For many Midwesterners, it wouldn't be a summer potluck without a tray of strawberry delight bars. The nostalgic dessert is made with a graham cracker crust, layers of cheesecake and cream, and fresh strawberries. It's a sweet ode to strawberry cheesecake but is so much easier to make. Here's how to make strawberry delight, including a tip for cutting out perfectly layered slices.

What Is Strawberry Delight?

Strawberry delight is a no-bake dessert that's made with a graham cracker crust and layers of cheesecake-inspired cream, fresh strawberries, strawberry fluff, and whipped cream. It's a popular dessert throughout the Midwest where it's often called strawberry dream, strawberry yum yum, or strawberry cheesecake lush.

Strawberry Delight Ingredients

There are several layers to this strawberry dessert recipe, here's what you'll need to make them.

• Crust: This strawberry delight recipe calls for a graham cracker crust. Make one with graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter.
• Cheesecake Cream: You'll divide this mixture to create two of the layers. You'll need cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
• Whipped Cream: A homemade whipped cream make the fluffy topping. Grab heavy cream and powdered sugar to make it.
• Strawberries: You'll need two cups of sliced strawberries for this recipe. Our Test Kitchen found that equals about 3 cups of whole strawberries.
• Strawberry Gelatin: A 1/4 cup of strawberry gelatin gives this dessert the most intense strawberry flavor.

How to Make Strawberry Delight

Making this recipe for strawberry delight is all about mixing and layering. It's so easy, you can have it assembled in just 25 minutes.

1. Make the Crust: Make the homemade graham cracker crust and press it into an 8x8-inch pan. Freeze while prepping the other ingredients.
2. Add the Strawberry Layer: Add a layer of sliced strawberries over the crust.
3. Mix the Cheesecake Fluff: Mix up the cheesecake fluff using cream cheese, cream, vanilla, and sugar.
4. Whip the Cream: Make homemade whipped cream and divide it.
5. Create the Layers: Mix half the whipped cream with the cheesecake mixture and divide it. To half the mixture, add the strawberry gelatin.
6. Finish: Add the plain cheesecake layer over the strawberries. Spread on the strawberry cheesecake layer and top with whipped cream. Finish with more freshly sliced strawberries.

Tips for Making Strawberry Delight

Here are a few things our Test Kitchen learned when developing and testing this strawberry delight recipe.

• If you don't want to use strawberry gelatin, place 1 ounce of freeze-dried strawberry slices in a small food processor or blender. Process until crushed into a powder. You should have about 1/4 cup. Stir in 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar. Use as directed above in place of strawberry-flavored gelatin. Our recipe testers found this variation had a slightly less sweet, milder strawberry flavor.
• For cuts that clearly show the layers, use a damp knife and wipe between each cut.
• Store the finished dessert in the fridge for 3-4 days. It's best eaten within a day or two.
• Use room temperature cream cheese when making the layers so it blends until smooth.
• Chill the dessert for up to 24 hours before serving. Simply add the fresh strawberries on top just before serving.