STRAWBERRY CHARLOTTE
STRAWBERRY CHARLOTTE
Talk about an absolutely fabulous dessert, this is it! It’s so easy to make, and it’s no bake, so you can make it ahead, and have it ready when you need it.Â
You make it with crunchy Lady Fingers, an old-fashioned cookie that’s just delicious, and then the layers of sweet cream cheese, mixed with pudding and cool whip, Strawberry preserves, and fresh sliced strawberries, and it all comes together and melts in your mouth. This is a great dessert for a warm summer day, or cool Spring evening. Trust me, everyone will love this!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:
- 3 Boxes of Lady Finger cookies
- 1 pound of Fresh Strawberries
- 1 carton/tub of Cool Whip – 10 – 12 ounces
- 1 package of Cream Cheese – 8 ounces – softened to room temperature
- 1/3 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 package of Cheesecake flavor pudding – 3.4 ounce
- 1/4 cup of Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla
- 1 jar of Strawberry Jam, or preserves
- 9-inch Springform pan
- Parchment paper
HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:
Line the bottom of the Springform pan with Parchment paper. Open the Lady Fingers, and the Strawberry Jam. With a Pastry brush, or the back of a spoon, spread Jam on the rounded side of the cookies, and place them standing up against the side of the pan – see photo.
When you’ve lined the pan, place it in the freezer.  In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, place the Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla, Heavy Whipping Cream, and Pudding, and mix until light and fluffy. Add the Cool Whip and mix until smooth and well blended.Â
Remove the pan from the freezer, and line the bottom of the pan, on top of the Parchment paper, with the Lady Fingers cookies, breaking them in small pieces when needed to fill in the gaps. Divide the Cream Cheese mixture in half, and spread half of the mixture over the cookie lined bottom. Place the pan back in the freezer, and the cream cheese mixture in the refrigerator.
 Wash or rinse the Strawberries thoroughly in cold water. Using about half the berries, remove the stems, and slice berries. Place sliced berries in a bowl, and add two or three heaping Tablespoons of Strawberry Jam to the slices, and stir well to mix. Remove the pan from the freezer and place half of the sliced berries over the cream cheese mixture. Place another layer of the Lady Fingers cookies over the berries, and add the remainder of the cream cheese mixture on top of the cookies, and place the remaining berries on top of the cream cheese mixture.
Place the strawberry charlotte pan back in the freezer for 1 hour. Then remove the pan and place it in the refrigerator until time to serve. Â
You can make this a day ahead if needed and keep refrigerated until time to serve. Cut the dessert in 2 to 3 inch pieces and serve with a whole berry dipped in the Strawberry Jam on the side, or on top of each piece. Enjoy!
Makes 8 to 10 servings
