Fourth of July Blueberry Cheesecake

This patriotic dessert skips the oven entirely. Cream cheese and whipped topping create a fluffy, mousse-like filling that firms up in the fridge while you work on the rest of your cookout menu. Star cookie cutters pressed lightly into the top create perfect outlines that fill with red jam, and blueberries line the edges for all three flag colors.

Pro Tips

• Press crust firmly: Use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack the graham cracker mixture into an even, solid layer. Loose crumbs make the cheesecake hard to slice.
• Overnight chilling is best: Two hours is the minimum, but overnight makes the filling slice cleaner and taste creamier.
• Warm the jam: Heat strawberry jam in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds so it pours easily into the star shapes without tearing the cheesecake surface.

Variations

• Use raspberry jam instead of strawberry for deeper red color
• Add 1 tsp vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture for extra flavor
• Make individual servings in mason jars with layers of crust, filling, jam, and berries