Ingredients:
For the Fruit Salad:
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
For the Cheesecake Filling:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream (chilled)
For the Caramel Drizzle:
1/2 cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Fruit:
Wash, peel, and chop all your fruits into bite-sized pieces (strawberries, apples, grapes, pineapple, and bananas).
Place all the fruit into a large mixing bowl and gently toss them together.
2. Make the Cheesecake Filling:
In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
In another mixing bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream until stiff peaks form. You can use an electric mixer to make this easier.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully combined and smooth.
3. Assemble the Fruit Salad:
Pour the cheesecake mixture over the prepared fruit and gently fold the mixture into the fruit, ensuring everything is coated evenly.
If needed, adjust sweetness by adding a bit more powdered sugar, but the fruit should provide plenty of sweetness.
4. Drizzle with Caramel:
Drizzle the caramel sauce generously over the top of the fruit salad. You can also serve the caramel on the side for dipping, if preferred.
5. Serve:
Chill the cheesecake fruit salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.
Garnish with extra caramel sauce or a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers for a bit of crunch.
6. Enjoy:
This Cheesecake Fruit Salad is perfect for gatherings, BBQs, or as a delicious, refreshing dessert for any occasion. Enjoy!
