Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake: A Sweet and Nostalgic Dessert

Step 3: Make the Cream Cheese Filling

Now, it’s time to create the creamy filling. In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth and well combined. Use an electric mixer for best results, beating for a few minutes until the mixture is creamy and free of lumps. Set this mixture aside.

In another bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. This step is crucial for achieving the light, fluffy texture of the filling. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice during mixing to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated.

Once the whipped cream is ready, divide it into two portions. Add half of the whipped cream to the cream cheese mixture and fold gently to combine. Then, add the cooled strawberry gelatin mixture to the remaining whipped cream and whisk until smooth.

Step 4: Assemble the Cheesecake

Now comes the fun part—assembling the cheesecake. Pour half of the strawberry mixture onto the prepared crust, spreading it evenly. Place the pan in the freezer for 15 minutes to let this first layer set. Afterward, remove the pan from the freezer and add the cream cheese mixture on top of the first layer. Smooth it out to ensure an even layer, and then top it with the remaining strawberry gelatin mixture.

Step 5: Add the Crunchy Topping

To make the topping, take the remaining vanilla cream cookies and crush them coarsely. You can either use a tart shaper or place the cookies in a sandwich bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Add the strawberry wafer cookies and crush them as well. If you want to add some color, you can even drop a few drops of food coloring into the crushed cookies and mix it to achieve a fun, colorful topping.