Description
This No-Bake Cheesecake Flag Cake is a patriotic dessert perfect for celebrations. It features a chocolate-graham cracker crust topped with a fluffy cream cheese and mascarpone filling, decorated beautifully with fresh strawberries and blueberries arranged to resemble the American flag. With no baking required, it’s easy to prepare and impresses with its vibrant and festive presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust
- 1 ½ cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling
- 1 cup cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- â…“ cup white sugar
- 1 ¼ cups cold heavy whipping cream
Topping
- 20 large fresh strawberries, hulled and halved lengthwise
- 24 large fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Prepare Crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, cocoa powder, and melted butter in a bowl until the mixture is crumbly and well blended.
- Set Crust: Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×11-inch baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to set.
- Make Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, mix cream cheese and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Whip Cream: In a separate bowl, whisk 1/3 cup sugar into cold heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture until the filling is soft and fluffy.
- Assemble Cheesecake: Spoon the filling over the chilled crust, spreading evenly. Tap the pan gently to settle the layers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until set.
- Arrange Strawberries: Starting at the bottom long edge, place strawberry halves with pointed ends to the right in a horizontal line. Add additional stripes of strawberries, leaving a square space in the upper left corner.
- Complete Strawberry Stripes: Create more horizontal strawberry stripes, ensuring there is a clear square space at the top left for blueberries.
- Add Blueberries: Fill the reserved square space with blueberries placed closely together with the blossom ends facing up to replicate the flag’s blue field.
- Serve: Cut the cheesecake into squares and serve chilled.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese and mascarpone for smooth mixing.
- Ensure the heavy cream is cold before whipping for best results.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture to maintain fluffiness.
- Decorate immediately before serving to maintain fresh fruit appearance.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly to maintain freshness.
