How to Make Strawberry Dessert Cups - Easy, No-Bake, and Delicious

Are you looking for a dessert that balances fruit freshness, creamy layers, and crunchy textures?

These strawberry dessert cups (also known as shots or mini shooters) have it all, homemade strawberry curd, creamy cheesecake filling, and crisp cookie layers. Perfect for birthdays, weddings, dessert tables, or adding something special to your menu.

And the best part? No baking required and just a few ingredients needed!

What Are Dessert Cups, desserts Shots or Mini Shooters?

These mini dessert shooters are incredibly popular because they're affordable, easy to make, and visually stunning. This strawberry variation combines the smooth richness of cheesecake, the fruity zing of strawberry curd and crunchy cookie layers that you can customize to your taste.

Best of all, you can serve them in disposable, acrylic, or shot glasses and personalize them for parties, family gatherings, or even as a product for your business.

If you enjoy easy no-bake mini dessert recipes, don't miss my dulce de leche dessert shots and Oreo shooters, two of the most popular mini desserts on the blog.

Thinking about starting your own dessert business? Or maybe you already have one? These strawberry dessert cups are a must-have on your menu. They're affordable to make, yield plenty of servings, and not only look absolutely irresistible but taste even better. Truly a winning dessert your customers will fall in love with!

Now, let's jump into the recipe!

Ingredients:

For the crust / Cookie layers

230g Oreo Golden Sandwich Cookies crushed

For the strawberry filling

1 strawberry curd recipe

The tangy strawberry curd paired with the creamy cheesecake filling is a true flavor explosion. Follow each step to make your strawberry dessert cups turn out perfect.

For the cream cheese whipped cream

226g cream cheese (cold)

480g whipping cream (heavy cream) - cold

60g powdered sugar / icing sugar

1 tsp clear vanilla

Decoration and Assembly

6-7 fresh strawberries

12-14 - 3.7-ounce shot glasses

tip or nozzle 1M

piping bags

1 edible gold leaf

For easy access, you'll find a printable strawberry dessert shots recipe card at the end of this post, perfect to save or use while baking.

Watch here how to make this strawberry dessert cup recipe step by step, quick, easy, and delicious. Press play and follow along with me!

Enjoyed this recipe? Subscribe to Cravings by Xio on YouTube for more irresistible dessert ideas.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For the crust / Cookie layers

In a processor or blender, crushed the cookies (with the filling)

For the strawberry filling

For the strawberry filling, follow my strawberry curd recipe, it’s simple, delicious, and perfect for these dessert cups.

For the cream cheese whipped cream

The bowl and mixer beaters must be super cold before using. So, I recommend putting them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before using.

Once the bowl and beaters are nicely chilled, add the cream cheese and beat until it's smooth without lumps, but be careful not to overbeat the cream cheese, as it will lose its consistency.

Then, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and beat to incorporate a bit. Use a spatula to make sure you clean the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Beat the cream at low to medium speed until it forms peaks, but be careful not to overbeat, as it can curdle or become grainy. The whipped cream will have small peaks when it's done.

Assembly and shots decoration

To each shot add an approximate of 1 tbsp of crushed biscuit for each layer. I added 2 layers of crushed biscuit per shot.

The amount of the layers will depend on how you want the shot to look. For reference, I added a layer of biscuit, a layer of cream cheese whipped cream, strawberry curd and so on.

Finally, decorate them with the same cream cheese using a pastry bag and Wilton 1M tip.

Place halved strawberries and edible gold leaves as decoration.

Decoration Tips for Strawberry Dessert Cups

If you're topping your strawberry dessert cups with fresh strawberries, make sure to pat them completely dry with a paper towel. This simple step prevents excess moisture from ruining the look of your dessert.

To give your strawberries a glossy finish and keep them fresh longer, you can brush them with a light jam glaze.

Here's how:

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of apricot jam (or strawberry jam, if you prefer) with 1–2 teaspoons of water.

Microwave for 20–30 seconds and stir until smooth.

Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove lumps.

Brush the strawberries with this glaze for a shiny, professional finish that makes your dessert cups look picture-perfect.

Storage and Make ahead Instructions

Keep the desserts shots or desserts cups refrigerated until serving or setting up a dessert table.

They'll stay fresh for up to 3 days when well covered.

Do not freeze, as the texture of the cream changes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I prepare them a day ahead of the event?

Of course! They taste even better, as the layers settle. I recommend making them at least one day in advance.

How many dessert cups or dessert shots does this recipe yield?

Approximately 12 servings of 4 oz each.

Looking for more mini dessert ideas? 

Watch all my videos on my YouTube channel Cravings by Xio and follow me on social media @CravingsbyXio so you never miss a recipe.

Remember to check the bottom of the post for the printable strawberry dessert shots recipe card, perfect to save in your recipe collection.