Strawberry Cream Dessert

This is a wonderful light (sorry, not low calorie) dessert.  I love strawberries and so does my husband. If it has strawberries, he'll eat it.  This dessert is extremely easy and like all "Taste of Home" recipes it's tried and true.  If you also like strawberry desserts this one is for you!
I've made this dessert for many holidays, including Valentine's Day. It's always a great choice. There's never any left at the end of the event. Such a simple recipe with just a few ingredients can make so many smiles on our guests' faces. It's light and delicious. 

My Inspiration for this dessert...
Back in the day I had a subscription to Taste of Home. I absolutely loved that magazine. Every recipe in that magazine was tried and true. The recipes came from all over America from ladies that had made the recipe and given it two thumbs up. I waited every other month to receive my copy of Taste of Home magazine. This dessert was in the February 2003 addition. So, like I said in my opening, I have made this dessert for many years. It's definitely a keeper!
How to make Strawberry Cream Dessert...
First you will need to gather the ingredients. Actually there's only a few ingredients and it comes together very quickly. 
You will need the following: 2 sleeves of graham crackers, sugar, butter, 8 oz. cream cheese, powdered sugar, frozen whipped topping, strawberry gelatin and 8 oz. of strawberry yogurt.
First melt 10 tablespoons of butter and place graham crackers in a food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs.
Mix melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs and press into a 9X13" cake pan. Set aside about 2-3 tablespoons of the crumb mixture to be used on the top once your dessert has been finished. Place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes so it will set up.
Next beat the room temperature cream cheese with the powdered sugar. I usually sift the confectioners sugar to make sure there are not any large clumps that might not dissolve. We don't want a lumpy cream cheese mixture. Then fold in 1 cup of whipped topping until it is smooth.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the graham cracker base and place back in the refrigerator.
Next mix in a large bowl dissolve the strawberry gelatin in 1/2 cup boiling water and stir until dissolved completely. Stir in the yogurt and mix.
Fold in 6 cups of whipped topping until smooth.
Pour the strawberry gelatin mixture of the cream cheese mixture and then spread the remaining whipped topping over the strawberry gelatin mixture.
Dessert is almost done... I make swirls on the top just to make it a little more finished.
Finally, mix the remaining graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar until you have a crumbly mixture. Spread this mixture over the top of the dessert.
And there you go...it's all done. Just place in refrigerator for a couple hours so everything sets up. This is really a great dessert. It feeds a lot people and is so creamy. The taste is smooth with a little crunch and it's light as air. I added a little RediWhip and a cherry to make it look even more yummy. I'm sure your guests will love this dessert.

Strawberry Cream Dessert Recipe
Prep: 20 min. + chilling
Yield: 12-15 servings
Ingredients:
  • 2 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 36 squares)
  • 6 T. sugar
  • 10 T. butter, melted
  • 1 pkg. (8 ozs.) Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 C. confectioner's sugar
  • 2 cartons (one 16 ounce and one 8 ounce) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
  • 1 pkg. (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
  • 1/2 C. boiling water
  • 1 C. (8 ounces) strawberry yogurt
Topping:
  • 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, melted
                        Directions:
                        1. In a large bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
                        2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Stir in 1 cup whipped topping. Spread over the prepared crust.
                        3. In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in yogurt and 6 cups of whipped topping until blended. Pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
                        4. Spread remaining whipped topping over strawberry layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over whipped topping. Yield: 12-15 servings.


                        One Final Thought...
                        I love making desserts and baking pastries and bread. I've made so many desserts, and this one ranks pretty close to the top. I love that you can make it quickly. It only gets better the longer it sits in the refrigerator. However, it disappears pretty fast, so it won't be spending a whole lot of time in the refrigerator. LOL! I do hope that you try this one. It's so yummy!!!!!

                        Always remember..."Life's short...eat dessert first!"...words to live by! 
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