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    Home » Recipes » Sweets

    Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie

    June 24, 2022 • Updated: March 15, 2023 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Strawberry Pie, decorated with fresh Strawberries and pastry leaves. Pin text reads: Strawberry Cream Pie, Made with Fresh Strawberries & No Jello

    This fresh Strawberry Cream Pie is light, fluffy, and so delicious! With a premade pie crust and just five simple ingredients, this easy-to-make no-bake favorite is ready to chill in under 15 minutes. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, and backyard barbecues!

    Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie, decorated with fresh Strawberries and pastry leaves.

    This delicious strawberry cream pie is light, airy, creamy, and smooth as silk. Full of fresh strawberry flavor, it is one of our favorite warm-weather treats!

    Not only is this recipe for strawberry cream pie delicious, but it's easy to make, with a no-bake filling that takes just five simple ingredients. A true cream pie, it has no artificial flavorings or colors, no cream cheese, and no cornstarch.

    In the course of developing this recipe, Mr B and I ended up making about ten strawberry cream pies. The last five (at least) weren't about fine-tuning the recipe; they were about all that delicious strawberry cream! Oh, my gosh! We could not get enough of it! (Just so you know, we did not eat ten pies by ourselves. We shared with family and gave some away to friends for quality assurance.)

    Jump to:
    • Berry Cream Pie Ingredients
    • How to Make this Strawberry Pie Recipe
    • How to Slice a Cream Pie
    • Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • FAQ
    • Stages of Whipping Cream
    • More Strawberry Recipes
    • Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie

    Berry Cream Pie Ingredients

    fresh strawberries in a colander
    • Fresh strawberries: Use fresh strawberries if at all possible. You can also make this pie with frozen strawberries.
    • Heavy cream: If you are looking for a lite strawberry pie recipe, this ain't it.
      • This recipe employs all-natural ingredients, and heavy whipping cream is at the heart of it. You can use regular whipping cream, but the pie won't turn out quite as firm.
    • Gelatin: Use unflavored gelatin. Gelatin is a pure, natural protein derived from collagen. No artificial flavors or colors.
    • Sugar: Use white granulated sugar.
    • Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract. (You can leave this out if you need to.)
    • Pie Crust: Use your favorite sweet pie crust. You can make strawberry cream pie with any baked pastry crust (packaged or homemade), or with a graham cracker, or even a chocolate pie crust.

    How to Make this Strawberry Pie Recipe

    This recipe will make enough strawberry cream to fill one 9½-inch deep dish pie shell or two standard 8-inch pie shells.

    Pie Crust

    If you need to bake your pie crust, do that first and allow it to cool completely before making the filling.

    For reference, we baked the empty pie shell below using our Basic Sweet Pie Crust recipe at 400°F (232°C) for 28 minutes (fully baked). We weighted it (with navy beans on parchment) for the first 17 minutes, and then remove the weights and baked it empty for the remaining time.

    Blind baked pie shell, ready to fill.

    For best results, chill the mixing bowl, cream, and strawberries before starting the filling.

    Berry Purée

    Puree enough cold strawberries in a blender to make 1½ cups. Set aside.

    In a small sauce pan, sprinkle 3 teaspoons of gelatin over 5 tablespoons of cold water and let stand for 1 minute.

    Gently heat over medium-low, whisking until the gelatin has completely dissolved. Pour gelatin into a batter bowl or mixing bowl with a spout.

    Add the berry puree to the gelatin, and whisk together. Set aside.

    Mixing cup with strawberry puree, small whisk, and gelatin.

    Berry Whipped Cream Filling

    Be sure to start with COLD whipping cream.

    In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cold whipping cream on medium until it thickens to the no peaks stage, when the cream changes from runny with big bubbles to thicker and smoother, and has the look and feel of melting ice cream.

    Whipping cream in stand mixer.

    Reduce the mixer speed to Low and slowly add ⅓ cup of sugar and the vanilla. You won't add all the sugar yet because strawberries vary wildly in natural sugar content, and each pie will need a little more or less sugar.

    Once all the sugar has dissolved in the cream, increase the mixer speed to medium.

    When the cream begins to make very soft peaks, start pouring the strawberry puree mixture into the cream in a slow stream.

    Do not pour too fast, or the strawberries may overwhelm the whipping cream.

    Once all the strawberries are mixed in, stop the mixer for a moment and taste the strawberry cream. If your strawberries are summer sweet, you may not need anymore sugar. If they are very tart, you may need more. Adjust according to your own tastes.

    Once you are satisfied with the level of sweetness, whisk the mixture on medium-high until it barely reaches the firm peaks stage. (Do not overwhip!)

