Strawberry Delight is a luscious dessert of strawberries, cream cheese, gelatin, and whipped topping. This easy, no-bake dessert is layered and served on a graham cracker crust. Strawberry Delight tastes light, creamy, and fresh, and looks beautiful when sliced and served.
Strawberry Delight belongs to a layered dessert category featuring cream cheese filling, fruit, and whipped topping all on some form of crust. This recipe is what Southerns like to call a dessert salad. Ingredients are tossed together and it’s easily transportable. They’ve become quintessential at potlucks and church or neighborhood gatherings.
This Strawberry Delight Dessert is similar to Strawberry Pretzel Delight or Pretzel Salad with the primary difference being the crust in this recipe is made of graham crackers, not pretzels. Similarly, though, this cool whip strawberry delight dessert recipe is full of creamy, strawberry goodness.
Strawberry Delight Ingredients
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Sugar
- Almond extract
- Butter
- Strawberries
- Whipping cream
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla
- Lemon juice
- Strawberry gelatin
- Cool Whip
Easy Strawberry Delight is five layers of crust, strawberries, cream cheese filling, strawberry gelatin whipped cream, and cool whip. There are definitely ways to cut down on calories, but you decide if and which products to go low-fat with.
Crunchy graham cracker crust, sweet strawberries, and creamy layers are a winning combination. Make it as a pie or in a dish. Try the crust with Pecan Sandies, Vanilla Wafers, or pretzels. Remember, Strawberry Delight Dessert can be made in advance, chilled overnight, and taken to your next social gathering.
How to Make Strawberry Delight
FIRST STEP: In a medium bowl mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, almond extract, and melted butter.
SECOND STEP: Press the crust mixture into an 8x8 dish. Flatten the mixture using the bottom of a flat glass. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
THIRD STEP: Layer the sliced strawberries evenly on top of the frozen crust. Plate the dish into the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the dish.
FOURTH STEP: In a large mixing bowl place the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice, and using a hand mixer combine until light and fluffy and no lumps. Set aside.
FIFTH STEP: In a chilled medium mixing bowl place the heavy whipping cream. Using a hand mixer on high beat the cream until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
SIXTH STEP: Gently add the heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula. Once combined, spoon half of the cream cheese/whipped cream mixture on top of the strawberries in the 8x8 dish.
SEVENTH STEP: Set the other half of the mixture aside.
EIGHTH STEP: Place the 8x8 dish in the refrigerator while preparing the next step.
NINTH STEP: In the bowl with the remaining cream cheese/whipping cream mixture, add the 3 Tablespoons of dry strawberry gelatin. Using a rubber spatula gently fold in the dry strawberry gelatin until combined and solid in color.
TENTH STEP: Spoon the mixture onto the top of the 8x8dish.
SEVENTH STEP: Spread the Cool Whip on top of the 8x8 dish as the last layer.
TWELFTH STEP: Chill at least one hour before serving.
THIRTEENTH STEP: Garnish with sliced strawberries and graham cracker crumbs if desired.
Cooking Tips
You can substitute cool whip in place of the stabilized whip cream.
Pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator before you start this recipe. It needs to be fully softened so there aren’t lumps.
Taste the strawberries before using them. If they are not very sweet, toss in sugar, but make sure to drain before layering on top of the crust.
Freeze your dessert for at least 30 minutes before serving if you are able to. This will help it hold together better when slicing and dishing up.
Storing this Recipe
IN THE FRIDGE: Store in an airtight container for 3-5 days in the fridge.
IN THE FREEZER: Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer. Thaw in fridge before serving.
Strawberry Delight
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs and some extra crumbs for garnish if desired
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 5 tbsp butter melted
- 10 strawberries sliced (or enough to make a single layer over the graham crackers)
- 1 cup cold whipping cream chilled
- 2 8 oz blocks of cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 3.4 oz Strawberry gelatin box (will use 3 Tablespoons from this box)
- 1 8oz Cool Whip
Instructions
- In a medium bowl mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, almond extract and melted butter.
