This No-Bake Cheesecake in a Jar Is the Lazy-Girl Dessert of Your Dreams

A cheesecake is wonderful until you try to bake one yourself and realize that it's not the easiest thing to get right (there's the terrifying water bath, the constant threat of cracking cream cheese, the hours of chilling after it's done baking). 

Thankfully, this no-bake cheesecake in a jar is here to save you from all that trouble. It's perfect for portion control (if you manage to only eat the one jar), and it's delicious, of course. 

Here's how you make it: Crumble crackers (you're going to need about six)  going about a ½​ inch up from the bottom. In the bowl of an electric mixture, beat 1 pound of cream cheese until smooth. Add 1 cup powdered sugar and beat until combined. Mix in the zest and juice of ½​ a lemon, and ½​ teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

In a separate bowl, whisk ⅔ cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Stir ¼​ of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the rest. 

Fill jars. Place strawberries on top. Brush with warmed strawberry jam. Chill for about 6 hours, until set.

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