Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

Photo by Delores Bailey (paid for with a piece of pie)

Photo by Delores Bailey

This combines two of my favorite desserts: strawberry pie and cheese cake.

1 baked pie shell

you can use this recipe or…

Melt 1 stick butter, add 1 cup flour, stir, and pat into bottom and up sides of pie plate.  Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until done.

Cream Cheese Layer

1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

¾ cup powdered sugar

1 cup cool whip

Beat cream cheese, add powdered sugar.  Add cool whip and mix well.  Spread into cooled pie crust.

Strawberry Layer:

1/2  cup sugar

1/2  cup water

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons strawberry Jell-O (can use sugar free)

red food coloring, about 4 drops (optional, I don’t use)

1/2 to 3/4 pound fresh strawberries, cleaned and hulled (quartered)

Combine sugar, cornstarch, and water.  Cook on medium until clear and bubbling and remove from heat.  Add food coloring and gelatin and stir well.  Cool until slightly warm.  Stir strawberries into glaze.  Pour over cream cheese mixture.  Chill until set.  Serve with whipped cream or cool whip topping.