Canada Day is quickly approaching this Friday and I’ve been busy planning a few recipes for our BBQ get together. I love holidays because they challenge me to put on my culinary thinking cap and create festive recipes that highlight what we love about the holiday.
For Canada Day, it’s all about the red and white, of course!
Any excuse to buy more local strawberries is a-ok in my books. I may need an intervention.
My goal was to create a quick and easy dessert recipe that could be thrown together in no time, but still taste delicious! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen when I have guests to entertain. These Strawberry Cheesecake Bites are the perfect dessert to whip up, allowing you to keep your cool even on a hot day.
To make the Strawberry Cheesecake Bites, you start with a Graham Cracker Base. This is the ‘crust’ of the cheesecake!
I used this graham cracker recipe and I bought a Maple Leaf cookie cutter from Golda’s Kitchen.
The recipe made about 13-15 maple leafs, so you might want to double the recipe if making for a large group.
There are a couple reasons why I used graham crackers for the base:
1) They can be made ahead of time
2) They are very firm and crunchy and won’t get soggy from the toppings
Time saving tip: If you are really tight on time, just whip out a box of graham crackers! They will have the same effect in a pinch.
After that, I whipped up the vanilla bean cheesecake frosting layer!
I grabbed a tub of non-dairy cream cheese and sifted in about 1/2 cup-3/4 cup of organic icing sugar. Beat until light and fluffy and add in a couple scraped vanilla beans or a dash of fresh lemon juice.
I originally tried to make this using maple syrup (so Canadian!), but it made it too runny and didn’t work. I wouldn’t suggest using liquid sweetener in this case. However, you could use some Maple Extract for a fun kick of maple in the frosting.
Once you whip up your cream cheese layer, just dice some strawberries and layer away!
Add a tablespoon of the cream cheese frosting and then sprinkle with strawberries and a pinch of sugar. That’s all she wrote!
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Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Inspired by Hungry Foodies Pharmacy.
Ingredients:
- Homemade or store-bought graham crackers
- 1 (8-oz) tub non-dairy cream cheese
- 1/2 cup- 3/4 cup icing sugar (confectioner’s)
- 2 vanilla beans or 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and diced
- Sugar, for sprinkling
Directions:
1. Make your homemade graham crackers in advance or simply purchase graham crackers from the store.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Slowly add the icing sugar to taste. Add in a couple scraped vanilla beans and maple extract or a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice if you prefer. Store in fridge. You can also make this in advance!
3. Hull a pint of strawberries and dice.
4. Lay your graham crackers onto a large serving plate and spread with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle on diced strawberries and sugar.
Notes: The homemade graham cracker recipe made about 13-15 maple leafs, so you may want to double the batch. I had leftover cream cheese frosting, so 1 tub should cover about 25 maple leafs depending on how much you use.
Be sure to bake your graham crackers a couple minutes longer (I think I baked mine for 17-18 minutes) so they were extra crispy once cooled. That ensures that the cream cheese frosting won’t make the cracker get soggy (it will get a bit soft after 20-30 minutes, but not too much).
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The great thing about this recipe is that it is easily adapted for the Fourth of July!
And then you can invite me over for your party. ;)
Just use store-bought or homemade graham crackers (cut into rectangles or stars), and add a few blueberries on top! If you are feeling really creative you could use the berries to create the flag on the cracker.
I’m really happy with how these turned out! They are light enough for summer, but still feel like a fun dessert.
Anyone want to help me eat these things? :)
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{ 124 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ll help :) These look great, so festive! I must remember these for St. Patrick’s Day – I could do shamrock shapes and top with something green. Gooseberries maybe?
yea that would work too!
Stunning photos- great recipe!
I love how easy the cheesecake part is! These would be great for the 4th of July as well. Love the maple syrup extract idea – bet it would be good with almond extract too!
Out of curiosity, how many cookie cutters do you have? I’m a sucker for them – I even have ninja cookie cutters! :)
hmm good question! I probably have about 30 cookie cutters? I bought a lot a couple years ago when I was making decorated sugar cookies for events :) They are fun.
Ooh me please! These are SO cute Ange, and very, very Canadian!! Love the quick adaptation for the 4th of July too. Looks like I need to go and buy some strawberries!
Oh my gosh – so cute!
I love the idea of having themed treats, but rarely make them myself. Yay for the upcoming holiday weekend for both of us!
Looks yummy! I totally made a recipe yesterday that looks like your second to last picture- but it is completely different- just looks the same with the blueberries and strawberries. Cute idea with the maple leaves!
i’ll help these look amazing I love local strawberries im headed to the farmers market later today to pick some up yum!!
