Introduction:
If you’ve ever wished you could combine the best parts of two legendary desserts—classic strawberry shortcake and rich,
velvety cheesecake—this Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake is your dream come true. It’s creamy,
thick, and silky like a bakery cheesecake, but it has that bright strawberry sweetness and tender “shortcake” crumb that
makes strawberry shortcake so nostalgic and irresistible.
This recipe is designed to taste special without being stressful. You’ll make a buttery crust, a smooth vanilla cheesecake
filling, a quick strawberry sauce (fresh or frozen berries both work), and a sweet crumb topping that brings the shortcake
vibe to life. The result is a dessert that looks stunning on a table and tastes like it took all day—even though the steps
are straightforward and manageable.
Cheesecake is also a make-ahead superstar. It actually tastes better after chilling overnight, which makes it perfect for
holidays, birthdays, weekend dinners, or anytime you want a “wow” dessert that won’t keep you busy at the last minute.
Ingredients:
For the crust
- 2 1/4 cups (about 240g) crushed vanilla sandwich cookies or graham crackers
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar (optional, depending on cookies used)
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of salt
For the cheesecake filling
- 24 oz (680g) cream cheese, softened (full-fat recommended)
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour (or 1 tbsp cornstarch) for stability
- 1 cup (240g) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the strawberry sauce (and swirl)
- 2 cups strawberries, chopped (fresh or frozen)
- 1/3 cup (65g) sugar (adjust to berry sweetness)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water (slurry)
- Optional: 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the “shortcake” crumb topping
- 1 1/2 cups (150g) crushed golden cookies, vanilla wafers, or shortbread cookies
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 2–3 tbsp freeze-dried strawberry powder (for a pink “strawberry shortcake” look)
Optional toppings (highly recommended)
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
- Whipped cream
- White chocolate curls
- Extra strawberry sauce
