No-Bake Cheesecake Fruit Salad
This no-bake dessert combines juicy strawberries, crisp apples, sweet grapes, tropical pineapple, and soft banana with a silky cream cheese-whipped cream dressing and a caramel finish.
Ingredients
For the salad
- 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 2 cups green apples, chopped Toss with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
- 1 cup grapes (red or green), halved
- 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained if canned
- 1 cup bananas, sliced Add at the end to avoid excessive browning.
For the cheesecake filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened Room temperature for easy mixing.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar Adjust to taste.
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled For better whipping.
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce Store-bought or homemade.
Instructions
Preparation
- Wash and dry strawberries, hull and slice. Chop apples into bite-sized pieces and toss with 1 tsp lemon juice if desired. Halve grapes, drain pineapple, and slice bananas last. Combine all fruit (except bananas if you want them freshest) in a large mixing bowl.
Make the cheesecake filling
- Beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and lump-free. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed.
Whip the cream
- In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Test by lifting the whisk — peaks should hold shape.
Combine ingredients
- Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture in two additions. Use a rubber spatula and fold until homogeneous; avoid overmixing to keep it airy.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the mixed fruits. Gently fold until fruit is evenly coated. If you held back bananas, fold them in now.
Final touch
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the top or leave it to be added at serving. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors marry. Garnish with crushed graham crackers before serving for a cheesecake finish.
Notes
For a lighter dressing, replace half the cream cheese with full-fat Greek yogurt. Use coconut cream and dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan version. Serve chilled and enjoy within the first 24 hours for best texture.