Valentines Day Strawberry Cups (Printable Version)

Creamy no-bake dessert cups layered with fresh strawberries and graham crust, chilled to perfection for a sweet treat.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

→ Cheesecake Filling

04 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 cup heavy cream, cold

→ Strawberry Layer

08 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
09 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - 6 whole strawberries, halved
12 - Heart-shaped sprinkles or white chocolate shavings, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a small bowl. Mix until the texture resembles wet sand.
02 - Spoon 2 tablespoons of crust mixture into the bottom of each serving cup. Press down firmly with the back of a spoon to create an even, compact layer. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until well combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whip cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully blended and fluffy.
05 - Divide cheesecake filling evenly among the cups, spooning over the graham cracker crust. Smooth the tops with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
06 - Toss diced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes to release juices and macerate.
07 - Spoon the strawberry mixture over the cheesecake layer in each cup, distributing evenly.
08 - Refrigerate cups for at least 2 hours, or until the cheesecake layer is completely set.
09 - Top each cup with a strawberry half and add heart-shaped sprinkles or white chocolate shavings if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No oven required, which means your kitchen stays cool and calm while you're preparing something impressive.
  • Each person gets their own gorgeous cup, so it feels way more special than a shared dessert.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 30 minutes of actual hands-on time, leaving room for everything else Valentine's Day should be.
02 -
  • Soften your cream cheese all the way through—cold spots in the middle will refuse to blend smoothly and create a grainy texture that nobody wants.
  • Don't skip the maceration step with the strawberries; those few minutes transform them from just-okay berries into something that tastes concentrated and intentional.
03 -
  • Invest in a hand mixer—beating cream cheese smooth by hand takes forever and your arm will regret it, plus you won't get the airy texture you need.
  • Measure your heavy cream straight from the fridge and whip it in a cold bowl if you have one; cold cream whips faster and holds its peaks longer than room-temperature cream ever will.
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