Follow these simple steps to assemble your Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites:

1. Prepare the Strawberries:
   • Wash the strawberries thoroughly and gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
   • Hull the strawberries: Using a small paring knife or a strawberry huller, remove the green leafy tops and create a small cavity in the center of each strawberry. Be careful not to cut all the way through. The cavity should be large enough to hold a good dollop of the cream cheese filling.
   • If the bottoms of the strawberries are not flat, carefully slice a tiny bit off the bottom so they can stand upright. Set the prepared strawberries aside.
2. Make the Graham Cracker Base (Optional but Recommended for Stability & Texture):
   • In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter. Mix well until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
   • You can either press a small spoonful of this mixture into the bottom of each hulled strawberry cavity before filling, or create small discs on a parchment-lined baking sheet. To make discs, take about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of the mixture, press it firmly into a small, flat circle (about the diameter of the base of your strawberries). Repeat for all strawberries. Chilling these discs for 10-15 minutes in the freezer can help them firm up. This step provides a lovely textural contrast and a more stable base. Alternatively, you can skip individual bases and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the finished bites.
3. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling:
   • In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. If using, add the lemon zest now.
   • Beat the mixture with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until it’s smooth, creamy, and well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated. Avoid overbeating, which can make the filling too runny. The consistency should be thick enough to pipe or spoon.
4. Fill the Strawberries:
   • Transfer the cream cheese filling to a piping bag fitted with a small star tip or a round tip. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a zip-top plastic bag with a corner snipped off, or carefully spoon the filling into the strawberries.
   • Gently pipe or spoon the cream cheese mixture into the cavity of each prepared strawberry, filling it generously.
5. Assemble (if using graham cracker discs):
   • If you made separate graham cracker discs, carefully place each filled strawberry onto a graham cracker disc, pressing down gently so it adheres.
6. Chill:
   • Arrange the filled strawberry cream cheese bites on a serving platter or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
   • Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to firm up slightly and the flavors to meld. For best results, chill for 1-2 hours.
7. Garnish and Serve:
   • Just before serving, if desired, garnish your Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites. You can sprinkle them with extra graham cracker crumbs, add a tiny mint leaf to each, or drizzle with melted chocolate.