Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

         With six simple recipes, this cheesecake swirled around strawberries and bananas is going to make you smile like you have never smiled before. Take it from me, this is a dessert worth calling Heavenly! Who does not like sweet cheesecake and the wonderful taste of fruit? This fruity cheesecake dessert will take the place of those outdated fruit salads.

            Inside this recipe will be a couple of surprises that you likely never expected in a dessert recipe. Again, trust me, this is the one!! This is a great dessert to take to the church potluck this weekend, work picnics or neighborhood gatherings. This dessert tastes like summer. It even looks like summer.

            You will want to use an electric hand mixer for this recipe. The stand mixer may work also, however, with the hand mixer you have more control over the bowl and how you are mixing it. One other note, when adding the creamer, you need to add it slowly.

If you pour it all in too fast, it will form lumps and no matter how long you try, these lumps will not break apart.

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Do I have to use coffee creamer?

Part of the wonderful flavor comes from the coffee creamer. You do not have to use it, you could use milk, or evaporated milk to replace the creamer. I have recently used French Vanilla coffee creamer, this will add a whole new level of flavor to the Cheesecake Salad.

            Could I change the fruit?

Absolutely! If bananas and strawberries are not your thing, go ahead and use cherries and apples, blueberries and raspberries.

            Can I make this ahead of time?

You can make it ahead of time. You will need to keep the pudding portions separate from the fruit portion. Keep them in airtight containers in your refrigerator. When ready to serve, drain any liquid off the fruit and gently fold into the pudding portion.

            Do I have to use lemon juice?

The lemon juice helps keep the fruit good, and prevents browning of the fruit.

What do you need to make Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

            2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

            ¼ cup pure vanilla coffee creamer

            1 small box instant cheesecake pudding mix,

            8 ounces cream cheese, softened

            2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced

            3 large bananas, sliced

How to make Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad

FIRST STEP:

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy

a)

b)

Add the dry pudding mix and beat until well combined

SECOND STEP:

Using the slowest setting, slowly add in the coffee creamer. Do not add it all at once, it will become lumpy and you will not be able to fix it.

Continue to whip until all the creamer is used and  the mix is smooth

THIRD STEP:

In a large bowl, combine the strawberries with the banana slices and the lemon juice. Stir so all the fruit has been coated in lemon juice

a)

b)

c)

Add the cheesecake mixture to the fruit and gently fold the fruit into the cheesecake mix.

FOURTH STEP:

Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.

Enjoy and plan to make again!

YUM!