{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (1)

This week my sister gave me a flat of fresh strawberries (that she had picked in her own garden/farm/orchard). Those pretty berries were all I needed to start thinking about delicious fruit desserts. Now normally I’m an all chocolate girl, but in the summer, there is just something so beautiful about desserts that incorporate the bounty of the season. And here in California we are blessed with an almost unlimited supply of gorgeous fruit.

I realized it had been quite a while since I’d made my husbands favorite dessert, cheesecake (it’s really cream cheese pie, but in our house we call it cheesecake… more on that in a minute). I thought the strawberries would complement the cheesecake perfectly, so my plan was set.

I used to make this cheesecake for my husband when we were dating (as teenagers), and most years I try to make it for his birthday. It’s really apretty simple dessert to make, the step that takes the most time is chilling it for 2-3 hours.

Although in our house this has always been called cheesecake, the correct title is Cream Cheese Pie. True cheesecake is a dense, baked dessert usually containing 3 or more packages of cream cheese, along with eggs, sugar and a few other ingredients. Cheesecake is usually baked in a straight sided springform pan. In contrast, this recipe(Cream Cheese Pie) produces avery sweet, smooth dessert that is not baked, but is chilled (and must bekept chilled) to be firm enough to cut.

The recipe is from my Grandmother (although I’m not claiming she created it). My Grandmother was a Home Economics teacher in the 1950’s-60’s and this is one of the recipes from her recipe file.

Graham Cracker Crust

1 1/2 cups (about 20 squares) graham crackers, finely crushed

1/3 cup butter, melted

3 Tablespoons sugar

~Directions~

Heat oven to 350*F

Mix together crumbs, butter and sugar (I usually just do this right in the pie plate).

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (2)

Once combined, press the mixture firmly against the bottom and side of a 9 x 1 1/4 inches pie plate.

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (3)

Bake 10 minutes, or until light brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Cream Cheese Pie

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature

1 (15oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh if possible)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

~Directions~

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add the condensed milk, beat until fully incorporated. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

Pour mixture into a cooled, Graham Cracker Crust.

Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours.

Before serving, top with fresh fruit, fresh strawberry sauce (recipe below), or toppings of your choice. Also delicious plain.

Fresh Strawberry Sauce

1 basket/pint strawberries

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons corn starch

3 Tablespoons water

Chop/blendabout half of the strawberries (5-7 strawberries) and the waterin a food processor or blender. Pour theblended strawberries (and their juice) into a mesh strainer, sitting over a bowl. Use a large spoon or spatula to press the mixture through the strainer.

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (4)

In a small saucepan,mix the sugar and cornstarch. Slowly add the strained strawberry juice, whisking to combine. Heat mixture to a boil and boil about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool.

Chop remaining strawberries into pea sized pieces and add to the cooled strawberry/sugar mixture. Chill until ready to use.

How to Make Cream Cheese Pie

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (5)

Cream Cheese Pie

A very sweet, smooth dessert that is not baked, but is chilled (and must bekept chilled) to be firm enough to cut.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 12 mins

Chill 3 hrs

Total Time 3 hrs 32 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 266 kcal

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

  • 1 1/2 cups graham crackers about 20 squares, finely crushed
  • 1/3 cup butter melted
  • 3 tablespoons sugar

Cream Cheese Pie

  • 8 oz cream cheese 1 package, room temperature
  • 15 oz sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice fresh if possible
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Fresh Strawberry Sauce

  • 1 pint strawberries 1 basket
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 3 tablespoons water

Instructions

Graham Cracker Crust

  • Heat oven to 350*F

  • Mix together crumbs, butter and sugar (I usually just do this right in the pie plate).

  • Once combined, press the mixture firmly against the bottom and side of a 9 x 1 1/4 inches pie plate.

  • Bake 10 minutes, or until light brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Cream Cheese Pie

  • In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Slowly add the condensed milk, beat until fully incorporated. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

  • Pour mixture into a cooled, Graham Cracker Crust.

  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours.

  • Before serving, top with fresh fruit, fresh strawberry sauce (recipe below), or toppings of your choice. Also delicious plain.

Fresh Strawberry Sauce

  • Chop/blend about half of the strawberries (5-7 strawberries) and the water in a food processor or blender.

  • Pour the blended strawberries (and their juice) into a mesh strainer, sitting over a bowl. Use a large spoon or spatula to press the mixture through the strainer.

