Strawberry Charlotte

If you love fresh strawberry treats, you need to make this Strawberry Charlotte. It's a creamy yet refreshing dessert with the perfect sweetness in each bite. I highly suggest that you prepare it for your next gathering or potluck as a unique alternative to a classic cheesecake or pie!

I love the creamy filling in this no-bake dessert. It's delicately sweet and a little tangy from the cream cheese and cheesecake pudding that balances the other ingredients. It's so good that it's almost addictive.

If you like easy no-bake dessert recipes, you will love this no-bake cherry cheesecake icebox cake and this triple berry trifle.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's a no-bake dessert: I love easy dessert recipes that skip the oven, especially during the hottest days of summer. This French Charlotte cake is completely no-bake. Once it's layered, pop it into the freezer to set!
• It's not expensive: The ingredients used are great on any size budget, so you can enjoy a delicious treat without spending a fortune. It also lets you make it again!
• It's great all year: It doesn't have to be summer to enjoy a strawberry Charlotte dessert. You may prepare it for holidays, birthdays, during the winter, or any time you want.

Ingredients

This is everything I use for my Strawberry Charlotte cake recipe. I included all the components for the luscious cream cheese filling, the ladyfinger cookies, and the berries!

• Ladyfingers: These are a key ingredient in a true strawberry Charlotte. They act as a "crust" for the cream cheese filling and strawberries. You'll find them in the baking or international food aisle at the grocery store.
• Strawberries and jam: I use fresh strawberries and strawberry jam. I combine them for the middle to add texture and sweetness and then reserve the remaining fresh berries for garnishing the top.
• Cool Whip and Heavy Cream: I like to use a combination of Cool Whip and heavy cream. The Cool Whip helps to stabilize the mixture while the addition of cream makes it extra light and fluffy.
• Cream cheese: Ensure the cream cheese is softened at room temperature before you use it. Otherwise, your mixture will have lumps and be hard to mix.
• Cheesecake pudding: This adds flavor that sweetens and enhances the cream cheese while also helping the filling set and hold its shape as it chills.
• Powdered sugar: I use powdered sugar as a sweetener to ensure that it has the right amount of sweet flavor in the dessert. It's perfect because it mixes seamlessly with the other ingredients, unlike granulated sugar.
• Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla is important in this recipe. I'm all for imitation vanilla if necessary, but authentic vanilla flavor takes this Charlotte dessert up a notch.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Raspberry: Trade the strawberries for raspberries and raspberry jam for a completely different fruit flavor.
• Chocolate: Use chocolate pudding mix to incorporate richness into the dessert.
• Add lemon: Try some lemon juice and a garnish of lemon zest to create a strawberry lemonade version.

How to Make Strawberry Charlotte

Here are the instructions on how to make this Strawberry Charlotte recipe. Ensure that you line the bottom of the springform pan with parchment before you get started to make it easier to slice and remove from the pan.

Step 1: Arrange the ladyfingers. Grab your springform pan and arrange the cookies standing around the edge. Then, place about 6 chopped ladyfingers on the bottom.

Step 2: Prepare the cream cheese mixture. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, cream, and pudding mix in a large bowl with an electric mixer until it's perfectly fluffy and smooth. Then, fold in the Cool Whip.

Step 3: Add half and freeze. Spread half of the mixture evenly over the ladyfingers and pop the pan in the freezer to set.

Step 4: Combine berries and jam. Add half of your sliced strawberries to a large bowl with the strawberry jam. Mix it well to combine.

Step 5: Spread the jam on top. Grab the Charlotte cake from the freezer and spread the jam mixture over the top.

Step 6: Add crumbled ladyfingers. Sprinkle more ladyfingers on top of the jam layer.

Step 7: Add the remaining cream cheese mixture and freeze. Spread the remaining cream cheese filling on top of the ladyfinger cookies and stick the cake back in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

Step 8: Top with fresh strawberries. Finish the Strawberry Charlotte with the remaining fresh berries right before you slice and serve it!

If you love recipes like this layered strawberry dessert, you may also enjoy this no bake strawberry Jello cheesecake. These strawberry bars are worth checking out too. They are absolutely delicious.

Serving Suggestions

• Soak the ladyfingers in fresh watermelon syrup to add a refreshing summer flavor to the dessert.
• Use blackberry jalapeno jam in place of strawberry jam for a tart and spicy twist.
• Prepare an easy and tasty dinner to serve before this Strawberry Charlotte. Rotisserie chicken tacos and sweet and spicy bacon burgers are awesome options.
• Serve alongside some strawberry candy on a dessert table for a special occasion.

If you're feeling the strawberry vibe and want to serve something else in that genre, check out this strawberry chex mix. One handful and you'll be a lover for life!

Strawberry Charlotte

Karin and Ken

Strawberry Charlotte is an easy, layered dessert for any celebration or occasion. It's layered with lady fingers and a luscious cream cheese filling.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Freeze Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 10 Servings

Calories 484 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 boxes lady finger cookies 7oz box
• 1 pounds fresh strawberries Plus more for topping
• 1 16-ounce tub Cool Whip
• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese softened to room temperature
• ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 3-ounce package cheesecake flavor pudding
• ¼ cup icing or powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup strawberry jam or preserves

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Instructions

 

• Line the bottom of the springform pan with parchment paper.
• Place the lady fingers standing up against the side of the pan. When you've lined the pan, crumble or chop about 6 lady fingers and place the crumbles in the bottom of the pan, this will also help support the lined up lady fingers.
• 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.
• Divide the cream cheese mixture in half, and spread half of the mixture over the cookie lined bottom. Place the pan in the freezer, and the cream cheese mixture in the refrigerator. (I recommend using a pipping bag to spread out the cream cheese mixture, otherwise the crumbles make it very hard to spread it out with a knife or a spatula)
• 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 the 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 crumbled lady finger cookies over the berries.
• 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 pan back in the freezer for 1 hour. (I don't reccommed freezing the berries on top. I think you should add the topping berries right before serving otherwise they don't thaw well.)
• Remove the pan and place it in the refrigerator until time to slice and serve. Serve with sliced strawberries blended with some strawberry jam on the side, or on top of the strawberry slices. Enjoy every bite!

Notes

• Don't add the strawberries on top until right before serving for best results.
• Store any extra strawberry Charlotte in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend slicing it and placing the slices into air-tight containers.
• Try chilling this dessert overnight before serving it! Place it in the freezer for a couple of hours and then move it to the refrigerator until you're ready to eat.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 9gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 287mgPotassium: 238mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 1031IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 2mg

Keyword strawberry charlotte, strawberry charlotte cake

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This post was originally published in May 2022. It's been updated with new content and images.