Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad is an easy-to-make dish that balances fresh fruit flavors with a creamy cheesecake filling. This recipe uses real whipped cream instead of Cool Whip, so it is extra tasty! Best of all, it still only takes 15 minutes to prepare!

This creamy fruit salad is a delicious dessert to take to a summer BBQ or church potluck and is also perfect for picnics, and showers.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Fresh Ingredients - This cheesecake salad uses simple ingredients, including luscious strawberries and sweet bananas. And just like in my Fresh Strawberry Pretzel Salad, this recipe skips processed additions like Cool Whip and flavored yogurt, so you can enjoy the best cheesecake flavor while being in complete control of the ingredients.

Easy to Modify - If you like the ease of Cool Whip, use it in place of the heavy cream! Stir in miniature marshmallows or chopped nuts. Substitute low-fat cream cheese or your favorite low-calorie sweetener. There are endless possibilities for customizing.

Crowd-Pleaser - This creamy strawberry banana salad is a huge hit with kids and adults alike! It can be served as a side dish or dessert.

This salad has a flavor similar to no-bake cheesecake. Cherry Cream Cheese Pie and Easy Cheesecake Jars are also crowd-pleasing desserts with a similar flavor profile.

Cheesecake Salad Ingredients

Strawberries - Select ripe strawberries that are bright in color and free of bruises and blemishes.

Bananas - Look for ripe bananas with some black spots on the peel and no green. This stage of banana has the perfect balance of sweetness that is best for this salad, while still having a firm enough texture to not fall apart in the salad.

Cream Cheese - Soften the cream cheese at room temperature for about an hour before blending it with the sugar. For a lower-fat option, use Neufchatel cheese.

Powdered Sugar - Powdered sugar adds sweetness while maintaining a creamy texture. If you do not have powdered sugar on hand then you can substitute granulated sugar. 

Heavy Whipping Cream - Whipped cream is folded into the cream cheese mixture to create a light, velvety salad. Cool Whip can also be used.

Lemon Juice - Fresh lemon juice serves two purposes. First, it helps keep the bananas from browning. And it also adds a little tanginess to brighten the salad.

How to Make Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

1) Beat Cream Cheese & Sugar

• In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. 
• This step ensures a velvety base for our cheesecake salad.

2) Whip Cream

• In a separate bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. 
• This adds a light and airy texture to the salad, enhancing its overall decadence.

3) Prepare Fruit

• Rinse your fresh strawberries, pat them dry, then slice them. 
• Set aside a few sliced strawberries for garnish, if desired. 
• Slice the bananas and place them in a bowl. 
• Pour lemon juice over the banana coins and gently stir the bananas to coat them in the juice.
• The lemon juice helps keep the bananas from turning brown.

4) Mix and Serve

• Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined. 
• Add the strawberry and banana slices to the creamy mixture, gently stirring to coat the fruit evenly. 
• Transfer the Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad to a serving dish and garnish with the reserved strawberry slices. 

Variations

• Marshmallows: Add a playful twist by incorporating 1 cup of miniature marshmallows into the salad. It gives an extra burst of sweetness and a delightful texture.
• Graham Cracker Crumbs: Sprinkle some crushed graham crackers over the salad for a hint of crunch and a touch of that classic cheesecake crust flavor. Oreo crumbs would also be delicious!
• Yogurt: Lots of strawberry-banana cheesecake salad recipes include a container of yogurt, which adds a little extra creaminess. My recipe leaves this out because I like a stronger cheesecake flavor. But if you are looking for more creaminess, just stir in 1 ½ cups of strawberry yogurt. Strawberry banana yogurt, lemon yogurt, or vanilla yogurt are also great options!
• Pudding Mix: Another way to boost the flavor is by adding one package of instant cheesecake pudding mix. Mix the dry pudding mix into the cream cheese mixture.
• Nuts: For an added little crunch, toss in ½ cup of chopped nuts like toasted almonds or pecans. 
• Tropical: If you are planning a poolside party, make this salad tropical with 8 ounces of crushed pineapple (well-drained) and a cup of shredded coconut.
• Mixed Berries: Play around with different fruits. Add blueberries for a red, white, and blue patriotic salad. Blackberries and raspberries can also be great additions,

Expert Tips

• Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before beating it with the sugar. This will result in a smoother texture without lumps.
• When preparing the fruit, make sure it is thoroughly dry before adding it to the salad. Juicy strawberries can water down the creamy consistency.
• Coat the bananas with lemon juice as soon as you slice them. This will help prevent browning. You can also use Sprite or anything with citric acid.
• Adjust the sweetness level to your liking by adding more or less powdered sugar.
• If you are using Cool Whip instead of heavy cream, reduce the powdered sugar to ⅓ cup.
• This salad is best enjoyed fresh, as the fruit gets mushy over time.

Storage

This salad is best served on the same day that it is made. Over time the fruit will become mushy and the bananas will turn brown. If you do choose to save leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container or wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Recipe FAQs

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