I’m dying to make homemade graham crackers – I’ve been wanting to do a s’mores cookie forever now! Definitely using your recipe for them :)
Did you use tofutti for the spread? I love your maple leaf grahams, but I won’t be baking any of them because I made 600+ graham crackers last weekend. Never again!
No it wasn’t tofutti….another brand. I cant remember the name, but Ill see if I can locate the box in the recycling bin! It was trans fat free bought at loblaws.
Ok, I would be over in like 30 minutes to help demolish those treats. They look so fresh and delicious. Umm, I can almost taste the sun kissed strawberries.
Great idea! Or instead of a rectangle graham cracker, us Americans could use a star shaped cookie cutter!
great idea. I added that in!
I’ll help! They are absolutely adorable (I love that Maple Leaf cookie cutter). It also makes me want to make graham crackers from scratch for s’mores over the summer.
i love how easy AND festively canadian these are, angela!
i’ll be passing by on the 401 from waterloo to toronto later today – meet you at kelso in milton?!
haha sure thing!
Those look beautiful! I have maple extract sitting in the cupboard and was wondering what in the world to do with it, I may have found an answer! :)
I love your maple leaf cut out, how cute!
BEAUTIFUL recipe. Your pictures always look so amazing!!
thanks Katelyn!
Aww, those are ridiculously adorable! And I mean, hey, if you need volunteers to help you eat ’em…I’m your girl!
Oh Angela! These are so beautiful! That frosting looks absolutely creamy, I want to just stick a spoon in it and go to town! Great job! Happy Canada Day!
Oh, these are SO CUTE! I love the leaf-shaped cookie cutter!
My husband and I bought a million crazy cookie-cutter shapes for our Oscar Party last year (yes, we went a bit overboard with the theme party…) so now I want to use them to make these! Maybe I’ll find a cookie cutter shape appropriate for the July 4th weekend? Strawberries and blueberries would make it extra patriotic-looking over here! :D
MMMMMmmm these sound soo good!
I always forget about dairy free cream cheese! This is awesome!
These are so so pretty Angela!
These look great. I just wish there was a vegan cream cheese without soya. I know there are recipes for cashew cream cheese out there, but they just don’t taste very cream-cheesey to me.
These look great!! Super easy too. Strawberry Cheesecake treats are really popular this summer! I’m working on a recipe with strawberry cheesecake too. So great for using up those local strawberries!
Ooo these look delicious! Perfect for the 4th of July!
They could even fit for the First of August (Switzerland’s day)! :D I think we even have a cross-shaped cookie cutter… :P
haha that would be amazing.
I’ll help a sista out ;) …more like me eating and you wondering where they all went though
AWESOME. These will be in our house for our 4th of July celebration!! Can’t wait.
I would LOVE to help eat them! I love anything with cream cheese icing :D These look great – and I love how festive they are:)
HOW CUTE that you made the base into the leaves!! I do not know much about Canada day.. but I hope you enjoy all of the BBQs and good eats! I am sure your cheesecakes will be a hit!!
These make me want to be Canadian! I can’t make your recipes fast enough! :)
Angela, these are SO CUTE! I might just have to make these. I bet you could also macerate the strawberries in the maple syrup, for extra gooey Canadian goodness.
yes you certainly could! good thinkin
Definitely know what I am bringing to our Canada Day weekend get away! This is great!
I will help you! I work the evening of Canada Day though, so can you save me one? haha :D
ummm not promising anything! Maybe if I hide one in the very back of the freezer… ;)
Mmmmmm! Scrumptious looking!
These will be great for the 4th of July! I’m thinking….stars!
I’m sorry, after the words homemade graham cracker base, my brain just kind of went Charlie Brown teacher on me…”wah wah..wah waaaaah.” Must make these pronto!
Oh my goodness– the maple leaves are TOO cute!!! Love these!
Those look gorgeous, and even more delicious!
these look so simple but yet so yummy! i can’t wait to try these out. must get my hands on some fresh strawberries now.
These are really pretty cookies! Summery desserts are just my favorite. The addition of ripe berries makes any dessert ten fold better. I’m on a serious hunt for the perfect 4th of july cookie to make, I think I’m getting closer with these hah.
Oh girl I am so inspired now! These look beautiful and SO yummy!
Yum these look so good and I love love love the colors. I could just add some blueberries for the 4th of July :)
These look yummy! Can’t wait to make them this Friday!
Question not related to this post but related to food. I love the various recipes you post and have made quite a few. However, I have an allergy to tree nuts. Do you currently have or will you be posting at some point alternatives to the tree nuts you use in your recipes?