    HINT: The cream mixture will easily stay on an upturned spoon when it is ready.

    Collage: Adding strawberry puree to whipped cream; Spoon held upside down to demonstrate thickness of finished strawberry whipped cream.

    Fill & Chill

    Fill the prepared pie shell with the strawberry cream mixture.

    Baked Pie shell half filled with strawberry cream.

    This is totally optional, but I like to fill the pie shell about halfway with the filling, and then add a handful of whole strawberries to the pie, and cover them up with the remaining strawberry cream. This makes for a little more texture and concentrated strawberry flavor inside the pie.

    Using whole strawberries instead of sliced ones prevents the fruit from leaking into the whipped cream and watering it down. It also gives the slices a pretty profile.

    Slice of strawberry pie on a dessert plate.

    Refrigerate the prepared pie for a minimum of 4 hours, until firm. (Overnight is even better.) Top with additional strawberries and whipped cream as desired.

    If your cream wasn't cold enough, or you make this pie on a particularly warm day, the whipping cream may not get as lofty as it could. Never fear. Just pour it into the pie and chill. Literally.

    How to Slice a Cream Pie

    To get a cleanly cut piece of cream pie, first refrigerate the pie overnight so that it is well set and very firm. Use a sharp, hot knife with a smooth blade*. Dip the knife in hot water for 15 seconds, wipe the knife off with a paper towel, and cut the pie. Repeat after each cut. If necessary, repeat with a small paring knife to ensure the crust on the bottom is fully cut through.

    *A serrated blade works better for pie with more dense, chunky fillings, but a smooth blade will produce a satin-like cut on a cream pie.

    Substitutions

    You can substitute on any cane berry (i.e., blackberries, Marion berries, boysenberries, raspberries, etc.) for the strawberries. For example:

    • Raspberry Cream Pie: Substitute raspberries for the strawberries.
    • Blackberry Cream Pie: Substitute blackberries for the strawberries.
    • Marion Berry Cream Pie: Substitute Marion berries for the strawberries.

    Storage

    Loosely cover pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When properly stored, strawberry cream pie will stay good for 4 to 5 days.

    Top Tip

    If you don't have enough fresh berries, you can use frozen berries to make the berry cream. If you have any fresh berries, use them to garnish the top.

    To use frozen berries to make the filling, first thaw the berries to room temperature. Drain off half of the liquid, and then puree them as you would the fresh berries, and proceed from there.

    FAQ

    Why do the berries and cream need to be cold?

    If the cream is too warm when you start, the fat becomes ineffective as a stabilizer, and the whipping cream falls flat. You will not be able to whip it into peaks, and the pie will not be as lofty or light. (It will still firm up as it chills, so all is not lost.)

    Both the friction of the mixer whisk and the temperature of the strawberries will warm the cream as you mix it, so you want everything start out as cold as possible. (Including the mixing bowl!)

    Stages of Whipping Cream

    ✿ No Peaks: The cream thickens, and changes from runny with big bubbles to smoother with small bubbles, and has the look and feel of melting ice cream.

    ✿ Soft Peaks: When the beaters are lifted, the cream will barely its shape, and peaks will fall over immediately.

    ✿ Medium Peaks: When lifted, the cream will form stiff peaks that curl on the end.

    ✿ Firm (or Stiff) Peaks: When lifted, the cream will form stiff peaks that stand straight up and do not curl.

    ✿ Over-Beaten: The cream will become granular in appearance. (Keep beating and you'll have butter.)

    Close-up of edge of finished strawberry cream pie.

    More Strawberry Recipes

    Fresh strawberries are one of our favorite fruits! Some of our favorite strawberry recipes include fresh strawberry ice cream, strawberry layer cake, and fresh strawberry cream crepes.

    • One crepe filled with fresh strawberries, with a zigzag of strawberry cream and more fresh strawberries on top. Bowl of strawberries in the background.
      Strawberry Cream Crêpes
    • Small glass bowl filled with strawberry ice cream. Berry bowl filled with fresh strawberries in the background.
      Best Ever Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream
    • Slice of 3-layer strawberry cake on plate. Remaining cake on glass cake stand in left rear.
      Triple-layer Strawberry Cake (from Scratch)
    • Strawberry Freezer Jam (Step-by-Step)
    Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie, decorated with fresh Strawberries and pastry leaves.
    5 from 5 votes

    Fresh Strawberry Cream Pie

    This fresh strawberry cream pie is light, fluffy, and so delicious! With a premade pie crust and just five simple ingredients, this easy-to-make no-bake favorite is ready to chill in under 15 minutes.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time:15 minutes
    Chilling Time:4 hours
    Total Time:4 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 116kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Electric Stand Mixer
    • 1 Whisk mixer attachment
    • 1 batter bowl or spouted mixing bowl
    • 1 Spatula
    • 1 Blender immersion blender

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    • 3 teaspoons plain gelatin
    • 5 tablespoons water
    • 3 cups strawberries chilled
    • 1⅔ cups heavy cream chilled
    • ½ cup sugar divided
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 9½-inch deep dish pie shell baked; or two standard 8-inch pie shells

    Instructions

    • For best results, chill mixing bowl, whipping cream, and strawberries before starting.

