Strawberry Deep Dish Dessert

Alright children, hold onto your hats, because this is gonna take you to your happy place at warp speed. It is so fabulously and surprisingly delicious. Uh-huh. Try it.


Crust:
1 1/2 c AP flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1c butter
1/2 c chopped pecans

Filling:
8 oz pkg cream cheese
9 oz container of whipped topping
3/4 c powdered sugar

Topping:
3 oz pkg strawberry gelatin
1 c water
4 c sliced fresh strawberries OR frozen strawberries
dash of salt
1/2 c sugar
4 Tbsp cornstarch
(Note: If you use frozen strawberries, just thaw them a little in the microwave with no liquid added. After they've cooked in the gelatin mixture, you can very carefully use a hand blender to break them up some.)

Crust:
Mix all crust ingredients. Spread in 9x13x2in casserole dish. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool. (This will not look done. Just take it out and let it cool anyway.)

Filling:
Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust.

Topping:
Mix gelatin, sugar, salt and 1/2 c water. Dissolve cornstarch in the remaining 1/2 c water. Stir into gelatin mixture. Cook until thickened. Add strawberries. Cool. Stir until smooth(-ish, you'll understand what I mean.), then spread on top of cream cheese layer. Chill for an hour or so. Serve.

(Note: I like to make the topping first so that it can be cooling while I do the other two steps. That way it doesn't have to chill as long.)