Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum

May 18, 2020
Love spring and summer's fresh strawberries?  They're even better enjoyed in this dreamy, creamy Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum!  A layer of fresh berries sandwiched between two thick fluffy layers of deliciousness makes for one very tasty dessert, indeed.  As an added bonus, this Southern classic dessert is no-bake, too.
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Slice of Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

There's not much I love more than fresh spring strawberries, picked straight from the field.

We're fortunate to live within a couple miles of three strawberry farms, and I just can't wait each year until they open with their beautiful, bountiful crop of newly-ripe juicy berries.  We're always there on opening day or shortly after to grab a flat or two. -- And we gobble most of them up just as they are, with just a quick rinse and not even bothering to cut off their little leaf caps.

Though I do try to save some of the juicy beauties from our gobbling so there's enough to make a wonderfully delicious fresh strawberry treat -- like Southern Strawberry-Coconut Punch Bowl CakeFresh Strawberry Bread, or our very favorite Scrumptious Strawberry Cobbler.

A layer of fresh berries sandwiched between two thick fluffy layers of deliciousness makes for one very tasty dessert, indeed.

This season, as soon as we got home with our opening-day flat, I set aside enough berries safe from our straight-from-the-field gobbling to make a pan of this Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum.  With its layer of fresh strawberries sandwiched between two thick fluffy layers of deliciousness, it's one of our absolute favorite desserts.

I'm not sure where Yum Yum dessert originated, or how its name came to be.  But Yum Yums are a very popular Southern dessert, ranging in all sorts of flavors -- from Cherry Yum Yum to ever-classic Blueberry Yum Yum, and even summery Peach Yum Yum.

Strawberry is a very popular flavor, as well.  It's typically made with canned strawberry pie filling, like in our classic No-Bake Strawberry Yum Yum recipe.  But in this strawberry version, the recipe forgoes the usual canned filling and takes advantage of the fabulous flavor of fresh strawberries instead.   

Pan of Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

To whip up a pan of this no-bake deliciousness, start by making the strawberry filling.

Place about 5 or 6 cups of sliced strawberries in a saucepan.  Sprinkle the berries with dry strawberry Jell-o powder and stir the mixture gently to evenly coat the berries. 

Sugar-free strawberry Jell-o works just fine, too, if you'd prefer that over the regular.


How to Make Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Filling Image

Then heat the coated berries over medium-low heat just until the Jell-o powder is dissolved. 
Remove the berry filling from the heat and set it aside to cool while you prepare the Yum Yum crust and creamy-layers mixture.

Filling for Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

Once the strawberry filling is prepared and cooling, make the Yum Yum's graham cracker crust.

Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a bowl and blend them together with a fork until the crumbs are moistened.

Set aside 3 tablespoons of crumbs to sprinkle on the top of the finished dessert.  Press the rest of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan that's been coated with non-stick cooking spray.

Making Graham Cracker Crust for Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

Then mix together the Yum Yum's characteristic creamy-layers mixture.

Cream together softened cream cheese, some confectioners' sugar, and a little vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.  Then in a separate bowl, whip up some homemade whipped cream.  

Mix together the whipped cream and cream cheese mixture until it's all well combined.

Mixture for Creamy Layers in Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

Spread a little less than half the cream cheese/whipped cream mixture evenly over the graham cracker crust.

Then gently spoon and spread the cooled strawberry filling evenly over the cream cheese layer.

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

Top the strawberry layer with the remaining cream cheese/whipped cream mixture. Gently spread it evenly over the strawberry layer, covering it completely.

Sprinkle the top with the 3 tablespoons reserved graham cracker crumbs.  Then cover and refrigerate the finished Yum Yum for several hours or overnight before serving.

Layers in Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

With chilling, the Yum Yum layers set up a bit and the flavors meld together beautifully. 

The Jell-o powder coating the strawberries adds sweetness to the filling, and helps the strawberries gel into a nicely set, clean-cutting layer of berries in the middle of the dessert.

Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum Image

And it's a dessert you won't be able to wait to dig into, for sure.

So if you love spring and summer's fresh strawberries like we do, give them a try in this dreamy, creamy Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum.  

With its layer of fresh berries sandwiched between two thick fluffy layers of deliciousness, it's one very tasty dessert, indeed.  And a true no-bake Southern classic.

