Table of Contents
When the weather is warm, we’re in the mood for BBQs, salads, and cool desserts like our FAVORITE cheesecake fruit salad!
It has the most amazing cheesecake pudding base. We LOVE it so much that we’ve used it in other recipes like the Paradise Parfait and Dirt Cake.
We’ve always loved cream cheese-based dips for our fruit and knew this would be great mixed with fresh berries. It is! That sweet and tangy combination is mouth-wateringly delicious. Plus, this treat whips up in minutes! Then it chills – a perfect make-ahead sweet.
Perfect as a filling or a side to any BBQ or summer gathering, this creamy salad has become a go-to dish alongside our Ambrosia Salad and classic Fruit Salad.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- The possibilities are endless. Cheesecake salad is not only great on its own as a side dish, but it also makes a fantastic Swedish Pancake or Crepe filling as well!
- For every occasion. Add to the lineup for family events (like Easter and Fourth of July) and watch it disappear!
- Make ahead. This easy dessert needs to chill, so it’s great to whip up in the morning to free up time!
Cheesecake Fruit Salad Ingredients and Substitutions
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter – softened, see How to Soften Butter for tips.
- ½ cup powdered sugar – sifted
- 8 ounces cool whip – store-bought or Homemade Whipping Cream
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box INSTANT white chocolate pudding – or vanilla or cream cheese pudding. Be sure to use Instant pudding mix and not the cook-n-serve kind.
- 1½ cups milk – For the creamiest mixture, use whole milk, but 2% can also be used.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup strawberries, halved – fresh, do not use frozen berries because they release too much liquid into the salad
- 1 cup blueberries – fresh
- 1 cup blackberries – fresh
- optional fruits – Other fresh fruits include kiwi, bananas, clementines, raspberries, sliced grapes, and fresh sliced peaches.
- optional toppings – sprinkle on toasted coconut, chopped pecans or walnuts, or mini marshmallows
How to Make Cheesecake Fruit Salad
- CHEESECAKE. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set it aside.
- PUDDING. In a separate bowl, mix pudding, milk, and vanilla. Fold this mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
- CHILL. Fold the fruit into the cheesecake mixture and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Then serve. ENJOY!
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- We love serving this as a side salad at BBQs or even a refreshing summer-time dessert.
- We often include other fruits that we have on hand, but stay away from canned fruit, frozen fruit, or fruit that expels a lot of liquid, like watermelon.
- The pudding flavor can be changed to vanilla or cheesecake pudding mix, but you must ensure that it is instant pudding, not the cook-n-serve variety.
Cheesecake Fruit Salad
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 8 ounces cool whip
- 1 (3.4-ounce) box INSTANT white chocolate pudding, or vanilla
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup strawberries, halved
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup blackberries
Instructions
- In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix pudding, milk, and vanilla. Fold this mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
- Fold in fruit and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. ENJOY!
Video
Notes
- We love serving this as a side salad at BBQs or topping it with white chocolate chips and serving it as a refreshing summer-time dessert.
- We often include other fruits that we have on hand, but stay away from canned fruit, frozen fruit, or fruit that expels a lot of liquid, like watermelon.
- The pudding flavor can be changed to vanilla or cheesecake pudding mix, but you must ensure that it is instant pudding, not the cook-n-serve variety.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
This dish is best when made the day of, but it can be prepared ahead of time. Prepare the berries and cream cheese mixture the day before and store them in separate containers in the fridge until ready to combine and serve.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The juices from the berries will begin to break down the creamy topping; just drain any juices and mix in some extra Cool Whip.
More Like This
Desserts
Oreo Ice Cream Cake
5 hrs 10 mins
Easy No Bake Cheesecake
6 hrs 30 mins
Dessert Kabobs
10 mins
Fruit Pizza Cookies
18 mins
Fruit Salad
Ambrosia Salad
1 hr 15 mins
Pistachio Salad
35 mins
Cranberry Salad
1 hr 15 mins
Pretzel Salad
4 hrs 20 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published April 2017.
I have made this recipe for 2 years now and when I found it I was looking for a special recipe for fruit salad that wasn’t the same old traditional grape salad recipe. My husband’s grandmother loved it so much she asked me to make it for Christmas and thanksgiving every year. I am bringing it to a wedding reception to serve on the side as well as requested. My kids and husband definitely love this recipe as well!
