Lazy Lady's Faux Cheesecake for a Spring Mother's Day Brunch

Lazy Lady's Faux Cheesecake Sans the Cream Cheese

So this pie is delicious and super easy.  The filling can easily be spread between two pie crusts or one very full pie crust, so depending on how many people you need to feed, you can make 1 or 2 pies.

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker Crust (if making two pies, you will need to make two crusts so double everything below):

1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. butter

Filling:

1 (14 ounce) can low-fat sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce)  tub of light cool whip
1 cup pecans, walnuts or almonds
1 (15 ounce) can mandarin orange slices drained (or can use fresh or canned pineapple drained, or 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries or peaches instead)
3 Tbsp. lemon juice

Topping (if making two pies you will need 1/2 cup of strawberries per pie):

1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries

Directions:

Turn oven on to 350 degrees.  Place the butter in a pie dish and put in oven until butter is just melted.  Take out of oven, add sugar and graham cracker crumbs and mix with a fork until incorporated and moist.  Lightly press into bottom and sides of pan with fingers being careful not to burn yourself on the dish.  If making two crusts, repeat with a second pie dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes,  Set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl mix all filling ingredients together with a spatula until well incorporated.  Spread into cool prepared pie crust(s).  If making two pies, split filling equally between the two pies.

Decorate the top of the pie(s) with sliced strawberries to your liking.  

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then serve.  Pies can also be frozen and served later.  If freezing a pie, it will need to thaw in the refrigerator for about 4 hours prior to serving.

Enjoy!