Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

I've had strawberries on my mind lately. I guess you could call it a craving. A co-worker walked down the hall at work the other day with a flat of strawberries and asked if I had any strawberries recipes on the blog. That started me thinking. Then, my husband has been talking about the strawberry shortcakes that his mother used to make when he was a boy. She used those little cake cups that are always available near the strawberries in the produce section. My mom likes to use a Sara Lee pound cake for her shortcakes. Either way, they're both delicious! But, I as much as I like shortcake, I like strawberry pie even more. I had to make one this weekend. I just had to.

Strawberry Cream Pie

1-9 in. prepared deep-dish pie crust, baked (or a graham cracker crust)
1-16 oz. container fresh strawberries
1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-8 oz. container whipped topping, divided

If you're using a regular pie crust, bake it until completely done. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla; blend well. Add half of the whipped topping to the cream cheese mixture and blend until smooth. Dice about 1/4 of the strawberries. It should equal about 3/4 of a cup of strawberries. Fold the diced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture. Spread the mixture into the prepared crust. Spread the remaining whipped topping on top of the cream cheese mixture. Slice the remaining strawberries and place on top of the whipped topping. Refrigerate until completely chilled.

I pricked the pie crust with a fork and baked until golden brown.

This is one 8-oz. package of cream cheese. I blended it until it was smooth.

I added a half cup of powdered sugar.

One teaspoon of vanilla

Add half or 4 oz. of the whipped topping. Blend until smooth.

The strawberry - my favorite berry.

I took out this many strawberries and diced them.

Mmmm...

Gently fold the diced strawberries into the cream cheese mixture.

Spread the cream cheese mixture into the prepared crust.

Spread the remaining whipped topping on top.

Slice the remaining strawberries and place on top of the whipping topping layer.

I just tried to fill every available space. So, I had a few slices left over. I just ate those. Refrigerate until completely chilled.

Another craving satisfied!

Enjoy!!

Linked to: Alli-N-Son's Sweet Tooth Friday, Sweet as Sugar Cookie's Sweeets for a Saturday, Little Rays of Sunshine's So Sweet Sunday, Cookin' for my Captain's Strawberry Linky Party