  • In a small saucepan, mix the sugar and cornstarch. Slowly add the strained strawberry juice, whisking to combine. Heat mixture to a boil and boil about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool.

  • Chop remaining strawberries into pea sized pieces and add to the cooled strawberry/sugar mixture. Chill until ready to use.

  • Top a slice of the Cream Cheese Pie with the Fresh Strawberry Sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 188mgPotassium: 254mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 364IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 142mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cream cheese pie

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

{Recipe} Cream Cheese Pie (2024)

FAQs

What is cream cheese pie made of? ›

Cream together condensed milk and cream cheese in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add lemon juice and blend well. Pour cream cheese mixture into graham cracker crust, then top with cherry pie filling. Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

What thickens a cream pie? ›

Cornstarch as Pie Filling Thickener

Just like the name suggests, cornstarch is derived from corn. Cornstarch is faster-acting than flour and forms a smooth, relatively clear filling. Just be aware that too much cornstarch can create a slimy texture.

What's the difference between cream cheese pie and cheesecake? ›

Cheesecake: Typically contains eggs, is baked (often in a springform pan), and has a more dense texture than cream cheese pie.

What is cream pie filling made of? ›

A cream pie, crème pie, or creme pie is a type of pie filled with a rich custard or pudding that is made from milk, cream, sugar, wheat flour, and eggs and typically topped with whipped cream.

Why is my cream cheese pie runny? ›

The pie may turn out runny if you don't use block-style cream cheese that is full fat. You also have to chill the pie for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight for it to truly set.

What is the best ingredient to use in thickening the filling of cream pie? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy solution, as you're sure to have it in your pantry. Since it's lower in starch, you'll use more of it than you would higher-starch thickeners. Quick-cooking tapioca makes filling bright and clear, but also gives it a stippled and somewhat sticky texture.

What causes a cream pie to get watery? ›

The watery layer between the meringue and the filling (weeping) is usually caused by undercooking. This is where it is important to put your meringue onto hot filling so it can begin cooking right away.

What do I do if my cream pie is runny? ›

To fix this, you can cook the pudding mixture over low heat until it thickens, or add a thickener such as cornstarch or tapioca flour. Another possible reason for a runny banana cream pie is that the pie filling was not chilled properly before being added to the crust.

What happens when you whip cream cheese? ›

Unlike regular cream cheese, cream cheese that has been whipped incorporates much more air into the cream cheese due to the whipping process. This additional air gives it that light and fluffy texture, making it perfect as a spread. It's also different from regular cream cheese based on the manufacturing process.

Why is my cream cheese filling runny? ›

Stop mixing the frosting as soon as the ingredients are mixed, as over-mixing can cause the frosting to become runny and less sticky. If you do over-mix the frosting, place it into the fridge for 1 hour to harden.

What's the difference between custard pie and cream pie? ›

In North America, "custard pie" commonly refers to a plain mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and sometimes nutmeg combined with a pie crust. It is distinctly different from a cream pie, which contains cooked custard poured into a cooled, precooked crust.

What is a substitute for cream cheese in cheesecake? ›

Sour cream replicates cream cheese's taste but isn't quite as caloric, making it a good choice for a lower-calorie substitute. It gives baked goods a texture that's airy and moist, and even adds an extra bit of creaminess to cheesecake. You can substitute an equal amount of sour cream for cream cheese in recipes.

What's the difference between New York and Philadelphia cheesecake? ›

When most people refer to Philadelphia-style cheesecake, experts say, they're talking about a version marketed by the cream cheese brand. New York style typically has sour cream or heavy cream in the mix. Philadelphia style doesn't. Which means it doesn't have anything to do with Philadelphia, the city.

What is cheesecake pie crust made of? ›

Make the crust: If you're starting out with full graham crackers, use a food processor or blender to grind them into fine crumbs. Stir the graham cracker crumbs and granulated sugar together in a medium bowl, and then stir in the melted butter. The mixture will be thick, coarse, and sandy.

What is Philadelphia cream cheese made of? ›

Made with pasteurized milk. Full Fat Soft Cheese, Salt, Stabiliser (Locust Bean Gum), Acid (Citric acid).

Is cheesecake actually cheese pie? ›

Given cheesecake's structure, ingredients, and the way it is baked, cooked, and served, we're chiming in to say that cheesecake is a hybrid between cake and pie. It's not possible to pick a clear-cut side. It's a category all on its own, and it's a delicious one at that.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5841

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.