Canada Day Treat: Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

If there's one thing aside from being a mother that I am tremendously proud of is the wonderful country that I live in, Canada.

This coming Sunday, Canada celebrates it's big Birthday with a bang! Literally!

Every Canada's Day, we have a big family BBQ, complete with delicious Canada Day themed treats, dressed in our Canada Day gear waving our flags and at the end of the day we make sure to catch the light show in the sky.

I always like to be creative when celebrating Canada Day in my home and usually will go to the food or dessert to allow my visionary juices to flow.

I came across this seriously adorable Canada Day treat on Oh She Glows' website and knew right away that this is what I'll be making this Canada Day!

Our local Farms are busy harvesting some delicious strawberries and for those that didn't know, I am a Strawberry fanatic.

Any excuse to grab more strawberries is good -- yes, I may have a problem.

And of course, Canada Day is all about the Red and White!

These delicious treats offer a freshness and coolness perfect for the weather and will be sure to get your guests happy and satisfied. Not to mention, build the great Canadian pride!

It's also a great treat to make with your children, just simply allow them to spread the cream cheese frosting and sprinkle the strawberries! 

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:

• Homemade or store-bought graham crackers
• 1 tub non-dairy cream cheese (or regular if you prefer)
• 1/2 cup- 3/4 cup icing sugar (confectioner’s)
• 2 vanilla beans or 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and diced
• Sugar, for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Make your homemade graham crackers in advance or simply purchase graham crackers from the store.
Recipe for delicious Peanut Butter Graham Crackers here.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Slowly add the icing sugar to taste. Add in a couple scraped vanilla beans and maple extract or a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice if you prefer. Store in fridge. You can also make this in advance!

3. Hull a pint of strawberries and dice.

4. Lay your graham crackers onto a large serving plate and spread with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle on diced strawberries and sugar.

Notes: The homemade graham cracker recipe make about 13-15 maple leafs, so you may want to double the batch. 1 tub of cream cheese should cover about 25 maple leafs depending on how much you use.

Be sure to bake your graham crackers a couple minutes longer (abt 17-18 minutes) so they get extra crispy once cooled. That ensures that the cream cheese frosting won’t make the cracker get soggy (it will get a bit soft after 20-30 minutes, but not too much).

You can purchase your maple leaf cutter at Golda's or McCall's. 

Enjoy!