Description
A no-bake, tropical dessert salad that folds creamy cheesecake-flavored filling with pineapple, mango, strawberries, kiwi, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows for a bright, crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: 8 oz, softened
- Instant Cheesecake Pudding Mix: 1 box (3.4 oz)
- Cool Whip or Whipped Topping: 8 oz, thawed
- Pineapple Chunks: 2 cups, fresh or canned, drained
- Strawberries: 2 cups, hulled and quartered
- Mango: 1 cup, diced
- Kiwi: 2 medium, peeled and sliced
- Mandarin Oranges: 1 cup, drained if canned
- Mini Marshmallows: 1 cup
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Ensure cream cheese is softened at room temperature and gather mixing bowls and a hand mixer or stand mixer.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl beat the softened cream cheese with the instant cheesecake pudding mix until smooth and lump-free.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Fold the thawed Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and airy.
- Assemble the Dish: Gently fold in pineapple chunks, strawberries, mango, kiwi, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows until fruit is evenly coated.
- Cook to Perfection: There is no cooking step, simply ensure the fruit is evenly mixed and not crushed while folding.
- Finishing Touches: Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld and the mixture firm up slightly.
- Serve and Enjoy: Scoop into bowls or dessert glasses, garnish with mint or toasted coconut if desired, and serve chilled.
Notes
- Pat fruit dry: Drain canned fruit and pat fresh fruit dry to avoid a watery salad.
- Soften cream cheese: Leave at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes for a smooth base.
- Add fruit last: Fold in fruit just before serving if making ahead to keep texture bright.
- Chill time: At least 1 hour chilled gives best texture and flavor melding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 150 g)
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad, tropical dessert salad, pineapple cheesecake salad, no-bake cheesecake salad, summer potluck dessert