rinsed, hulled and slices evenly

( I used a small handful for the puree)

If you want a deep dish pie simply double the recipe ... not the crust.

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 YUM