From WOOD COUNTY COMMITTEE ON AGING, INC.
The Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. (WCCOA) congratulates Sue from Wood Haven Health Care for winning the Dessert for Dinner event that was held on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Wood County Senior Center. Attendees enjoyed 10 different desserts, a DJ, and dancing. Everyone had a chance to vote on their favorite dessert. The winning dessert Sue made was “Strawberry Lush,” a no-bake treat. She shares the recipe below:
Ingredients
Crust and Topping:
- 48 golden Oreo cookies – ground whole with the filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter – melted
- 1 oz. freeze-dried strawberries – coarsely crushed
Strawberry Jell-O filling:
- 32 oz. fresh strawberries – sliced
- One 3 oz. pack of strawberry flavored gelatin
Whipped cream:
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream cheese filling:
- 12 oz. cream cheese – room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter – room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
First, make the strawberry filling:
- In a large saucepan, place sliced strawberries, sprinkle with dry strawberry Jell-O powder, and stir gently with a rubber spatula to evenly coat the berries.
- Heat over medium-low heat for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring gently with the spatula.
- Heat until the gelatin completely dissolves in strawberry juice.
- Do not cook them too long or it will become mushy.
- Set aside to cool.
Then, make the crust:
- Place the whole Oreo cookies with the filling in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs.
- Stir in the melted butter, until all crumbs are evenly moistened.
- Reserve 1/4 of the mixture for topping, and the remaining mixture press in the bottom of a 9″ X 13″ dish.
- Place in the fridge or freezer.
Then, make the filling:
- Mix cold heavy whipping cream with one teaspoon of vanilla until soft peaks form.
- Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar and continue mixing, until stiff peaks form.
- Set aside.
- This will make about 6 – 6.5 cups of whipped cream.
- People can substitute whipped cream with refrigerated Cool Whip, if desired.
To make the dessert:
- In a large bowl, cream softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Mix in powdered sugar. Fold in prepared whipped cream.
- Spread half of the cream-cheese whipped cream mixture over Oreo crust. Place in freezer for 10 minutes.
- Spoon strawberry filling over the cream cheese layer, smooth the top, and place in freezer for 10 – 15 minutes, or until the Jell-O has set.
- Spread remaining cream cheese filling over the strawberry layer. Smooth the top and refrigerate for 4 hours or preferably overnight.
To make the strawberry crunch topping:
- Stir reserved Oreo crumbs with coarsely crushed freeze-dried strawberries.
- Sprinkle on top.
The dessert should be served cold from the fridge. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 – 6 days.
