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A No Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie with a pretzel crust is the perfect easy pie recipe! This is like eating a strawberry pretzel salad but in pie form – with a thick sweet cream cheese layer and no jello!

cut pie in glass pie plate.


No Bake Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

This pie has it all: salty pretzels, creamy sweet cheesecake, and yummy strawberries. It’s an twist on a classic cream cheese pie! There are three amazing layers to this pie: pretzel crust, cheesecake with cool whip, and strawberry pie filling. You could also top this with fresh berries!

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It tastes like you put strawberry pretzel salad into a pie form – without jello or gelatin!
  • Easy to make and no bake!
  • It’s the perfect cream cheese pie with strawberries on top.
ingredients on counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Pretzels – I love the addition of a salty pretzel crust! Twists or rods will work.
  • Sugar – To sweeten the crust and the pie.
  • Melted Butter – We use this to bind the crust. I used Challenge butter. Remember how I said my dad won’t eat any other kind? Still true.
  • Cream Cheese – for the cheesecake filling – make sure your cream cheese is softened. Use Challenge Cream Cheese if you can find it!
  • Cool Whip – whipped topping helps the filling come together fast.
  • Strawberry Pie Filling or fresh strawberries for the topping

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

  • Let’s talk about PRETZEL CRUST! I crushed my pretzels in a food processor, but you can also use a rolling pin. The finer they are, the easier the crust sticks together.
  • Stir together the crust ingredients and press into a 9-inch pie plate.
  • Once the crust is done, we fill the pie! Beat cream cheese with sugar and a teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. I used granulated sugar but you could use powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • Fold in the whipped topping until smooth.
  • Spread cream cheese mixture in the pie crust.
  • Spread your strawberry pie filling on top of your cream cheese layer and chill to set.

Recipe Swap

overhead shot of pie with strawberry pie filing on top and challenge box.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with homemade whipped cream on top – get my whipped cream recipe!

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Always use high quality ingredients – I use Challenge Butter because it’s my favorite kind and is made with happy cows at family owned dairies. It’s also award winning! I love Challenge Cream Cheese too, check their website to see where to find it.
  • Traditionally cream cheese pies are served in a graham cracker crust, but the pretzel crust is SO good.
  • Not all pie fillings are the same color! If you find that your can of strawberry pie filling isn’t as vibrant as you’d like, add a few drops of red food coloring to it before topping the pie.
  • Always start with room temperature cream cheese to aovid lumps in your cream pie.
  • To substitute whipped cream in placed of the Cool Whip, beat 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture (by hand, not with a mixer).
slice of pie on white plate with bite missing.

FAQs

How to store cream cheese pie?

Store this pie in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze strawberry cream cheese pie?

I don’t recommend freezing this pie. You can, without the topping, but the crust might get soggy.

Can whipped cream cheese be used in place of regular?

I don’t recommend whipped cream cheese. It might not set up correctly. Be sure to use block full fat cream cheese.

slice of pie on white plate with fork.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie Recipe

5 from 4 votes
This No-Bake Strawberry Pretzel Salad Pie turns the popular Jell-O salad recipe into a pie! No bake cheesecake, pretzel crust, and strawberry topping!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield 10 servings
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

For the Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups (150g) finely crushed pretzels (about 3 cups pretzel twists)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted Challenge Butter , melted

For the filling:

  • 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces (226g) whipped topping
  • 1 20 ounce can Strawberry Pie Filling or use fresh strawberries
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Instructions

  • Make the crust: stir finely crushed pretzels and sugar with melted butter. Press into a 9” pie plate. Chill until ready to fill.
  • Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Whisk or fold in whipped topping until no lumps remain. Spread in prepared crust.
  • Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
  • When ready to serve: top with strawberry pie filling or chopped strawberries.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Make sure your pretzels are finely crushed so they stick together – the larger the pieces the harder it is to get them to form a crust and it will be more crumbly.
  • Skip the pie filling and top this with fresh berries if you prefer.
  • Not all pie fillings are the same color! If you find that your can of strawberry pie filling isn’t as vibrant as you’d like, add a few drops of red food coloring to it before topping the pie. 
  • To substitute whipped cream in placed of the Cool Whip, beat 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form and gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture (by hand, not with a mixer).
  • Always start with room temperature cream cheese to aovid lumps in your cream pie.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Favorite No Bake Pies

This post was sponsored by Challenge Butter in 2016. Post has been updated.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie is a no bake cheesecake with a pretzel crust – or use graham cracker crust – and a strawberry pie filling on top! The perfect easy pie recipe.

Last Updated on April 23, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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21 Comments

    1. The print function is working for me. If you head to the recipe card (click jump to recipe at the top) there is a print button. Is that not working for you?

  1. This looks amazing!! My Midwestern family always makes the jello salad version, but I’m vegetarian and don’t eat gelatin so I’ve been looking for a way to eliminate the jello. Strawberry pie filling is perfect!

  2. Life would definitely be so much better if all salads looked just like this one, Dorothy!  I love the idea of turning this into a pie.  Plus, you can never have enough no-bake desserts this time of year too 😉

  3. I feel like you’re a genius making this classic into a pie!! And that pretzel crust…  yum!!

  4. Oh how I love strawberry pretzel salad and absolutely love how you have made it into a pie!!  Glad your ebook dilemma is fixed!  I’m ordering right away!! 🙂

  5. I like this sweet and salty combination! The crust looks particularly delicious!