Description
Strawberry Delight is a luscious, no-bake layered dessert featuring macerated fresh strawberries, creamy sweetened cream cheese, and fluffy whipped cream, combined with ladyfinger cookies or sponge cake pieces. This refreshing dessert is perfect for warm weather and gatherings, delivering a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
Base
- 1 box store-bought or homemade ladyfinger cookies or sponge cake pieces
Instructions
- Macerate Strawberries: In a bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Toss gently to coat the berries evenly and let them sit for at least 30 minutes to release their natural juices and become tender.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and free of lumps.
- Whip Cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the cold heavy cream using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, creating a light and fluffy texture.
- Combine Cream Cheese and Whipped Cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, taking care to maintain the airy texture, until the ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
- Assemble the Layers: In a serving dish or individual glasses, start with a layer of ladyfinger cookies or sponge cake pieces as the base. Spoon some of the macerated strawberries along with their juices over the base layer. Then spread a generous layer of the cream cheese whipped topping over the strawberries. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used up, finishing with a final layer of the cream mixture on top.
- Chill: Refrigerate the assembled dessert for at least 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and the dessert to set properly.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish with fresh strawberries or a sprinkle of lemon zest to enhance the presentation and add a fresh burst of flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute ladyfinger cookies with sponge cake pieces based on availability or preference.
- For best results, chill the bowl and beaters before whipping the cream to help achieve stiff peaks quickly.
- This dessert can be made up to a day in advance and kept refrigerated to develop deeper flavors.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying the amount of granulated or powdered sugar according to taste or the sweetness of your strawberries.
- Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor; frozen berries may result in a watery dessert.
