Red, White & Blue Berry Cheesecake Jars

A free one-off for the 4th of July 🇺🇸 — no oven, no fuss, and it looks the part on any holiday table. Layers of buttery biscuit crumb, a light no-bake cheesecake filling, and a generous pile of strawberries and blueberries on top. Twenty minutes of actual work, then the fridge does the rest.

Ingredients

For the base

• 200g digestive biscuits or graham crackers, crushed to fine crumbs
• 85g unsalted butter, melted

For the filling

• 400g full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 75g icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 250ml double cream (heavy cream), cold

For the top

• 200g strawberries, hulled and halved or sliced
• 150g blueberries
• A few small mint leaves, optional

Method

1. Make the base

Mix the crushed biscuits with the melted butter until it looks like wet sand. Divide between 6 small jars or glasses, pressing down gently with the back of a spoon to make an even layer. Pop them in the fridge while you make the filling.

2. Make the filling

Beat the softened cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla together until smooth and no lumps remain. In a separate bowl, whip the cold double cream to soft peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture in two batches, gently, until just combined — don't overmix or you'll knock the air back out.

3. Fill the jars

Spoon or pipe the filling on top of the biscuit base in each jar, filling to about three-quarters full. Smooth the tops with the back of a spoon.

4. Chill

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, ideally 4, so the filling firms up properly before serving.

5. Top and serve

Just before serving, arrange strawberries and blueberries on top of each jar — a simple stripe of each colour looks the most festive, but a scattered mix works just as well. Add a small mint leaf if you like. Serve chilled.

Notes

• Make the jars up to a day ahead, but add the fresh berries just before serving so they stay bright and don't bleed into the cream.
• No jars? This works just as well layered in a trifle bowl or a 20cm dish — same method, same chill time.
• Swap in raspberries or cherries if that's what you've got — the red, white and blue effect is the point, not a strict ingredient list.