Summer’s delicious bounty! |
Although we have fresh Strawberries year-round in Oxnard, the summer varieties are far sweeter & we can never get enough of them! The contrast between the tartness of the Cream Cheese and the sweetness of the berries makes this pie destined to become one of your favorites. I created this recipe many years ago and I’ve always used Strawberries, but I think it would be equally delicious with Peaches or Blueberries.
Fresh Strawberry and Cream Cheese Pie
Clean and hull 3 Pints fresh Strawberries.
Reserve 20 – 25 of the most perfect ones.
Chop the rest into small pieces. Set aside 1/2 cup of chopped Strawberries.)
Bake and cool a single pie crust according to recipe (or package) directions. I have to admit to using a frozen Marie Callender’s crust – I know, a collective gasp just resounded across the blogosphere! My favorite homemade crust comes from the Baked Boys.
Cream Cheese Filling
While the crust is cooling, whip together:
4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/3 cup Sugar
Spread Cream Cheese mixture into the bottom of the baked, cooled pie crust.
Scatter reserved chopped Strawberries over Cream Cheese layer.
Then, arrange whole Strawberries over the top.
Strawberry Topping
In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, cook:
Remaining chopped Strawberries
2/3 cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cup Water.
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
Continue to cook, stirring often until sauce thickens and clears (5 – 8 minutes)
Remove from heat and smash Strawberries with a potato masher.
It’s up to you how rustic you want your pie to be. If you’re making it for company, or a special occasion, you may want to pass the sauce through a sieve.
Allow sauce to cool completely, then pour over prepared pie, using a spatula to encourage it to slide down between the Strawberries.
Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Ready for the topping |
Enjoy!
Great Blue Heron at Ventura Harbor |
These recipes are provided for your personal use. If you publish them, or re-post them, please give me credit. Grazie e Buon Appetito!
Cher Rockwell says
Those berries look so juicy and delightful.
It’s almost berry season here – the farm market said early next week. I can hardly wait – Woot!
Inside a British Mum's Kitchen says
What a beautiful treat! there is something SO gorgeous about a strawberry cream pie 🙂
Mary x
Velva says
Absolutely beautiful. Love strawberries and this a beautiful way to enjoy them.
Velva
Mary Hirsch says
Okay, Susan, now you’ve done it. You ARE a mortal after all. I am just recovering from the shock of your using Marie’s frozen crust. Your pie looks scrumptious and I envy you your locally grown berries, year-round. Next to cookies, I love pie.
Have Apron....Will Bake says
Beautiful pie. I love the whole berries on top…makes for a lovely presentation. Can’t wait for the strawberries to be ready here.
Pachecopatty says
Beautiful pie Susan- I just can’t get enough strawberries this time of year when they are ripe and sweet! Perfect pie to serve for Father’s Day- lucky Fathers who enjoy fresh strawberry pie on their special day 😉
Cocoa and Lavender says
You are so lucky to have all those strawberries at your disposal! Color me green! This pie looks wonderful… a must-make during our very short berry season… ~ David