Let’s Talk Thanksgiving Desserts

Today’s Thanksgiving recipe is a dessert. You can’t have a Thanksgiving, with a turkey and all the trimmings and not talk dessert. This recipe for No Bake Cheesecake is a fantastic! I usually like to take full advantage of cooler temperatures and use the heck out of my oven, unlike during the hot, steamy days of summer when I avoid the oven like a plague. But this No Bake Cheesecake is perfect during the holidays because it is super easy and tastes better if made a day or two in advance. Which means you can make it Wednesday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, when you still have your sanity. Another plus of choosing a no bake dessert for Thanksgiving, besides the fact that it can be made in advance, is that with all the other holiday baking/cooking your oven will be getting on Thanksgiving and the day before this is one less dessert you have to schedule for oven time!

Note: I originally made this cheesecake as part of my eco-friendly party back in September. I used strawberries tossed in a little sugar as a topping, when strawberries were still available, but strawberries may be hard to find in good condition and at a reasonable price this time of year. A good substitute is canned pie filling (on sale for great prices during the holidays), a homemade cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries (simmer fresh cranberries with water, sugar, and a little orange juice or zest), thawed frozen fruit, or even chocolate or caramel sauce.

One Year Ago: Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
Two Years Ago: Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs

No-Bake Cheesecake
Printable Version
Prep Time: 20 minutes Chill Time: 4-6 hours Serves: 6-8

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 graham cracker pie crust

Topping:
1 ½ cups strawberries, sliced
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a large bowl, stir cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Pour filling into crust and chill at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.

Thirty minutes before serving, combine strawberries sugar and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Just before serving, top cheesecake with strawberry mixture (or other desired toppings).
Recipe Note: This cheesecake can be made a day or two in advance. Make according to directions and refrigerate. Top with desired topping just before serving.

adapted from Recipes Every Man Should Know, as seen on Taste and Tell Blog