Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar

Description

• Texture & Flavor: Creamy, velvety, and sweet with a buttery crunch from the crust and a bright, juicy tartness from the fresh strawberries. They are individually portioned, making them easy to serve at parties or picnics!

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

• Chilling Time: 1–2 hours

• Servings: 4 to 6 jars

Ingredients

For the Crust:

• Graham Crackers: 1 cup fine crumbs (about 7-8 whole crackers)

• Unsalted Butter: 3 tablespoons, melted

• Sugar: 1 tablespoon

For the Cheesecake Filling:

• Cream Cheese: 8 oz (1 block), softened to room temperature

• Powdered Sugar: 1/2 cup (adjust to sweetness preference)

• Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon

• Heavy Whipping Cream: 1 cup, chilled

For the Fruit & Assembly:

• Fresh Strawberries: 1.5 cups, washed, hulled, and diced (plus extra sliced for topping)

Instructions

1. Make the Crust: In a small bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar together until it resembles wet sand. Press a couple of tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of each jar.

2. Make the Filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until completely smooth and creamy.

3. Whip the Cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until light and fluffy.

4. Layer the Jars:

   • Spoon or pipe a layer of the cheesecake mixture over the graham cracker crust.

   • Add a layer of diced fresh strawberries.

   • Add another layer of crumbs or cheesecake filling (as shown in the top photo).

5. Top and Garnish: Finish the jars with a generous dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of remaining graham cracker crumbs, and fresh strawberry slices on top.

6. Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the jars for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors set and the crust soften slightly.