    Pie Crust

    • If you need to bake your piecrust, do that first and allow it to cool completely before making the filling.

    Strawberry Puree

    • Puree enough strawberries in a blender to make 1½ cups. Set aside.
    • In a small sauce pan, sprinkle 3 teaspoons of gelatin over 5 tablespoons of cold water and let stand for 1 minute.
      Gently heat over medium-low, whisking until the gelatin has completely dissolved.
    • Pour gelatin into a batter bowl or mixing bowl with a spout.
      Add strawberry puree to gelatin and whisk together. Set aside.

    Whipped Strawberry Cream Filling

    • Be sure to start with COLD whipping cream.
      In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cold whipping cream on medium until it thickens to the no peaks stage.
    • Reduce the mixer speed to Low and slowly add ⅓ cup of sugar and the vanilla.
      You won't add all the sugar yet because strawberries vary wildly in natural sugar content, and each pie will need a little more or less sugar.
    • Once all the sugar has dissolved in the cream, increase the mixer speed to medium.
      When the cream begins to make very soft peaks, start pouring the strawberry puree mixture into the cream in a slow stream.
      Do not pour too fast, or the strawberries may overwhelm the whipping cream.
    • Once all the strawberries are mixed in, stop the mixer for a moment and taste the strawberry cream.
      If your strawberries are summer sweet, you may not need anymore sugar. If they are very tart, you may need more. Adjust according to your own tastes.
    • Once you are satisfied with the level of sweetness, whisk the mixture on medium-high until it barely reaches the firm peaks stage. (Do not overwhip!)
      HINT: The cream mixture will easily stay on an upturned spoon when it is ready.

    Fill & Chill

    • Fill the prepared pie shell with the strawberry cream mixture.
    • OPTIONAL: Fill the pie shell about halfway with the filling, and then add a handful of whole strawberries to the pie, and cover them up with the remaining strawberry cream.
    • Refrigerate the prepared pie for a minimum of 4 hours, until firm. (Overnight is even better.)
    • Top with additional strawberries and whipped cream as desired. Serve cold.

    Notes

    Makes one 9½-inch deep dish pie, or two standard 8-inch pies. 

    Stages of Whipping Cream

    ✿ No Peaks: The cream thickens, and changes from runny with big bubbles to smoother with small bubbles, and has the look and feel of melting ice cream.
    ✿ Soft Peaks: When the beaters are lifted, the cream will barely its shape, and peaks will fall over immediately.
    ✿ Medium Peaks: When lifted, the cream will form stiff peaks that curl on the end.
    ✿ Firm (or Stiff) Peaks: When lifted, the cream will form stiff peaks that stand straight up and do not curl.
    ✿ Over-Beaten: The cream will become granular in appearance. (Keep beating and you'll have butter.)

    Nutrition facts include filling only; they do not include values for pie shell. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

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    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

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    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

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    1. Tayler Ross says

      July 13, 2022 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      I made this pie over the weekend and it was a huge hit with all of my friends and family! I will definitely be making it again!

      Reply
    2. Chenée says

      July 08, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect recipe for summer! I love strawberry desserts so I know I'll love this pie!

      Reply
    3. Amy says

      July 08, 2022 at 3:35 pm

      5 stars
      So, so good! This is our new favorite pie of the summer! Love the classic crust (although it would be good with a graham cracker or biscoff crust too) and the filling is so light and fresh and divine!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 08, 2022 at 4:01 pm

        Oh my gosh, a Biscoff crust would be fabulous!

        Reply
    4. Janessa says

      July 08, 2022 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great way to use my fresh garden strawberries! So simple yet delicious.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 08, 2022 at 4:02 pm

        One of the things we love most about this recipe is how simple and easy it is.

        Reply
    5. Shadi says

      July 08, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you! Everyone in my family loved it.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 08, 2022 at 2:40 pm

        That fresh strawberry cream gets me every time!

        Reply

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