Easter Swirl Pie (Print Version)

A visually impressive dessert featuring pastel-colored cream cheese swirls in a flaky crust, perfect for spring celebrations.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ½ teaspoon salt
03 - ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - ¼ cup vegetable shortening, cold
05 - ¼ cup ice water, plus more if needed

→ Filling

06 - 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
07 - ½ cup granulated sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - ¼ cup heavy cream
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
11 - Food coloring (gel or liquid) in pastel colors (pink, blue, and yellow)

→ Optional Flavorings

12 - 1 teaspoon strawberry extract (for pink)
13 - 1 teaspoon blueberry extract (for blue)
14 - 1 teaspoon lemon extract (for yellow)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter and vegetable shortening using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
02 - Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently after each addition, until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix. Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
03 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges as desired.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line the pie crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and weights and bake for another 5-7 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool completely.
05 - In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the heavy cream and lemon juice until well combined.
06 - Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly into 3 separate bowls. Add pink food coloring to the first bowl, blue food coloring to the second bowl, and yellow food coloring to the third bowl. Mix each until you achieve your desired shade. Optional: Add corresponding flavor extracts to each colored mixture.
07 - Spoon dollops of each colored filling randomly into the pre-baked pie crust, alternating colors. Using a knife or toothpick, gently swirl the colors together to create a marbled effect. Be careful not to overmix, as you want to keep the colors distinct.
08 - Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the filling to set completely. Slice and serve chilled.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Make ahead friendly for stress free entertaining
  • Customizable with different flavor extracts and colors for personalized touch
  • Perfect balance of creamy filling and buttery crust
  • Visual showstopper that requires minimal decorating skills
02 -
  • Sets beautifully for clean slices with proper chilling
  • Can be made up to two days ahead for convenience
  • Makes an excellent canvas for creative flavor combinations beyond the classic spring pastels
03 -
  • Allow your cream cheese to fully soften at room temperature for at least two hours to prevent lumps in your filling
  • Chill your swirled pie for a minimum of 4 hours before attempting to slice for clean edges
  • Use a warm knife wiped clean between cuts for the most picture perfect slices

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