No Bake Strawberry Shortcake Dessert (Printable Version)

Creamy layered dessert with fresh strawberries and shortbread cookies—no oven needed for this sweet treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Strawberries

01 - 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
02 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar

→ Cream Layer

03 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
06 - 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold

→ Base & Assembly

07 - 30 shortbread cookies or vanilla wafer cookies
08 - Extra strawberries for garnish (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - In a bowl, toss sliced strawberries with granulated sugar. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until they release their juices, creating a natural strawberry syrup.
02 - In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
03 - In a separate chilled bowl, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Line the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch square dish with half of the shortbread cookies, arranging them in a single even layer.
05 - Spread half the cream mixture evenly over the cookies, then top with half of the macerated strawberries along with their released juices.
06 - Create a second layer with remaining cookies, followed by the remaining cream mixture, and finish with the rest of the strawberries and juices.
07 - Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, to allow flavors to meld and cookies to soften to a cake-like texture.
08 - Garnish with additional fresh strawberries if desired. Slice into squares while cold and serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Every single person who tries it asks for the recipe, but nobody believes it only takes 25 minutes of actual work
  • The cookies soften into something like cake layers while the strawberries get syrupy and sweet, creating perfect textures in every bite
02 -
  • The chilling time is absolutely not optional because the cookies need time to soften from the cream and strawberry juices
  • Whip your heavy cream until it is genuinely stiff or the filling may collapse between layers
03 -
  • Soften your cream cheese completely at room temperature to avoid any lumps in your silky filling
  • Line your baking dish with parchment paper overhanging the sides for easy lifting and cleaner slices

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