These No Bake Coconut Strawberry Cheesecake Jars have no artificial coloring or flavoring. The delicious pairing of coconut cheesecake and fresh strawberry pie filling makes these the perfect Fourth of July dessert!There's a 15 minute chilling time + overnight set time for the jello layer.
4 ½Graham crackers (I used an organic brand)about 20 g
¼cupdesiccated coconutabout 25 g
2tbspmelted butter
Coconut Cheesecake
1lbcream cheese
½cupcoconut milkfrom a can
⅓cupconfectioner's sugar
2tsporganic coconut extract
Strawberry Layer
1lbhulled strawberriesdivided into half
2tbspsugar
1 - 2tbsplemon juiceor ¼ tsp citric acid
3tbspwater
1 ½tspgelatinabout ½ packet
Blue Whipping Cream
¼cupwhipping cream
¾tspbutterfly pea powder
¾cupwhipping cream
Instructions
Coconut Crust
Place the graham crackers and desiccated coconut in a food processor. Process until you have fine crumbs. Add the butter and pulse a few times until the butter is mixed through with the crumbs. Set aside until needed.
Coconut Cheesecake
Place the softened cream cheese in a bowl. Whisk until the cream cheese is smooth and creamy.
Add the coconut cream, sugar and coconut extract and whisk until everything is mixed in and smooth. Refrigerate until needed.
Fresh Strawberry Layer
Strawberry Jello
Place the 2 tbsp of water in a small saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the surface evenly. Set aside to let the gelatin bloom - about 5 to 10 minutes.
Puree half of the strawberries and pass this through a sieve to remove the seeds. Place the strawberry puree, sugar, lime juice in a small saucepan or microwave-friendly bowl and heat until the sugar dissolves and the puree is hot (but not boiling).
Add the bloomed gelatin and whisk to dissolve. Set aside to cool slightly. If needed, add more lime juice or citric acid to taste.
Fresh Strawberries
While the strawberry puree is heating, chop the rest of the strawberries into small pieces. Place in a bowl and set aside.
Once the strawberry jello is prepared, mix in the fresh strawberries. Set aside.
Blue Whipping Cream - before serving (or the day before)
Place ¼ cup of the whipping cream in a bowl and add the butterfly pea flower powder. Mix until the powder has mixed in well, and there are no lumps. Add the rest of the whipping cream and sugar, and whisk on low speed.
Pour in the dissolved gelatin while whisking, until you get stiff peaks.
Place the whipping cream in a piping bag with an open star tip. Use immediately.
Assembly
Divide the coconut graham cracker crust between 6 x 8 oz serving dishes. Lightly press the crumbs into the bottom to form a layer.
Divide the cream cheese layer between the serving dishes and smooth out the layer on top using an offset spatula. Alternatively, you can place the cream cheese filling in a piping bag and pipe the filling into the serving glasses.
Place the serving dishes in the freezer for about 10 - 15 minutes to firm up the cheesecake layer. (You could even make the strawberry layer at this stage while the individual desserts are firming up).
When the cream cheese layer has firmed up, divide the strawberry layer between the serving glasses.
Cover the individual portions with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight for the jello layer to set.
When the jello layer is set, prepare the blue whipping cream and swirl it on top of the desserts. This can be done before serving, OR the day before serving.
Sprinkle some confetti stars on top (optional) and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Shortcuts for the recipe
Use blue coloring instead of the butterfly pea powder. If using butterfly pea powder, take care NOT TO mix it with any acid (such as lemon/lime juice). It will turn purple if you do.
Instead of making the fresh strawberry jello, substitute with store-bought strawberry jello.
You will only need 1/2 lb (8 oz of chopped strawberries), which you will chop into small pieces.
Mix about 1/3 of a strawberry jello packet (2 oz in weight) with 1/3 cup of hot water. Stir until dissolved. Add about 1/2 cup more water and stir well. Mix this jello with the chopped strawberries, and use as stated in the recipe.
For gluten free options -
Use gluten free graham crackers.
For vegan options -
Use vegan butter or coconut oil instead of regular butter, as well as vegan graham crackers.
Substitute the cream cheese with vegan cream cheese.
Replace the whipping cream with the solid layer of coconut milk. Please note that this will not whip up like regular whipping cream, and will take on the form of dollops on top of the desserts. Therefore a gelatin replacement, like AGAR, is not really needed.