Easter Swirl Pie

Easter Swirl Pie 🐣🌸🥧 is a delightful dessert to celebrate the spring season, with a beautiful swirl of colors and flavors. Here’s the full recipe to make it:

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 2 ½ cups (250 g) graham cracker crumbs (or vanilla cookie crumbs)
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter (melted)
• 2 tbsp sugar

For the Filling:

• 1 package (8 oz or 226 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (14 oz or 400 g) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 3 tbsp powdered sugar
• Food coloring (yellow, pink, blue, etc. – for a pastel swirl effect)

Instructions:

1. Make the Crust:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs (or vanilla cookie crumbs), melted butter, and sugar together. Stir until well combined and the mixture is moist.
3. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish, forming an even layer along the bottom and up the sides. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to compact the crust.
4. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Once baked, remove the crust from the oven and let it cool completely while you prepare the filling.

2. Prepare the Filling:

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Beat on medium speed until smooth and combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar until stiff peaks form (you can use an electric mixer or stand mixer for this).
4. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until combined. Be careful not to deflate the whipped cream too much.

3. Add the Swirl:

1. Divide the cream mixture evenly into separate bowls (as many bowls as you have colors for swirling).
2. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl, one color per bowl. Mix each until the colors are evenly distributed.

4. Assemble the Pie:

1. Spoon the colored mixtures into the cooled graham cracker crust, alternating colors in different areas of the pie.
2. Use a knife or a skewer to swirl the colors together, creating a beautiful marbled or swirl effect.

5. Chill the Pie:

1. Cover the pie with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the filling to set and the flavors to meld together.

6. Serve and Enjoy:

1. Once chilled and set, slice and serve your Easter Swirl Pie! Garnish with extra whipped cream, edible flowers, or pastel sprinkles for an extra festive touch.

Optional Tips:

• Crust Variation: If you don’t want to bake the crust, you can make a no-bake version by pressing the crumb mixture into the pie dish and chilling it for an hour before adding the filling.
• Flavor Twist: Add a touch of lemon zest to the cream cheese mixture for a fresh, citrusy burst.
• Decorative Garnish: Consider topping the pie with small chocolate eggs, coconut flakes, or a sprinkle of pastel-colored sugar for extra Easter flair!

This pie is sure to be a beautiful and tasty addition to your Easter celebrations! 🐣