This Berry Cheesecake Salad features fresh, juicy berries in a creamy cheesecake mixture that make the most amazing fruit salad ever! Your family will go nuts over it!
Berry Cheesecake Salad
My kids are huge fans of this Berry Cheesecake Salad because, well, it's more like berry cheesecake than anything resembling a "salad."
Nevertheless, my children call it marshmallow salad, emphasis on salad, as in, "Mom, it's healthy. How can you even say no?!"
And I don't like to say no because it is reeeaaallly good. It's like an ambrosia salad, but better because we're using berries!
Fresh juicy berries mixed with my favorite pudding base, whipped topping, and marshmallows! It's sweet, fresh, and so fun for using up ripe summer berries.
Plus, there is absolutely no baking or cooking required for this recipe which makes it an A+ for when it's hot!
What's in Berry Cheesecake Salad?
Berry Cheesecake Salad is made up of two components: the "dressing" and the "salad."
The dressing consists of a pudding base with cream cheese to give it that yummy tangy cheesecake flavor.
The salad is made up of fresh berries and some marshmallows for good measure.
What Kind of Berries Should I Use?
Most of the time I use strawberries and blueberries only, as those are the berries that all three of my kids agree on.
But feel free to add blackberries or raspberries, or even cherries!
I recommend sticking to fresh berries only for this recipe. Frozen berries will thaw and become juicy and discolor the salad. Plus, they become super soft and mushy when thawed which is kind of a recipe for berry cheesecake soup.
So, fresh - not frozen!
More Berry Recipes You'll Love
- Berries and Cream Cupcakes - pretty, delicious, and packed with fresh berries.
- Best Fruit Salad - my favorite fruit salad all summer long!
- Blueberry Peach Crumble - sweet blueberries, tart peaches, and a crunchy topping!
- Berry Spritzer - refreshing and beautiful drink! Make it a mocktail or a cocktail!
- Classic Blueberry Buckle - a classic cake with fresh blueberries!
Berry Cheesecake Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed
- 6 cups mixed berries such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries that have been cut into quarters, raspberries
- Additional berries and mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in vanilla and heavy cream until well blended.
- Fold in whipped topping.
- Fold in berries.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with additional berries and mint sprigs before serving.
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes a LARGE batch! It's great for potlucks and cookouts, and I still rarely have leftovers because it's so good.
- Make sure your cream cheese is very soft and gets beaten completely smooth before you add in the other ingredients. This will prevent lumps.
- Substitute any kind of berries you like into your salad! Blackberries, raspberries, cherries,...
- Use flavored coffee creamer, such as sweet cream or French vanilla, in place of milk for an extra flavor kick.
- If you can't find Cool Whip, substitute vanilla yogurt or fresh whipped cream (not the canned kind!).
- Add flavor accents such as lemon or lime zest, almond or vanilla extract, or even use different pudding flavors to vamp it up and make it your own.
- Reader tip: Sub mascarpone for cream cheese for an even richer, creamier texture.
- Serve with graham crackers to make it taste even more like cheesecake!
- This salad is best served the day that it’s made. By the next day, the berries will start bleeding some of their color into the filling.
- To make ahead: Prep cheesecake filling, and keep in an airtight container. Stir in berries just before serving. You can prep the filling 2-3 days in advance.
Nutrition
UPDATES: This recipe was originally published in May 2018, but was republished in May 2019 with updated photos, step-by-step directions, and a how-to video.
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c says
no ingredent list??? what kind of pudding, how much milk, etc.
Michelle says
The ingredient list is right in the recipe.
Cara Campbell says
So delicious, and perfect for summer. Definitely defining it as a "salad" and never a dessert, meaning I can eat as much as I want.
Tara says
The cheesecake is so fluffy.
The berries take it up a notch with the flavor!
Beth says
This is my kind of salad! Quick, easy, delicious and can be made ahead of time! Perfect!
Emily says
This salad is amazing! I'm bringing it to every summer potluck, everyone loves it!
Irena says
Such a fun idea!!! I love deconstructed recipes and this was delicious and easy to make.
Savita says
This salad is totally summer-approved! Loved it. So easy and delicious.
Toni says
This is totally irresistible!! My whole family really loved it!
Emily Flint says
I needed a quick and easy dessert for the fourth and this one was perfect! Everyone raved about it and had no idea how easy it was to make.
Michelle says
This was such a hit with the kids! So many textures and flavours!
Suja MD says
Wow! this is my new favorite recipe!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
Absolutely perfect for a family picnic that we had at the weekend. This salad was so easy to make too.
Ieva says
Perfect! Cheesecake is our favourite dessert and this recipe is great when we're short on time. Just mix everything together and you have yourself a wonderful cheesecake with lots of berries! It's than easy, and really tastes like a decadent cheesecake!
Sara says
Oh my this looks amazing, always looking for different ways to serve fresh fruit as a dessert. I know this will be a big hit at my house!
Gina Abernathy says
I'm always looking for a cool and refreshing dessert for the lake. Perfect.
Savita says
The perfect salad to make this summer season. Loved the recipe, a must try for sure.
Jess says
My kind of salad that I could eat every single day! If I have frozen berries on hand, do you think those will work or are fresh better?
Mirlene says
This is a great dessert salad for summer. Berries and cheesecake are a great combo!
Chenée says
This is such an easy treat to make and it was the perfect dessert for our Labor Day barbecue! Thank you so much for sharing it!