Recently we picked some fresh strawberries and my daughter requested pie. Everyone has the classic fresh strawberry pie recipe in their collection, you know the one. No bake, fresh berries and jello.
Fresh Strawberry Pie
1 Baked or Graham Cracker Crust (I buy mine, so I won't judge if you do the same)
4 Cups Strawberries, rinsed, hulled and drained (if very large half or even quarter them)
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Corn Starch
4 Tbsp Strawberry Jell-O
1. Bring water, sugar and corn starch to boil, starting over low heat until sugar is dissolved gradually bringing temperature up to medium, until thickened. Stir constantly.
2. Add Jell-O and cool slightly.
3. Pour Jell-O mixture over berries in a large bowl and fold gently until berries are coated.
4. Pour berry mixture into pie crust and refrigerate until firm.
This pie is always a hit so I wondered how I could tweak it a bit.
The first and simplest idea I had was to substitute one cup of the strawberries with blueberries.
That was the only change I made and it turned out amazing.
I took a stroll down the baking aisle to see what my Jell-O flavor options were when I happened upon Island Pineapple. It's summer time so my mind automatically went tropical.
Substituting Island Pineapple Jell-O and canned tropical fruit made a delicious, light and fresh tasting pie. I used canned fruit, fresh would also be amazing but I was in a hurry to make this for a family event.
A couple days later I get a call from my sister in law telling me that blueberries are ready for picking at their house. I started wondering how a all fresh blueberry pie might be. Blueberry Jell-O apparently isn't a thing but Berry Blue is so that was my choice.
Did I mention I like to tweak recipes? I thought why not add a layer of no bake cheesecake in the bottom and top that with the blueberry concoction. Best part, this is now enough filling to make two pies.
No Bake Cheesecake Filling
1 8oz Cream Cheese, softened
3 Tbsp Butter, softened
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1. Cream the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl.
2. Add powdered sugar, brown sugar and vanilla, cream until smooth.
3. Divide filling between two pre made pie crusts or one deep dish pie crust.
4. Top with slightly cooled berry topping.
5. Refrigerate until firm.
I'm still thinking up new flavor combinations. I love orange, strawberry, banana together so might give that a try. I hate orange Jell-O though so I'll use all fresh fruit and strawberry Jell-O. I'm hoping the glaze will keep the banana from browning. I'll keep you posted.
Enjoy!
