No-Bake Strawberry Pie

5.0
(4)
4 Reviews

A graham cracker crust and fresh strawberries make this no-bake strawberry pie the perfect dessert.

By
Joy Howard
Joy Howard
Joy Howard

Joy Howard is a cookbook author, food stylist, and recipe developer who's spent more than a decade creating recipes for home cooks. She is the author of Disney Eats and the forthcoming Tomato Love (Storey Publishing, Summer 2022), is a frequent contributor to Southern Living and America's Test Kitchen, and for many years wrote a column for EatingWell magazine about cooking with kids.

Southern Living's editorial guidelines
Updated on March 30, 2024
Recipe tested by
Southern Living Test Kitchen
Southern Living Test Kitchen
Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen

The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Learn more about the Southern Living Test Kitchen
Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie ready to serve
Photo:

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Active Time:
30 mins
Chill Time:
8 hrs
Total Time:
8 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
8

With its whipped, creamy filling and buttery graham cracker crust, this no-bake strawberry pie is like a sweeter sibling to an icebox cake.

Fresh strawberries, both inside and out, make the strawberry pie extra summery, and a little sprinkle of lemon zest brightens up each bite. What's more, you'll only need a handful of ingredients to make each part of the pie—many are likely already in your pantry.

The no-bake strawberry pie recipe calls for a deep-dish pie crust, but you can also use a shallower pie pan if that's all you have on hand—just know that you'll likely have a bit of extra filling. If so, you can turn it into individually-portioned parfaits by breaking graham crackers into bite-sized pieces, then layering them in glasses or small jars with any leftover filling. Similar to its layered counterpart, you can make this delicious dessert a day ahead.

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 9 graham crackers, broken into pieces

  • 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar

  • Pinch kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

  • Cooking spray

Filling:

  • 10 oz. fresh strawberries, finely chopped, plus 4 strawberries, halved, for garnish

  • 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided

  • 12 oz. cream cheese, softened

  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/4 tsp. lemon zest

Directions

  1. Gather ingredients:

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie ingredients

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  2. Make pie crust:

    Place the graham crackers, sugar, and a pinch of kosher salt in a food processor and pulse until the mixture has the texture of fine crumbs.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie crushing the graham crackers into crumbs

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Add the butter and pulse again until the mixture is evenly moistened.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie crust after adding the butter

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Spray a 9-inch deep dish pie plate with cooking spray. Transfer the crumbs to the plate and spread evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate 1 hour.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie pressing the crust into the plate

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  3. Macerate strawberries:

    Stir together strawberries and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie macerating the strawberries

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  4. Make pie filling, and refrigerate:

    In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat 1 1/2 cups of the heavy cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a separate bowl.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie whipping the cream

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest to stand mixer bowl; switch to the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie beating the cream cheese until creamy

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Add the strawberries and their juices and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding the strawberries

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Add 1/2 cup of the whipped cream; beat on low speed until combined, 15 to 20 seconds.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding some of the whipped cream to the filling

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Gradually fold remaining whipped cream into cream cheese mixture using a rubber spatula.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie folding in the whipped cream

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Dollop the mixture into the prepared crust and spread evenly. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 8 hours, or overnight.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding the filling to the crust

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  5. Make whipped cream topping:

    Just before serving, place remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream in a medium bowl. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed, until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie making the whipped cream topping

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  6. Decorate top of pie:

    Use a teaspoon or piping bag to make 8 dollops of whipped cream along the edge of the pie.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding the topping to the pie

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

    Place a strawberry half cut-side down on each dollop. Slice and serve.

    Southern Living No Bake Strawberry Pie adding the fresh strawberries to the top of the pie

    Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Update

This recipe has been updated for a thicker pie filling.

Related Articles

Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
Strawberry-Banana Pudding Icebox Cake
Southern Living Chocolate Lasagna sliced on a plate to serve
Chocolate Lasagna
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Strawberry Icebox Cake
Southern Living No Bake Oreo Pie in the pie plate to serve
No-Bake Oreo Pie
Southern Living Strawberry Trifle in the dish ready to serve
Strawberry Trifle Is A Sweet Layered Sensation
Southern Living Strawberry Pie after baking ready to serve
Strawberry Pie
Southern Living Strawberry Upside Down Cake sliced on a plate to serve
Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
strawberry-pretzel icebox pie
Strawberry-Pretzel Icebox Pie
Southern Living Heaven on Earth Cake in the dish with a serving scooped out
Rejoice! Heaven On Earth Cake Is Simply Magical
Southern Living Strawberry Shortcake Biscuit “Pudding” in the baking dish to serve
Strawberry Shortcake Biscuit "Pudding"
Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad in a red dish with strawberry linen
Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad
Key Lime Slab Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream
Key Lime Slab Pie With Strawberry Whipped Cream
Red White and Blue Trifle - Southern Living
Red, White, And Blue Trifle
Fresh Fruit Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad
Southern Living Banana Split Cake in the dish ready to serve
Banana Split Cake
Southern Living Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake assembled and ready to serve
Strawberry Ladyfinger Cake