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Strawberry Cheesecake Salad is a sweet and creamy dessert with fresh strawberries hidden throughout. This is the biggest hit at any potluck and SO easy to make!

No summer barbecue is complete without a creamy, delicious salad. For even more potluck dishes be sure to try ambrosia saladcreamy pea salad, or pineapple fluff!

Hero image of strawberry cheesecake salad in a peach-colored bowl.

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

I love anything that has to do with cheesecake. I mean who doesn’t? This is my go to recipe for any get together. It’s a huge hit and people are always asking for the recipe! I love it because it’s so easy to throw together but is the most perfect side. This salad is so creamy and the mixture of strawberries and bananas go together perfectly. Each bite is sweet, creamy heaven!

Now, I can already hear some of you saying… “that’s not a salad!”. And you’re right! In the traditional cold, chopped vegetable meaning of salad, no, it’s not. But in a creamy fruit salad kind of way… absolutely! Cheesecake salads are usually made with no-bake cheesecake filling/pudding and frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip), then folded together with fresh fruit. This version also utilizes some strawberry yogurt to bring even more fruit flavor into the dish!

Don’t Worry!

This recipe is Picky Eater Approved!

Strawberry Cheesecake Salad Ingredients

You only need 6 simple ingredients to make the best fruit salad. It’s an inexpensive side dish that’s great for feeding a crowd! If you’re looking for measurements, they can all be found below in the recipe card.

  • Whipped Topping: Let this thaw in refrigerator overnight before you use it.
  • Cheesecake Pudding Powder: Pudding mix gives this fruit salad the richness of cheesecake but with a light and fluffy consistency.
  • Strawberry Yogurt: The creaminess of the yogurt mixes perfectly with the pudding and whipped topping to make a soft and sweet filling.
  • Fresh Strawberries: The star of the show! Fresh is best, but you can also use frozen strawberries. Just make sure they’re thawed with any excess liquid drained to keep your salad from turning out watery.
  • Bananas: Slice and wait to add them to the salad until the last minute to keep it as fresh as possible.
  • Mini Marshmallows: Optional, but it’s my kids’ favorite part of this salad!

Substitutions You Can Use

To substitute the cool whip and cheesecake pudding powder, use 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, and 2 cups of heavy whipping cream.

How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

This strawberry cheesecake salad recipe is foolproof. All you need to do is mix your ingredients together and let your salad chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it!

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, mix together the yogurt, pudding and whipped topping. Put in the fridge and allow to set up for an hour.
  2. Add Sliced Fruit: Add sliced strawberries to the mixture with the marshmallows. Add in the bananas right before serving. Keep refrigerated.
The process of making strawberry fruit salad in four photos.

How to Keep Fruit Salad Fresh

  • Keep Fruit Dry: Any water that is present will cause the produce to soften faster. Keep air off of it and dry your fruit after you wash it. Save problem produce like bananas for the end and add right before serving.
  • Store Fruit Separately: When making this recipe ahead of time, prepare the cheesecake mixture and refrigerate in a bowl.  Separately, mix all the fruit in a large bowl and refrigerate. Then, before serving, drain any excess liquid from the fruit.  Finally, fold the cheesecake filling into the fruit and its ready to be served and enjoyed!
Top-down view of creamy strawberry salad.

Tips and Variations

Here are a few simple ways to make your strawberry cheesecake salad turn out even better! One more tip… you may want to double this recipe. Every time I bring it to a potluck, it’s gone in a snap!

  • Use an Egg Slicer: Slice strawberries with a sturdy egg slicer for even pieces.
  • Wait to Add Fruit: Add the fruit just before serving so it doesn’t get mushy or discolored.
  • Use Sour Cream: For extra tanginess, use some sour cream in place of some of the yogurt.
  • Adjust Consistency: The amount of strawberries used will depend on how much fruit-to-fluff that you want.
  • Add Other Fruits: You can add any fruit you want to this incredibly versatile salad! Some great choices are pineapple, mango, mandarin oranges, grapes, kiwis, raspberries, blackberries, or melon slices.

Storing Leftovers

It’s best to serve this fruit salad fresh, but you can also keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you plan on making it ahead, store the cheesecake pudding and fruit separately and combine just before serving.

A spoonful of fruit salad filled with sliced strawberries and bananas.

Summer Strawberry Recipes

Celebrate strawberries coming back into season with a few of these delicious desserts! They’re perfectly sweet, easy to make, and filled with juicy strawberry flavor. You’re going to love them!

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Strawberry Cheesecake Salad

4.77 from 13 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Strawberry Cheesecake Salad is a sweet and creamy dessert with fresh strawberries hidden throughout. This is the biggest hit at any potluck and SO easy to make!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 People

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 small package cheesecake pudding powder 3.4 ounce
  • 2 cups strawberry yogurt (About 3 (6 ounce) yogurt containers)
  • 1 lb fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 3 bananas sliced

Optional Substitute for whipped topping and cheesecake powder:

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl mix together the yogurt and pudding powder. Fold in the whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate to allow it to set up for about an hour.
  • Add the sliced strawberries, marshmallows, and bananas right before serving. Keep refrigerated.

If using the cool whip and cheesecake pudding powder substitute:

  • In a large bowl beat together cream cheese, sugar, and heavy whipping cream until it is creamy and stiff peaks form. Fold in the strawberry yogurt, strawberries, marshmallows and bananas.

Video

Notes

Thaw the whipped topping ahead of time. I always put it in the fridge the night before.
Updated on May 13, 2023
Originally Posted on June 25, 2012

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 44mgPotassium: 288mgFiber: 2gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 67IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert, Salad
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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95 Comments

  1. The ingredients list show 3(6ounce) strawberry yogurt. Does that mean 3 x 6 ounces for a total of 18 ounces of yogurt OR 6 ounces in total ? Thank you.

      1. Thank you. I am in Canada and the cheesecake pudding is not available here. Any suggestions for using another flavor ? TIA.