Caramel Crunch Cheesecake Fruit Salad
A playful mashup of creamy cheesecake bites, fresh berries and grapes, topped with a crunchy, caramel finish. Perfect for gatherings and an easy make-ahead dessert.
Ingredients
For the cheesecake bites
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened Let sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes to avoid lumps.
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream Light cream won't whip to stiff peaks reliably.
For the fruit salad
- 2 cups strawberries, halved
- 2 cups green grapes
- 1 cup red grapes
For the toppings
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce Can swap for salted caramel.
- 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers or cookie crumbs Can substitute with crushed digestive biscuits or vanilla wafers.
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or pecans Omit nuts for nut-free version.
- 1/4 cup white chocolate drizzle
Instructions
Make the cheesecake base
- In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until very smooth and creamy. Scrape the bowl to avoid lumps.
Whip the cream
- In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Start slow, then increase speed for more stability.
Fold together
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a spatula until uniform but do not overmix.
Shape and chill
- Spread the mixture into a small pan or press into a shallow container about 1-inch thick. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Remove and cut into small squares or use a small cookie cutter for shapes.
Layer the salad
- In a serving dish, arrange the halved strawberries, green grapes, red grapes, and tuck the chilled cheesecake bites evenly throughout.
Add crunch and drizzle
- Sprinkle crushed graham crackers and chopped nuts over the top. Drizzle caramel sauce and white chocolate over everything.
Serve
- Serve immediately for the freshest texture, or refrigerate up to 30 minutes for an extra-chilled dessert.
Notes
To store, keep covered in the fridge for up to 48 hours. For best crunch, add crumbs and nuts just before serving. Not recommended to freeze once fully assembled.