Strawberry Shortcake Pie

After serving this strawberry shortcake pie countless times, I can testify that this is the perfect summer dessert, sweet, refreshing, and incredibly flavorful! It’s the star of any gathering, and the type of dessert that makes everyone ask for seconds or for the recipe! Stunning and eye-catching, yet so easy to make, it will remind you of the classic ice cream that we all used to have, a childhood staple!

This strawberry shortcake freezer pie is made with rich cream cheese, whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk, homemade strawberry sauce, and powdered sugar. But that’s not all! On top is my favorite part. The strawberry crumble topping will remind you of the crunchy topping from those delicious ice cream bars you used to get as a kid. It is made with strawberry Jell-O; the crunchy topping is rich and luscious, instantly elevating this summer treat.

This is technically a no-bake dessert, but to get the crumb topping, you actually have to use the oven. However, I usually make these in advance and use them on different summer desserts, sprinkle them on cheesecakes, oatmeal, or even smoothies. If you have the strawberry cumb topping ready, the rest is a breeze, just whip, fold, and freeze, and the most incredible, sweet and tangy, pretty pink dessert is ready! The hardest part about this recipe is waiting for it to set. I recommend freezing it for six to eight hours for the best results!

Why you will love this recipe

• It tastes like your childhood: If you ever had a strawberry crunch ice cream bar from the ice cream truck, you are in for a treat. Actually, this pie is even better, and once you take a bite, you will crave more and more.
• It is so easy to make: Just a few ingredients and a few steps to get this scrumptious dessert ready.
• Make ahead of time: If you want it for dessert the next day, you can make it the night before and then just put it together when you are ready to serve.
• Versatile and fun: Mix it up by using different Jello flavors or adding candy or sprinkles. You can even make it key lime or lemonade pie.

What you will need

• Strawberry crumbles – these are easy to make and a mix of Jello, flour, butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
• Strawberry filling – the cream filling is made with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and strawberry sauce. You can use store-bought or my homemade recipe for strawberry sauce.
• Graham cracker crust – Store-bought works just fine, or you can make your own with graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.

How to prepare

Crumble Instructions:

Get ready: First, I preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, I add ¼ cup of butter, Jell-O, and ½ cup of flour, and stir with a fork until the mixture is crumbly and fine.

Mix again: After that, I add ¼ cup of butter, ½ cup of flour, ½ cup of granulated white sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla to a separate medium bowl. I use a small fork to break the mixture into fine crumbs. 

Bake: Next, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, I sprinkle the strawberry crumble, and then the vanilla crumble. Afterward, mix them gently by hand and bake for 7 to 8 minutes without stirring. 

Let them cool: I remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for at least 60 minutes. I put the crumble into an airtight storage container until ready to use. 

Filling instructions:

Mix: I use a mixer fitted with a large bowl to beat the powdered sugar and whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Then I set it aside in the refrigerator.

Mix again: Using another large bowl and the same mixer, I beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Next, I add the condensed milk to the cream cheese mixture and stir for another minute, until completely combined.

Sauce: After that, I mix in the strawberry sauce with the whipped cream mixture and stir until well combined. 

Assemble strawberry shortcake pie:

Freeze: I transfer the mixture into a 10-inch pie crust and smooth it out on top. Into the freezer it goes for 4 to 5 hours.

Serve: I take it out 10 minutes before serving, place it on a pie plate, and sprinkle with the crumbles just before serving.

Expert tip

Saving time

This recipe includes several ingredients that can be made at home or bought from the store. While I am always a fan of making everything from scratch, some things are perfectly fine pre-made. Take the crust, for example. You can grab a pre-made one, and it tastes almost as good as homemade. You can also buy strawberry sauce or strawberry pie filling. Also, you can use whipped topping instead of whipping our own whipped cream.

More tips to consider

• If you do not have an electric mixer, you can use a whisk. It will take a bit longer, but it will still whip up nicely.
• Make sure you freeze the pie for at least six hours, or it will not be solid enough to serve. Overnight would be better.
• Prepare the strawberry and vanilla crumbs a few days in advance and store them in an airtight container.
• Do not use fat-free ingredients; the pie may turn out runny.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Other Jello flavors: It is so easy to change this up! Jello comes in all sorts of flavors, like lemon, lime, cherry, and raspberry.
• Add more crumbles: My kids love crumbles, and so do I. As I said, they are my favorite part. You can double the batch for extra strawberry and vanilla crumbles, or make a batch of chocolate crumbles for a chocolate-strawberry pie.
• Make it creamier: If it is not creamy enough, you can add a layer of vanilla or strawberry pudding on top for more creaminess.
• Different extract: To make your pie even more unique, use a different extract flavor, such as almond or cake batter.
• Add fresh fruit: Mix fresh strawberries on top along the edges of the pie or chop and sprinkle some into the filling.
• Try other fruits: Add another fruit, such as blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries.
• Toppings: Also, try adding toasted coconut, chocolate chips, Cool Whip, or chocolate syrup to the top.
• Nuts: Another variation is to make the crust from crushed almonds and add chopped macadamia nuts on top.

Serving suggestions:

Strawberry shortcake pie is best served cold, but thawed for about 10 minutes, so it is not too hard. Add the crumble mixture to the pie before serving, or just add it to each piece as you serve. I like to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a dollop of homemade whipped cream next to it. This pie is the most delicious finish to a family picnic or barbecue party after BBQ chicken kabobs and strawberry spinach salad.

This pie keeps the party going, served after some brown sugar salmon with a glass of strawberry margarita. Kids can enjoy it with a creamy strawberry banana smoothie. If you are looking for a summery dessert spread, serve it with my best strawberry poke cake, or the strawberry pie with cheesecake layer, or this refreshing key lime pie poke cake. 

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Refrigerating this pie will not work. It is a frozen pie and should remain frozen before being served. Use a pie pan with a cover, or cover it with plastic wrap and foil. It can stay frozen for several months.   
• Defrost: Just 15 minutes before serving, let it sit out to make it soft enough to eat.

Frequently asked questions

More strawberry desserts: