06/18/2026
It looks like a regular fruit salad. It absolutely is not a regular fruit salad. ππ That creamy cheesecake base underneath β made with real cream cheese, pudding mix, and pineapple juice β transforms every single piece of fruit into something that tastes like dessert masquerading as a side dish. Strawberries, grapes, mandarin oranges, pineapple, kiwi, banana β all coated in the most luscious tropical cheesecake cream you have ever tasted. This is the dish that empties first at every single gathering and the one everyone demands the recipe for before they leave. β¨
Hawaiian Cheesecake Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
β 8 oz / 225g cream cheese, softened to room temperature
β 1 box (3.4 oz) cheesecake or vanilla instant pudding mix
β 1 cup / 240ml pineapple juice
β 1 lb / 450g fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
β 1 cup / 150g grapes, halved if large
β 1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
β 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks, drained
β 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
β 1 ripe banana, sliced
Directions:
Make the Cheesecake Dressing: In a large bowl beat the softened cream cheese until completely smooth and lump-free. Add the instant pudding mix and pineapple juice and beat together until the mixture is silky, thick, and creamy. The pineapple juice gives it that gorgeous tropical flavor that makes this salad completely addictive.
Prep the Fruit: Hull and halve the strawberries. Drain the mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks well β excess liquid will thin out your dressing. Peel and slice the kiwis and banana. Halve any larger grapes.
Fold Everything Together: Add all the prepared fruit to the cheesecake dressing and fold gently with a spatula until every single piece of fruit is evenly coated in that creamy tropical base. Work carefully so the softer fruits like banana and mandarin oranges stay intact and don't get crushed.
Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving β this allows the dressing to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld together beautifully. The longer it chills the better it tastes.
Serve: Give it a gentle stir before serving and scoop into bowls or serve straight from the big bowl family style. Watch it disappear!
Pro Tip: Add the banana slices right before serving rather than during assembly β bananas brown quickly and soften faster than the other fruits, so keeping them out until the last minute means every bowl looks fresh and beautiful. A tiny squeeze of lemon juice on the banana slices also helps keep them bright!
Prep Time: 15 mins | Chill Time: 1 hr | Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Calories per serving: ~210 | Servings: 8β10
Bon appΓ©tit and happy cooking!