Strawberry Yum Yum Made with Fresh Strawberries Image
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fresh strawberry yum yum recipe, strawberry yum yum recipe, desserts with fresh strawberries, no bake dessert, yum yum dessert
Desserts
Southern
Yield: about 12 servings

Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum

Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum

Love spring and summer's fresh strawberries? They're even better enjoyed in this dreamy, creamy Fresh Strawberry Yum Yum! A layer of fresh berries sandwiched between two thick fluffy layers of deliciousness makes for one very tasty dessert, indeed. As an added bonus, this Southern classic is no-bake, too.
Prep time: 30 MCook time: 5 MTotal time: 35 M

Ingredients:

Crust:
Strawberry Filling:
Cream Cheese Mixture:
  • 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 c. confectioners' sugar
  • 4 c. whipping cream
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
  • 6 T. granulated sugar

Instructions:

Prepare the Strawberry Filling:
  1. Place sliced strawberries in a saucepan and sprinkle with dry Jell-o powder; stir gently to evenly coat berries. 
  2. Heat over medium-low heat just until Jell-o is dissolved. 
  3. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Prepare the Crust:
  1. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Blend with a fork until crumbs are moistened.
  2. Set aside 3 tablespoons of crumbs to sprinkle on the top.
  3. Press crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan that's been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture:
  1. With an electric mixer, cream together softened cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
  2. In a separate bowl, whip the whipping cream, granulated sugar, and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
  3. By hand, mix together whipped cream and cream cheese mixture until well combined.
Assemble the Yum Yum Layers:
  1. Spread a little less than half the cream cheese/whipped cream mixture evenly over the crust.
  2. Gently spoon and spread cooled strawberry filling evenly over the cream cheese layer.
  3. Top strawberry layer with the remaining cream cheese/whipped cream mixture. Gently spread it evenly over the strawberry layer, covering it completely.
  4. Sprinkle the top with the 3 tablespoons reserved graham cracker crumbs.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. 2 (16 oz.) packages of strawberries will yield the about 5 to 6 cups sliced berries needed in this recipe.
  2. Sugar-free strawberry Jell-o works just fine, if you'd prefer.
  3. You can substitute 16 ounces of Cool Whip non-dairy whipped topping for the homemade whipped cream in the cream cheese mixture if you'd like.
  4. You can easily halve this recipe and prepare it in an 8x8-inch pan.
Created using The Recipes Generator

You might also like these other tasty fresh strawberry recipes:


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This post is linked with Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday.

21 comments

  1. Thanks for sharing your dessert with us at The Blogger's Pit Stop!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yum, this looks delicious. Pinning for later I cannot wait to make it.
    Have a great day,
    Kippi

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yum! Yum!! Pinned! Thanks for sharing this at the What's for Dinner party! Glad you're part of the fun.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This looks fantastic! I would love to make it but our fresh berries aren't ready yet. Would it be possible to use frozen berries?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Carrie! Yes, you can use frozen berries in this Yum Yum recipe. I would thaw them, drain off at least some of the juice, and then prepare the strawberry filling with the Jell-o powder, as directed in the recipe. It should work just fine. (And please let us know how it goes if you try it.) Enjoy!!

      Delete
  5. This is so good. I can't even tell you how I ate my way through making this delicious thing here. We just loved it and enjoyed it very much, and will make it many more times before the berry summer is out. This is a recipe that you can use for any reason, and I will. Thank you for this delight

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    Replies
    1. Oh, you just made my day, Donna! Thank you so much for stopping back by to let us know your experience with this recipe ... and we're so glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  6. If you halve the recipe would you use one half the Jello, or could it all be used?

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    Replies
    1. It would be best to use half the Jello. Let us know how it turns out.

      Delete
  7. Made this fresh strawberry yum yum and was delicious. Nice and light dessert. So easy to make. Thank you for the recipe.

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  8. Hello - I used lite Cool Whip with the cream cheese and a spoonful of vanilla greek yogurt (as I didn't quite have a full Cool Whip). It turned out perfectly. I did not add the sugar called for in the whipped cream part as Cool Whip is sweet already.) Thanks for a great recipe!

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  9. I'll say yum yum!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Hope you have a great week and are staying warm.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with us on Full Plate Thursday,534. We featured your post and just pinned it!
    Hope you come back soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  11. About to take mine to a cook out. It tasted yummy making it

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  12. Help!! My cooled strawberry mixture is really runny. Did I not heat it enough? Could I put it back on the burner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you followed these steps I am not sure why the mix was runny:
      1 Place sliced strawberries in a saucepan and sprinkle with dry Jell-o powder; stir gently to evenly coat berries.
      2 Heat over medium-low heat just until Jell-o is dissolved.

      The Jell-o should have kept the mixture from being runny.

      Delete
  13. So I made this tonight and I know it’s going to be spectacular! I made it in a 9 x 13 dish and I used crushed pretzels rather the graham crumbs for a slightly salty delight. However, I found that there was no where near enough of the cream cheese /whipped topping mixture and I followed the instructions precisely. I happened to have leftover cool whip so I simply put a nice layer on top to finish it out and then I sprinkled the crushed pretzels on top. I can’t wait to taste it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. To half the recipe, would I just use half a 3 of the 3 oz package of the jello?

    ReplyDelete

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