Thanks!
oh man that is a tough one. Are there any nuts you can eat?
Unfortunately, no. Just peanuts (and they’re a bean not a nut….). I tried using peanuts in the Cashew Cheese Sauce and the peanut flavor took over.
What about sunflower seeds?
I will give it a try. Thanks!
These sound so fantastic! Love the color combo, and that it could be adapted for the 4th of July.
amazing! i love this idea..so bright and colorful. one can never go wrong with fresh strawberries :)
You are the Canadian Martha Stewart!!! Seriously those cookie cutter cookies are so cute! When things look pretty I swear they taste better. I guess I’m going to have to start working on my presentation soon :)
Any idea of lower sugar subs to add in the cream cheese? Have you have cooked with xylitol?
Thanks Ange!
:)
Hmmm…no, I haven’t used that sweetener before. I did try maple syrup and I would not suggest anything liquid as it thinned out too much and was runny.
They look delicious!!
Yum!!! I Love cheesecake anything :)
Ohhh, how I long for those graham crackers!! And vanilla bean cream cheese frosting WITH strawberries. Winner! Can you bring these to my bday party this weekend? ;)
Oh, yum! I’ve got to make those graham crackers as I’ve seen you feature that recipe before and it looks so good. Such beautiful photos too! You definitely put me in the mood for strawberries.
Ooh, so creative and simple.
Beautiful pictures as usual!!
Wow these pictures are so bright and pretty, I cant wait to make this, im obsessed with graham crackers :)
So simple, and so perfect! What a great idea, Angela! I bet my cashew cream cheese would work really well with this!
Ahh these are so cute! I am so glad you posted these BEFORE Canada Day so that I can make them for my BBQ!
Yum!!!! Those look so delicious! And gorgeous, too! :D
I found organic maple syrup flakes at Sobeys a while ago and haven’t been able to find them since, but I bet they would add some nive Maple flavour to this recipe. They’re flaky and crunchy and they only ingredient is pure maple syrup, just dried. Sprinkle some of those on top, yum…
I want to help! I can’t get over how cute these are and your pics too. What a lovely idea for July 4th too.
I am stocked on Strawberries as well!
Hi Angela. Over here!!! I’ll help!!!! :) I’m in Vancouver so helping eat these would be the patriotic thing for me!! I can sing Oh Canada with my mouthful too! (silly me!) Have a good day!
Where did you find non-dairy cream cheese? what brand? I have never seen that here in Michigan…I’m also looking for non-dairy sour cream…lol
Yuck these look horrible!
So horrible in fact that you should just send them all over to me right now before anyone else eats them… :-)
Don’t you worry, I’ll dispose of them and not leave any evidence (… except in my belly..)
These are so cute & look so tasty! Can’t wait to make these :)
These look amazing! We’re having a Canada Day brunch and I think I’ve just switched my dessert to this!!
PS – I made your Weekend Glow Kale salad yesterday and I LOVED it!! One of my all-time favourite salads!!
omg……those look amazing!!!!!!
oOOo pick me pick me! I will!! This looks so simple yet delicious!!! I think I’ll make these for 4th of July!! haha so timely~
I love how you made the base a maple leaf! That is such an awesome idea. You are so creative!
I love that you posted a 4th of July themed recipe and you’re Canadian. Way to think ahead for holidays that aren’t even your own! :)
The vanilla bean cheesecake frosting layer–Just that bowl of frosting you have. I wouldnt need anything else. Ever. It looks soooo good!
And I love the homemade graham crackers! I adore graham crackers and in the past couple weeks, have made two desserts using graham cracker crumbs. Your maple leafs are awesome and bring back the Canada in this dessert :)
Yum! These look fabulous!
Did you use your recipe for peanut butter graham crackers or normal graham crackers? also how much cream cheese did you use?
I love the little canadian flags! So cute!
Wow! These look awesome! :)
So adorable! I love these.
So adorable! I love these.
These are absolutely gorgeous. I just want to devour them right now.
These look so fun and delicious, great pics!
Cool idea! Though, on Canada Day we’re usually get so stuffed that there’s no room for dessert. I make similar light “cheesecakes” with fresh fruit and crushed biscuits, layered in pretty martini glasses. A good way to lighten up the cheese part is to use 1/2 of light cream cheese and 1/2 of 0% Greek youghurt. Works like a charm.
Loved that you used graham crackers for this!!! I love them!
Oh my gosh, these look so cute, delicious and customizable! I can’t wait to make these. :-)
Wow! Those look so good (and easy). We have 4th of July coming up and I think these would be perfect with some strawberries and blueberries for our party! Thanks!
