Fourth of July Cheesecake Flag (Print view)

Creamy no-bake cheesecake topped with fresh berries in a patriotic flag design, ready in under five hours.

# Ingredient List:

→ Crust

01 - 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - Pinch of salt

→ Cheesecake Filling

05 - 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
06 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
07 - 1 cup powdered sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - Zest of 1 lemon, optional

→ Topping & Decoration

10 - 1 cup fresh blueberries
11 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
12 - 1/2 cup fresh raspberries, optional
13 - 1/2 cup whipped cream for piping, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Mix until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
02 - Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch rectangular baking dish to form an even layer. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest if using; beat until fully combined.
04 - In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until smooth and well combined.
05 - Spread the cheesecake filling evenly over the prepared crust. Smooth the top with a spatula.
06 - Arrange the blueberries in the upper left corner to create the stars section of the flag.
07 - Lay alternating rows of strawberry slices and raspberries with plain filling across the cake to form the red and white stripes of the flag.
08 - If desired, pipe whipped cream between the rows for extra definition.
09 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until set.
10 - Slice and serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • No baking required means you can make this during the hottest part of the day without heating up your kitchen.
  • It looks impressive enough to be the centerpiece of any celebration, but comes together faster than you'd expect.
  • The no-bake filling is impossibly creamy, and fresh berries keep it from feeling too heavy on a warm summer evening.
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling time on the crust before adding filling or it will stay too soft and shift when you arrange the berries.
  • Keep everything as cold as possible and work quickly once the filling is made, as it starts to soften at room temperature and becomes harder to spread evenly.
03 -
  • Add the zest of half a lemon to the filling for a subtle brightness that most people can't quite identify but feel in their taste buds.
  • If your berries are releasing too much juice, pat them dry with paper towels before arranging them to keep the filling from getting soggy.
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