Description
A delightful Cheesecake Fruit Salad combining fresh, vibrant fruits with a creamy, luscious cheesecake filling and a sweet caramel drizzle. Perfectly chilled and easy to prepare, this refreshing dessert balances fruity freshness and rich creaminess for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 cups green apples, chopped
- 1 cup grapes (red or green), halved
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned), drained
- 1 cup bananas, sliced
Cheesecake Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (chilled)
Toppings
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Prepare the Fruit: Wash and prep all the fruits by slicing, chopping, or halving as necessary to ensure even pieces for a pleasant texture.
- Combine Fruits: Place all the prepared fruits into a large mixing bowl to create the fruit base for the salad.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: Using a mixer, beat the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream until stiff peaks form, ensuring a light and fluffy texture.
- Fold the Mixtures: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined, maintaining the airy texture of the filling.
- Assemble the Salad: Pour the cheesecake filling over the mixed fruits and gently fold to evenly coat all the fruit pieces without crushing them.
- Add Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle the caramel sauce generously over the salad or serve on the side for added sweetness and flavor contrast.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and the filling to firm up slightly.
- Final Touch: Serve the salad chilled, optionally garnished with extra caramel drizzle or crushed graham crackers for additional texture and taste.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm fruits to avoid sogginess.
- For a tangier flavor, substitute some cream cheese with mascarpone cheese.
- Ensure the heavy cream is well chilled before whipping for best results.
- Gently fold ingredients to keep the filling light and airy.
- Can be prepared a few hours ahead but add bananas last to prevent browning if storing longer.
- For a nutty twist, sprinkle chopped toasted nuts before serving.
