Strawberry Lush

Say hello to your new favorite summer treat: Strawberry Lush! This nearly no-bake dessert features a crunchy cookie crust topped with layers of sweet vanilla pudding, creamy whipped topping, and fresh, juicy strawberries. A delicious combination that’s one of our summertime favorites!

Have you ever tried lush? It’s a delicious almost no-bake dessert that’s absolutely perfect for summer. It’s rich and creamy, with a crunchy crust, and can be made in any flavor under the sun. From Cherry Cheesecake Lush to Caramel Apple Lush to Pistachio Lush… one is better than the next! And this Strawberry Lush is one of the BEST.

It starts with a nutty crust topped with no-bake cheesecake, vanilla pudding, and fresh strawberries. It’s one of those desserts everyone goes CRAZY for at a picnic or pot luck, and one of those recipes you’ll make so often… you’ll know it by heart.

Best of all, it’s super versatile and easy to switch up when you want to have some extra fun with it. We love adding extra fruit, or a drizzle of hot fudge, or crushed nuts on top. We also love switching up the pudding flavor and using graham crackers or Oreos for the crust.

The truth is that no matter how you make it… you’re going to LOVE IT! And everyone is going to love you for it.

what you’ll need for this recipe

• Vanilla wafers – I used 1 cup vanilla wafers, crushed. Feel free to substitute graham crackers if you prefer.
• Butter – I added 1/2 cup melted butter (I used salted.)
• Nuts – I also added 1 cup finely chopped nuts for extra flavor and crunch. You can use walnuts, pecans, almonds, or any nuts you like.
• Cream cheese – I used 8 ounces softened full fat cream cheese for the no-bake cheesecake layer.
• Powdered sugar – I added 1 cup powdered sugar to the cream cheese.
• Cool Whip – I used 16 ounces of Cool Whip, which is about 6 cups. Use my Homemade Cool Whip if you want to avoid store bought.
• Milk – I used 3 cups milk for the pudding. I used 2%, but any variety will work.
• Pudding mix – I used 2 packages (3.4 ounces each) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix. Use any flavor you’d like for a fun twist!
• Strawberries – I used 1 quart of fresh sliced strawberries. Feel free to use diced strawberries if you prefer smaller pieces.

how to make strawberry lush

Make the crust. Combine crushed vanilla wafers, melted butter, and chopped nuts in a large bowl. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan; bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Set aside until cooled to room temperature.

Make the cheesecake layer. In a separate mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip. Spread onto cooled crust.

Make the pudding. Combine milk and vanilla pudding mix; whisk by hand or using a hand mixer until thickened. Spread pudding onto cream cheese layer.

Add the strawberries & layer. Layer sliced strawberries on top of pudding mixture, reserving some strawberries for top layer. Top with remaining Cool Whip and strawberries. Transfer to the fridge to chill.

More Strawberry Desserts You’ll Love

If you love all things strawberry, be sure to check out some of our other favorites desserts!

• Strawberry Pie
• Strawberry Colada Kabobs
• Strawberries Romanoff
• Chocolate Mousse Stuffed Strawberries
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Galette
• Strawberry-Basil Shortcake
• Strawberry Shortcake Muddy Buddies
• Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake Bites

Strawberry Lush

This Strawberries & Cream Lush Dessert combines a crunchy cookie crust with vanilla pudding, whipped topping, and fresh strawberries for a delicious summer treat that’s guaranteed to become a favorite!

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 346kcal

Author: Cathy Trochelman

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla wafers crushed
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1 cup finely chopped nuts
• 8 ounce package cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 16 ounce container Cool Whip
• 3 cups milk
• 2 packages instant vanilla pudding 3.4 ounces each
• 1 quart strawberries sliced

Instructions

For crust:

1. Combine crushed vanilla wafers, melted butter, and chopped nuts in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan; bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip.
4. Layer mixture on cooled crust.
5. Combine milk and vanilla pudding, mixing until pudding forms.
6. Spread mixture onto cream cheese layer.
7. Layer sliced strawberries on top of pudding mixture, reserving some strawberries for top layer.
8. Top with remaining Cool Whip and strawberries.

Notes

Recipe Variations

• Make a graham cracker crust using graham cracker crumbs or an Oreo crust using Golden Oreos
• Make a chocolate crust using regular Oreos
• Substitute cheesecake pudding mix to make it Strawberry Cheesecake Lush
• Use real whipped cream in place of Cool Whip OR substitute my Homemade Cool Whip recipe!
• Add a splash of real vanilla extract to the pudding or whipped topping
• Add fresh blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
• Add fresh sliced bananas

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 182mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g