- Press the mixture into an 8×8 dish. Flatten the mixture using the bottom of a flat glass. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Layer Two - Strawberries
- Layer the sliced strawberries evenly on top of the frozen crust. Plate the dish into the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the dish.
Layer Three – Cheesecake
- In a large mixing bowl place the softened cream cheese, powered sugar, vanilla extract and lemon juice and using a hand mixer combine until light and fluffy and no lumps. Set aside.
- In a chilled medium mixing bowl place the heavy whipping cream. Using a hand mixer on high beat the cream until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
- Gently add the heavy whipping cream to the cream cheese mixture and fold together with a rubber spatula. Once combined spoon half of the cream cheese/whipped cream mixture on top of the strawberries in the 8×8 dish.
- Set the other half of the mixture aside.
- Place the 8×8 dish in the refrigerator while preparing the next step.
Layer Four - StrawberryCheesecake
- In the bowl with the remaining cream cheese/whipping cream mixture add the 3 Tablespoons of dry strawberry gelatin. Using a rubber spatula gently fold in the dry strawberry gelatin until combined and solid in color.
- Spoon the mixture onto the top of the 8×8 dish.
Layer Five – Cool Whip
- Spread the Cool Whip on top of the 8×8 dish as the last layer.
- Chill at least one hour before serving.
- Garnish with sliced strawberries and graham cracker crumbs if desired
Video
Notes
- Add extra strawberries and graham cracker crumbs on the top to make this dessert look extra pretty
- To avoid everything melting while you work, be sure to chill the dish before you start and place it back into the refrigerator between layers where possible
- You can substitute cool whip in place of the stabilized whip cream.
- Pull the cream cheese out of the refrigerator before you start this recipe. It needs to be fully softened.
Looks delightful!!!! My taste buds are excited 🌋😝🙌
Am I able to use frozen strawberries as my stores are sold out of fresh 🙁
If you do use frozen strawberries, it may come out too runny and the consistency wouldn't be correct. I would recommend waiting until strawberries are back in stores or see if there is a local farmers market or fruit stand that you could get some at.
Hi,
Looks so yummy!
If substituting Cool Whip for whipped cream, how much Cool Whip should be used?
Thank you!
Cool Whip is whipped cream, we just don't put the brand name in case anyone is unable to get cool whip.
Stupid question, maybe, but I have just recently started to be around someone who has to have gluten free fool. This recipe would be gluten free, right?
Totally valid question! My daughter has a peanut allergy so I love getting allergy questions and take them very seriously! I can tell you this recipe is NOT gluten free. Gluten is a protein that is found in some grains like wheat, barley, and rye. The graham crackers contain gluten, but there are brands out there that don't, you'll just have to do a little research on that. There are also a lot of recipes out there on how to make gluten free graham crackers. Everything else should be gluten free though, but you will definitely want to double check. The best thing that I would recommend is getting the ingredients list and giving it to the person that you are concerned about and asking them what ingredients they would use and what you would need to be careful of. My daughters allergy is life or death and she says that she really appreciates when people are going to be getting food for a party or something and they approach her and ask her about whether or not the food they will be bringing is safe for her to eat. It makes her very happy that people are so caring and considerate and she loves to answer their questions. So I would say just talk with them and see what they like and maybe even have them help you create a short grocery list if you are going to be making something for them! I'm happy to answer any other questions you have as well so just let me know!!!
Whipping cream snd cool wipe are quite different. Yes, both are fluffy and delicious but one is dairy snd the other is not. Some recipes are very specific as to which can be used and substituting one for the other can be erroneous. My experience, not with this recipe though as I have not made it. Looks lovely!
Hello! I did today and it was delicious!!
We had some friends over and they all love it! Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂🙂
Easy to do just follow the directions. Made if for Valentine's dinner at Church. Didn't bring any home. Next time I think I will double the recipe when having a crowd, outside of that I wouldn't change a thing.
Have not made it yet but would like to know if you have tried using a springform pan?
We didn't try making it in a springform pan but it should work if you do that! There may be a bit of crumbling and settling when the sides are removed, but if you are planning on serving and eating it all at once, then a springform pan would be just fine.