Brooke Annessa
www.theannessafamily.blogspot.com
So creative and still simple…and, with the blueberries and strawberries, they definitely work for the 4th of July!! Thanks :)
Me me me, pick me! haha. Those are adorable, and I bet they’re crazy good too
Fab idea!!! Colorful festive and perfect for an easy elegant dish for a gathering! Thanks! :)
Those look amazing. I’m dying for a snack right now. I think I’ll go get my graham crackers, put some creme cheese on them and add some fresh blueberries and that will be a great snack. Not as fancy and pretty as yours, but it will do for right now. Those would be great for 4th of July with Blueberries and Strawberries.
Very cute. I love the Canada pride :-)
Such a wonderful and simple recipe! Love it!
Happy Canada Day Angela. I would love to come by for some cookie. The maple leaf cutters are a lovely touch.
xo
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I wish I was married to you. DELISH!
Tooooo cute! As I was scrolling through I thought to myself “too bad I’m not Canadian…” and there you go with the 4th of July friendly bites! You are totally invited to South Carolina for the 4th. Just prepare for extreme humidity and temperatures close to 100F! As always, your photography is absolutely stunning!
Holy hell I will help you eat this!!!
They look delicious! Bookmarked!
Just found your site tonight…so inspired by your recipes! I read your before and after, and thought I was reading my own story. :) I’m a little older though…39. I yo-yoed and was obsessed by the scale for years. A bad case of food poisoning turned me back on being a vegetarian. Six months later I was dealing with serious sinus issues. I went vegan over 2 years ago, and have never felt better. I haven’t had any sinus issues, and feel so much better. I joined the gym 1 1/2 years ago, and threw out the scale too. I am stronger, healthier, and emotionally so much better. Looking forward to following you and trying some recipes!
Thanks Julie :)
You have such flair lady! Great idea and so patriotic. Reminds of the Canada Day I spent with an ex (ex boyfriend not ex Canadian ;) ). We were living together in London at the time and I think all of the Canadian ex-pats in London were crammed together in one 20m x 10m cobbled stone street outside “The Maple Leaf” pub…I know, so original right? ;). Was the best fun and an ongoing sea of red and white. My red hair fit right in :)
Hahaha, how many smiley faces could I possible use in a short comment??!! I’m seriously holding myself back from using another one right here right now…argh…I must be addicted…oh ok, go’ on then….;)
Bahahahahaha!
such a cute party addition, easy and yummy, I like it!! :)
That’s so patriotic of you. They look amazing too!
I will most certainly be trying these bad boys!!! Wow! That is all I can say..WOW!
This post is going to have me thinking all day what healthy treat I can make for…America Day on Monday.
Hi!
Maybe this is a silly question, but I’m used to seeing cream cheese in the box packages… How many pkgs would one tub equal? :)
the tub is 230 grams :)
Oh goodness – these look soo delicious!!
So cute. I must get me one of those Canadian flag cookie cutters!
Oh don’t those look fabulous! They’re like something out of a magazine (although a magazine would tell me to use cool whip for some terrible reason)! Yummy!
If you wanted the maple kick, you could replace the white sugar with Maple Sugar, which is just syrup boiled down until it reaches its granulated form. It’s a bit on the pricey side ($13-15 American per pound), but ohhhh is it a wonderful ingredient.
I just made these the other day. Delish! I love the graham cracker, I will definately be making those again. The frosting is dangerous though, I could eat the whole bowl:) Thanks for another good one.
I just made these- they were so easy to make, and really good!!!
These look fantastic! I look forward to trying this recipe for the Fourth of July. For y’all north of the border (U.S.A.-centrically speaking, of course! ;-D ), do you think that using maple sugar for sprinkling would work and give the effect that you want?
Wow, these look so delicious, wish we would’ve come across this a few weeks ago, but we’ll still have to try them, perhaps for the August Long Weekend…thanks!
I love recipes with fresh fruit!
These look appetizing and scrumptious and tantalizing and delicious!!:D
“1 tub non-dairy cream cheese”
That’s hardly an accurate measurement for publishing a recipe!!
How many grams are in a “tub”??
Sorry about that – it’s an 8 ounce tub. I’ve updated the recipe.
These cheesecake bites are very cute and look tasty. I haven’t tried to make them yet but I would definitely like to try them.
However, I do wish that you post at least one vegan recipe of traditional cheesecake. While I would not hesitate to try these tasty-looking treats, I also serve to people who are not so open to trying anything that is out of the ordinary for them. That is why I would like to gather some good vegan recipes of several common desserts. I hope to see more of those recipes on this website, since I am very pleased with the recipes I have tried so far.