Strawberry Cheese Pie

This dreamy pie is filled with a cream cheese mixture sweetened with confectioners ' sugar, flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, and studded with chopped almonds. After whipped cream is folded into the mixture, it 's all spooned into a baked, homemade pie crust. The pie is chilled, decorated with fresh strawberries and brushed with a currant-jelly glaze.

• Calories: 421 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons shortening
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• ¼ cup chopped almonds
• 4 cups fresh strawberries, halved
• ¼ cup currant jelly

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening and butter until all the flour is blended to form pea-sized crumbs. Sprinkle with water one tablespoon at a time. Toss lightly with a fork until dough forms a ball. Chill dough 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 2

Roll dough between two sheets of wax paper into an 11 inch circle. Remove top sheet of wax paper and lay into 9 inch pie pan. Prick bottom and sides of pie shell thoroughly to prevent shrinkage.

Step 3

Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool to room temperature.

Step 4

Combine cream cheese and confectioner 's sugar in medium bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts. Fold in whipped cream and almonds by hand until well mixed. Pour into cooled crust. Refrigerate until firm.

Step 5

Decorate pie with strawberries fully or just around the edge. Heat jelly in microwave oven just until soft and brush carefully over strawberries until glazed. Refrigerate until serving.