Description
This recipe uses simple, accessible ingredients to create a luxurious texture and flavor. It’s a creamy, no-bake dessert salad that combines the richness of cheesecake with fresh strawberries and ripe bananas. Perfect for potlucks or a quick weeknight treat!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened (full-fat recommended)
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups Strawberry Banana Yogurt
- 8 ounces Whipped Topping (e.g., Cool Whip), thawed
- 4 cups Fresh Strawberries; washed, hulled, and quartered
- 2 1/2 cups Ripe Bananas, peeled and sliced
Instructions
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Beat the Cream Cheese Base: In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat the softened cream cheese. Beat for 1-1½ minutes until it is completely smooth, creamy, and free of lumps.
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Add Sweetness and Flavor: Add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Continue beating for another 1½-2 minutes until well combined and slightly fluffy.
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Fold in Yogurt and Whipped Topping: Switch to a spatula. Gently fold in the strawberry banana yogurt and the thawed whipped topping. Fold just until the mixture is uniform in color and texture.
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Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
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Add Fruit and Serve: Just before serving, remove from the fridge. Gently fold in 3½ cups of the strawberries and 2 cups of the bananas. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the remaining fruit. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Room Temp is Key: Ensure your cream cheese is truly softened to room temperature before starting. This is the secret to avoiding a lumpy salad!
- Fold Gently: Folding gently keeps the “fluff” in your fluff salad! Overmixing can make it runny.
- Chill Time: Chilling allows the flavors to meld and the mixture to firm up slightly, giving it that perfect cheesecake-like consistency.
- Serving: Add the fruit just before serving to keep the bananas fresh and the salad from becoming watery.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Salad
- Method: No-Bake, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 225 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