I’m so happy to hear that your family and friends love this recipe as much as I do.
Why do you need butter in this recipe ?
It’s probably to add extra flavor and texture to the cream cheese pudding coating. You could probably try increasing the amount of cream cheese and leaving out the butter.
This cool summer salad can also be frozen and scooped out like ice cream, just let it sit outside of freezer for a few minutes before serving
Serve with a few fresh berries on top
Very good
That’s some good shit!
Loved it for work Potluck! Got a little liquidity for left overs so I stuck it in the freezer and accidentally made ice cream when I left it in longer then intended. It was an amazing recipe to have either as a fruit salad or ice cream.
Made this for an event and it was such a crowd pleaser. Only took me about 5 minutes to put together! Will definitely be using again.
Absolutely delicious! It was a hit at the BBQ last weekend. Everyone, especially the kids, loved it.
We love jello salads around here! They are more dessert than salad and so yummy! I always bring a fudge striped cookie salad to family events, but this looks delicious and would be a fun way to mix things up. I love the patriotic colors and vibe of this one! Plus how can you go wrong with anything cheesecake?!? Definitely trying this one for the 4th this year!
Love this
One of our favorite salads. I make it alot during the summer while we enjoy our family place at the lake.
Easy to make and everyone loved it. Gone really quick. Will be making this again
We absolutely love fruit salads and this one looks and sounds delicious. It will definitely be in attendance at our July 4th celebration!
I love this kind of stuff. It is so cooling n refreshing. Goes with all kinds of food n very good by itself. Yummmy
This was sooo good! Will be making it for our July 4th celebration this year🇺🇸
I made this last year and it was delicious. I added bananas and mini marshmallows. The colors blended perfectly together. It was yummy 😋 and I will be making it again for this year’s 4th of July barbecue.
This was absolutely delicious and it turned out beautiful too! I plan on making it again for the 4th of July.
Made this last year for the Fourth of July and it was a huge hit. I’m taking it to a Memorial Day picnic next weekend…can’t wait! 🙂
This was super yummy! Just so creamy and delicious – my whole family loved it!
I made this. IT WAS AWESOME. 4 KIDS LOVED IT.
So glad to hear that it was a hit!
Taste amazing and easy!
Wow!!! This looks amazing!! I’m. Going to make this for a baby shower!
Turned out verry runny. Filling too runny to stay inside when rolling up.
Sorry to hear your salad turned out runny. Perhaps the cream cheese was too soft? Or too much milk added? I haven’t had it turn out runny before. Thanks for giving the recipe a try!!
I make a similar cheesecake salad but totally different. I put a big plain yogurt in the bowl, mix in powdered cheesecake pudding, stir to combine, add a big cool whip and fold it in. Add berries or whatever fruit you want then refrigerate. Then eat. Super yummy. I think I also need to try your version of cheesecake salad. It sounds yummy also.
Let me know if you try it out. I’d love to hear how it went!
Best fruit salad ever. The entire family loves it. Thanks.
Awe, I am so glad!! Thank you for letting me know. Thanks for trying it!
look at all those Yummy ingredients! This is Heavenly!
Can this be made without the SUGAR
I haven’t tried leaving it out, but you could.
A perfect side dish for those summer barbecues. We like the fruit paired with the pudding cream cheese mixture. Cool and refreshing!
This was such a cool and refreshing treat; perfect for summer! My family couldn’t get enough; yum!
This is a perfect summer dessert! Great for cookouts.
This is delicious!
I could eat these types of salad all summer long!! Love that you can easily change up the fruit & the cream mixture is delicious!
this is the perfect summer salad!! Seriously so delicious and so fun! THanks for sharing!
Such a yummy summer dessert! Easy and delicious!
Adding cream cheese to fruit salad? YUM! My kids will love this recipe.
Oh my gosh, this would not last more than 5 minutes after making it! So good1
What size of pudding do you use?
Also, is the cool whip an 8oz?
It’s the 3.4 ounce or close to that and yes, the 8 ounce 🙂 Thanks!
Thank you so much!
WHY CAN I NOT PRINT AND RECIPES FROM YOU SITE, LOT OF GOOD ONES I WOULD LOVE TO TEY BUT CAN NOT PRINT
I’m not sure what shows up on your computer, but I do have a print button on each recipe. Let me know if you have more problems. Thanks!