This easy Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie is easy and so delicious. Shape it like a heart and share on Valentine’s day or make it simple for every day or even a special occasion dessert. There will be no leftovers of this tasty pie.

This is one of those recipes that when you look in the fridge and you see something that has been hanging around for a couple of days and you think, now what can I do with you?! And bam a light goes off.

So yes this is my last minute Valentine’s Day dessert for the Italian! A delicious Strawberry Cream Pie! A few more last minute desserts I have made over the years is this Chocolate Panna Cotta and this yummy Tiramisu for Two.

Recipe Ingredients

Puff pastry – you could also use a roll of regular pie dough – blind bake the pie crust
Cream cheese – whole cream cheese – room temperature
Sugar – granulated sugar or fine sugar also known as fruit sugar
Vanilla – vanilla extract
Lemon juice – I like to use fresh lemon juice
Cream – whole, heavy or whipped cream, with at least 30% fat cold from the fridge
Strawberries – frozen or fresh strawberries, if you use frozen, then let them thaw and towel dry
Strawberry jam – optional

How to blind bake a pie crust

If you use store bought dough, unroll it, shape into a heart and prick the bottom well with a fork.

Cover the bottom of the crust with parchment paper and add dried beans or pie weights on top, be sure to place the beans in all the parts of the heart, bake for approximately 15.

I used puff pastry and I baked it for approximately 13 minutes then I removed the parchment paper with the weights and I continued to bake it for another 3 minutes. If you use regular pie dough, then I would continue to bake it for about 5-10 minutes if needed.

How to make a Strawberry Pie

Unroll the store bought dough on a piece parchment paper (if using homemade pie dough then roll into the shape of a circle approximately 1/8 thick). Place the circle on the parchment paper on a baking sheet.

Shape into a heart, I used the handle of a wooden spoon to bring down the center of the circle and I gently pulled down the bottom to form the heart.

Dough shaped like a heart on parchment paper.

I then pinched along the edge of the heart to give it a puffy border. Prick the bottom of the pastry very well with the tongs of a fork.

Dough shaped like a heart with a border and pricked with a fork.

Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the heart add the dried beans or pie weights on top, be sure to add to all corners of the heart, this is especially important if using puff pastry, because you don’t want it to puff up in unwanted places.

Beans and weights on parchment paper on the pie.

Bake until golden. Remove the weights and bake again for a couple of minutes if needed. Let the pastry cool completely before filling.

While the pastry is cooling

In a large bowl beat the cream with a stand mixer using the whisk attachment or an electric mixer on medium-high to then high until stiff peaks appear.

Whipped cream whipped in the mixing bowl.

In a large bowl beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice until creamy.

Cream cheese mixture and mixed in a white bowl.

Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until completely combined.

Mixing the cream cheese and whipped cream.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on the heart, and chill.

Cut up the strawberries while the heart is chilling.

In a medium bowl add the strawberry slices, and toss with a little sugar, strawberry jam and a squirt of lemon juice.

The strawberry mixture mixed in a white bowl.

Remove the pie from the fridge, add the sliced strawberries on top of the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for one hour before serving.

Drizzle with any strawberry sauce left in the bowl if desired, or even some melted chocolate!

What homemade pie dough can I use?

If you wish to make your own pie dough, then you could use my Homemade Puff Pastry, or a Simple Pie dough or even this Brown Sugar Pie dough. All are easy and delicious.

What to use for pie weights?

I do have those white ceramic pie weights, but they aren’t necessary, I also use dried beans which I use over and over, I have used granulated sugar, you can use rice, popcorn kernels. I would probably recommend using dried beans, unfortunately you can’t cook them after, so just put them in an airtight container and use whenever you need to blind bake pastry.

Can I use other berries?

Besides strawberries you could use blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or how about fresh peaches or even apricots or kiwi. You could even mix them up.

What can I use instead of cream cheese?

Instead of cream cheese you could substitute with mascarpone or even ricotta. Since mascarpone is sweeter than cream cheese you could even use less sugar.

Do I need to use strawberry jam?

No the jam is optional although it does give a nice glaze to the strawberries.

Tips for making the best strawberry cream cheese pie

Make sure your pie dough is room temperature, that way it is easier to shape.
Be sure to gently form the dough, using the handle of a wooden spoon is very helpful.
Be sure to prick the dough well.
Make sure your cream cheese is room temperature, this way it will become nice and creamy
Be sure your cream is cold straight from the fridge, it will whip up better and faster. If you want you can even place the beaters and bowl in the freezer for about 20 minutes before using.

How to store the Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

The pie should be stored in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap. It will keep in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. I don’t recommend freezing it because the filling could separate.

So if you are looking for a quick dessert to make for any occasion then I hope you try this Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

More delicious Pie Recipes to try