The best summer dessert recipes are simple to make. The kind of recipe you can whip together on a whim, keep the kitchen cool and impress your guests with a sophisticated surprise. This no-bake strawberry cheesecake checks all those boxes.
Use locally-grown, in-season strawberries for the ultimate flavour. A crust made from crushed gingerbread-like Speculoos cookies instead of the usual graham crackers adds a little flair and is a perfect complement to the airy, creamy, dreamy filling of mascarpone and whipped cream.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert
Ingredients
- 1½ cup speculoos (Biscoff) cookie crumbs crushed
- 6 tbsp butter melted, slightly cooled
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup mascarpone
- ⅔ cup 35% cream
- ¼ cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb strawberries hulled and halved
Instructions
- In bowl, stir together crushed cookies, butter and sugar until moistened; press onto bottom and up the side of pie plate or 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Freeze for at least 15 minutes.
- In large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat mascarpone with cream on medium until mixture thickens. Sift in icing sugar and vanilla and continue beating until stiff. Cover and refrigerate.
- Spoon in and spread mascarpone cream mixture over crust and arrange strawberries overtop. Chill until tart is well chilled and flavours meld.
Tips from ELLE Gourmet editors
Know your cookies.
Speculoos are traditional spiced cookies from Belgium and the Netherlands. In North America, the most widely available version is Lotus Biscoff, recognizable by its bright red packaging and signature caramelized spice flavour.
Use a food processor for the best crust.
Pulse the speculoos cookies with the sugar until finely ground, then add the melted (but slightly cooled) butter and blend just until the crumbs are evenly moistened. This creates a crust that presses together easily and bakes evenly.
Customize the crust.
No speculoos? Graham crackers make a classic substitute. For a different flavour, try lemon shortbread, chocolate sandwich cookies or digestive biscuits.
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