Simple and Scrumptious Fourth of July Dessert

6 servings
30 min

Looking for an easy Fourth of July dessert? This yummy strawberry cheesecake checks all the boxes for the perfect patriotic dessert…no-bake, super simple, red, white, and blue, and its mason jar presentation is sure to impress!

When I hit up Pinterest for a 4th of July dessert I usually have a few “musts” in mind:


  • It must be red, white, and blue.
  • It must be easy and quick.
  • But it also must look like I spent more time on it.
  • And bonus points if I don’t have to turn on the hot oven in the summer.
  • Double points if it’s cool in our brutal July heat and humidity.


On this year’s quest, I came across desserts in these adorable little mini-me mason jars:

So I did a mash-up of a couple of recipes that would fulfill all said requirements…and this Mason Jar No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake was born for the 4th of July!

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What’s in this Mason Jar No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake?

This scrumptious cheesecake and strawberry sauce is heaven on its own. But made even better by layering into the cute little jars. Why is it that everything in miniature is cute?

And mini desserts like this are just the right amount to satisfy without wrecking your waistline. And you won’t have a whole pan of leftover dessert calling your name from the fridge when you’re beat from hosting!

It’s so easy with only a few ingredients and steps to make it. And you can make it even easier with storebought strawberry sauce!

To make the cheesecake you’ll only need:

Six 8 oz. mason jars

(Of course, this dessert would also work in any individual dishes you might have and even in a pan if that’s the way you want to go!)

For the Crust


  • Graham cracker crumbs
  • Granulated sugar
  • Softened butter


For the Cheesecake Filling


  • Softened cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Vanilla extract


Strawberry Sauce storebought or homemade (recipe included)

Strawberries to mix in the sauce

Strawberries and Blueberries for the garnish

See the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and directions.


Ingredients for the homemade strawberry sauce.


If you love to cook, it is fun to make the strawberry sauce from scratch so I’ve included how to make it in the recipe!

All you’ll need is:


  • Strawberries
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cornstarch (optional)
  • Lemon juice (optional)


Feel free to skip this and buy premade! It will still be dadburn delicious. You could use a strawberry pie filling or a strawberry dessert topping.


How to make this No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe.
1. Crust Layer:


Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and softened butter well in a mixing bowl until it’s all moistened with the butter. (You can make graham cracker crumbs in the blender or food processor) Then divide it evenly between the jars (about 4 tablespoons) and slightly press down with the end of your fingers.


2. Cheesecake Layer:


Combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla in another bowl and mix with a hand mixer until it’s light and fluffy. Spoon the cheesecake filling evenly into the jars on top of the graham cracker crust layer.

3. Strawberry Sauce Layer:


Core and slice enough strawberries to equal about one cup. Slice two or three more for garnish.

Stir the sliced strawberries into the strawberry sauce (either homemade or ready-made) and top the cheesecake layer with the sauce mixture.

Then garnish with another sliced strawberry or two. Finish it with a few blueberries to make it patriotic pretty!

If you opt for homemade sauce:

Core and cut in half the remaining strawberries from the pint.

In a saucepan, heat the halved strawberries, sugar, lemon juice (optional), and vanilla until juice begins to form. Mash a few of the strawberries with a wooden spoon and simmer until the sauce thickens.

Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Then transfer it back to the saucepan. If you want to thicken it further, make a cornstarch slurry of one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. Slowly stir it into the sauce until it thickens.

Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the sliced strawberry pieces. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes before topping the cheesecake layer.

Although this dessert is perfect for July 4th, it’s also good anytime in the summer and of course for Memorial Day! If you need a couple of other recipe ideas for summer gatherings, check out my Summer in a Cup cocktail and my cold No-Bake Eclair Cake dessert!

And if you need ideas for setting a 4th of July table that fits your decorating style, I’ve got you… read that here.

So let’s make this yummy red, white, and blue dessert!


This cute dessert will have them oohing and aahing and scraping the bottom of the mason jar…and it’s so simple!

As always, I appreciate your visit, comments, and shares here! And don’t forget to subscribe for updates to keep in touch and to follow along with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook!!

Pin this for later:

Remember to pin this to your Pinterest recipe, dessert, and 4th of July boards to refer to later. You can FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST and see all of my pins plus lots of other inspiring ones that I’ve found and pinned!

Simple and Scrumptious Fourth of July Dessert
Recipe details
  • 6  servings
  • Prep time: 30 Minutes Cook time: 0 Minutes Total time: 30 min
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Ingredients
Crust
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons softened butter
Cheesecake Filling
  • 8 oz softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
Strawberry Layer
  • Strawberry sauce (recipe below) or strawberry pie filling or strawberry dessert topping
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries (to mix in sauce)
  • 2-3 strawberries sliced (for garnishing)
  • handful of blueberries
Strawberry Sauce (if making homemade)
  • 1 pint strawberries
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
The Crust Layer
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and softened butter well in a mixing bowl until it’s all moistened with the butter. (You can make graham cracker crumbs in the blender or food processor)
Divide the mixture evenly between the jars (about 4 tablespoons each) and slightly press down with the end of your fingers.
The Cheesecake Layer
Combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla in another bowl and mix with a hand mixer until it’s light and fluffy.
Spoon the cheesecake filling evenly into the jars on top of the graham cracker crust layer.
The Strawberry Sauce Layer
Core and slice a cup of strawberries. Slice 2-3 more strawberries and set aside for garnish.
Stir the sliced strawberries into the strawberry sauce (if making homemade see below) and top each cheesecake layer with the desired amount.
Garnish with strawberry slices and blueberries.
OPTIONAL Homemade Strawberry Sauce (skip if using ready made)
Core and cut in half a pint of strawberries.
In a saucepan, heat the halved strawberries, sugar, lemon juice (optional), and vanilla until juice begins to form. Mash a few of the strawberries with a wooden spoon and simmer until the sauce thickens.
Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Then transfer it back to the saucepan. To thicken it further, make a cornstarch slurry of one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. Slowly stir it into the sauce until it thickens.
Let the sauce cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the sliced strawberries and top the cheesecakes with the mixture and garnish like above.
Kate Rodgers - Southern Home and Hospitality
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