These delicious, lighter Cream Cheese Deviled Strawberries are filled with a creamy strawberry cheesecake filling, topped with gluten-free graham cracker bits and toasted almonds. Inspired by a viral TikTok recipe, they’re perfect for bridal showers, Valentine’s Day, or Mother’s Day and offer a lighter, delicious treat during peak strawberry season.
INGREDIENTS
- 12 ripe strawberries
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup powdered cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup graham cracker bits
DIRECTIONS
- Premake the Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Bits (You can also use storebought graham crackers).
- Wash and thoroughly dry the strawberries. Carefully use a small paring knife, small melon baller, or small spoon to scoop out a small amount of the center flesh from each strawberry, creating a hollow cavity. Be careful not to cut through the bottom. Use a paper towel to dab out the excess water in the middle of the strawberry.
- Toast the sliced almonds (optional). Bring a non-stick frying pan to medium-high heat. Melt one teaspoon of butter and add in 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. Sprinkle with several pinches of salt. Once they begin to toast, continuously stir them until they're lightly golden. Remove them from the heat immediately because they can burn quickly. Spread on a paper-towel-lined plate and allow to cool.
- In a medium bowl, beat the room-temperature cream cheese, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and pinches of salt until smooth with a hand mixer or the whisk attachment on an immersion blender. Gradually add the powdered cane sugar through a sieve and beat until light and fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream and vanilla extract into the cream cheese mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Place a graham cracker bit in the center of each strawberry.
- Using a piping bag fitted with a small star tip (or a zip-lock bag with a corner snipped off), pipe the creamy filling on top. If you don't have a piping bag, you can also spoon the filling in.
- Sprinkle the tops of the deviled strawberries with toasted sliced almonds. For an extra pop of color and freshness, garnish with a small mint leaf (optional).
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
