Easy Strawberry Cheesecake

When you need a dessert that looks good but is quick and easy to make, try this Easy Strawberry Cheesecake. Only 5 ingredients plus strawberries to decorate, and it's a hit with all ages.

This is a variation on my Easy Lemon Cheesecake recipe, which I love, but suddenly I couldn't buy a lemon jelly. With lots of strawberries in the shops, a Strawberry Cheesecake seemed like the perfect, pretty, pink solution.

Key ingredients in Chocolate Mint Crispies

Strawberry jelly

Yes, this is a cheating recipe. No faffing with gelatine or worrying about whether it will set or not. These days most jellies use natural colourings and don't taste as violently synthetic as they used to.

I don't use low-sugar jellies or crystals, so I don't know how they work. As I don't like the taste of anything low sugar I work on the principle of having smaller portions of the real thing.

Full-fat cream cheese

Yes, It does have to be full fat or you won't get the right texture. If you're looking for a low-fat dessert, a cheesecake is not the answer, I'm afraid.

Ring the changes

Change the flavour of your cheesecake

If jelly flavours are limited, try raspberry. In fact, any flavour would be fine. Lime jelly with kiwi fruit in the winter would be lovely.

Change the size

The original recipe from a friend's mother was for two 15cm/6-inch cheesecakes, which is ideal for the buffet table or for eating on different days. For a small pudding, you could halve the ingredients and just make one.

I often make one 20cm/8-inch cheesecake for friends or family to dinner. Both sizes are equally successful.

Secrets of success

One of the delights of this Easy Strawberry Cheesecake recipe is that it really is easy! There are two points to note:

How much should you bash the biscuits?

First, crushing the biscuits. You want the biscuit crumbs to be quite small so that they absorb the melted butter and stick together BUT you don't want the biscuits to be powdered. Using a rolling pin or meat hammer will give you a variety of sizes and a mix of powder and small pieces (as long as you don't get carried away).

How set should the jelly be?

Second, adding the jelly to the cream cheese/cream mixture. It's easy to leave the jelly to cool too long so it sets. Recently I've only waited for the jelly mixture to be lukewarm. As long as it isn't heating the cream mixture, it's fine. Just chill it for a bit longer once made.

What to do if the jelly has set

If your jelly has started to set, a few seconds in the microwave will help.

Make a gluten-free Strawberry Cheesecake

Gluten-free digestive biscuits work well in this recipe and are available from most supermarkets. Just do a straight substitution. Check that the jelly you use is GF - although I've never come across any that aren't.

Make-ahead tips

You can make just the biscuit base, or the whole cheesecake, the day before. Decorate on the day you're serving so the fruit stays fresh.

How long will it keep?

Keep for 2-3 days in the fridge, but best eaten within 24 hours.

What equipment do you need?

• A meat hammer or rolling pin is ideal for bashing the biscuits to make the base
• You will either need a 20cm/8-inch shallow round cake tin or 2 15cm/6-inch tins. I do recommend a tin with a loose bottom for cheesecake as it's easier to get out

• Lining the tin with a baking parchment circle stops the base sticking without having to grease the tin. If your tin isn't loose-bottomed, do line the base - even if you have to cut out the circle from greaseproof paper or baking parchment.

If you like this...

...Why don't you try:

Eton Mess

Eton Mess is a glorious mix of meringue, whipped cream and summer fruits. A summer celebration dessert for any time of day.

Easy Raspberry Lemon Mousse

Easy Raspberry Lemon Mousse is a refreshing and tangy summer dessert. You will need a food processor or blender.

Gin and Tonic Sorbet

A refreshing G&T sorbet for any time of year, with lots of lime and lemon.

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4 from 1 vote

Easy Strawberry Cheesecake

When you need a dessert that looks good but is quick and easy to make, try this Easy Strawberry Cheesecake. Only 5 ingredients plus strawberries to decorate, and it's a hit with all ages.

Prep Time25 mins

Chilling time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 25 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: British

Keyword: easy summer dessert cheesecake

Servings: 8 servings

Author: [email protected] Cooks

Ingredients

For the base:

• 200 g digestive biscuits
• 100 g butter

For the cheesecake:

• 1 strawberry jelly, 1-pint sized
• 500 g full-fat cream cheese
• 150 ml double cream

For decoratation:

• 150 g strawberries,

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

Baking parchment circle

Rolling pin or meat hammer

20cm/8-inch round shallow loose-bottomed cake tin

or

2 x 15cm/6-inch shallow round cake tins

Instructions

Preparation:

• Make the jelly up to 300ml only.

  Use as little hot water as necessary to dissolve the jelly and top up with cold water
• Put in the fridge to cool but not begin to set - 10-20 minutes depending on the initial temperature
• Line the cake tin with a baking parchment circle or thoroughly grease with butter

For the base:

• Crush the biscuits, e.g. put them in a bag and bash them with a rolling pin
• Melt the butter and mix in the biscuit crumbs
• Press the crumb mixture into the prepared tin. Put in the fridge to cool while you prepare the cheesecake

For the cheesecake:

• Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the cream and beat in
• When the jelly is just beginning to thicken, beat it into the mixture.

  As long as the jelly is cool you can beat it in
• Pour the cheesecake mixture over the base
• Put in the fridge to set for at least an hour or two (depending on how set the jelly was), but it's fine overnight
• Remove from the tin and remember to take off the parchment circle
• Decorate with fresh strawberries to serve.

Video

Notes

Everyday Cooks tips:

• To make 2 smaller cheesecakes use 15cm/6-inch tins
• Make ahead - up to 24 hours. Decorate just before serving