Peach Cheesecake Salad [video]

Peach Cheesecake Salad is a delicious way to enjoy your favorite fruit and dessert without spending too much time in the kitchen. The fruit’s tart-sweet taste is complemented by a creamy dressing that resembles a no-bake cheesecake. This is the perfect dessert for a summer BBQ party.

Looking for a new way to enjoy fresh peaches this season? Why not slice them up and mix them with a creamy cheesecake dressing? You will love this rich and decadent dessert, which is actually healthy and a little bit sinful. The cheesecake pudding mix combined with cream cheese makes it so thick and irresistible that it will be difficult to stop eating.

What tastes better than peach salad and cheesecake? Peach cheesecake salad! It is a lot easier to make, too! You can have it done and on the table in about an hour instead of waiting eight hours for a cheesecake to set. And all you have to do is dump it all in a bowl, mix it up, and let it chill. Fast, simple, and so delightful and refreshing. There is no cooking or dishes to do either. This is the perfect dessert.

Another reason why this is such an awesome recipe is because it is so inexpensive. A box of instant cheesecake pudding mix, some yogurt, peaches, and two other ingredients is all you need. You will spend less than $20 for sure! The kids will love this stuff, too, and you will love that they are eating a whole serving of fruit in one sitting.

You cannot go wrong with this recipe. Speaking of which, you cannot mess this recipe up! It is foolproof, I promise. There are three simple steps that anyone can do. You can get the kids to help you. 

Why you will love this recipe

• Faster than cheesecake: Done in one hour!
• Very inexpensive: Spend less than $20 for everything.
• No dishes: Just a couple of bowls.
• Foolproof: Only three steps that anyone can do.

What you’ll need to make peach cheesecake salad

Special items:

• Bowls
• Utensils

Ingredients:

• Peaches – I used six rinsed, pitted, and sliced peaches.
• Cheesecake pudding mix – You just want the powder to add the delicious cheesecake flavor. 
• Cream cheese – Do not use the whipped kind. You need the bricks for the solid filling, but it has to be softened to room temperature.
• Whipped cream – You can use the frozen stuff in the tub, but it has to be thawed. Or make my homemade whipped cream.
• Peach yogurt – For extra creaminess and flavor.
• Vanilla – I recommend 100% pure vanilla extract, not vanilla flavoring, for the best taste without the bitterness.

How do you make a peach cheesecake salad:

This easy recipe requires just a few simple steps described below. Also, feel free to watch the video tutorial.

1. Prep the cream mixture: In a bowl, simply mix all the ingredients except for the fruit. Then, chill the creamy mixture in the fridge for about an hour.
2. Slice: Wash the fruits and pat dry. Cut into half, then, remove the pit. Then, slice.
3. Combine: Remove the creamy mixture from the fridge, then, fold in the slices. Serve at once.

Expert tip

Keeping it separate

This recipe calls for you to make the dressing, prepare the peaches, and then mix them to serve. However, this should only be done if you serve enough people to eat it all. Once the peaches and dressing are mixed together, they start getting soggy. So, it is really best to keep the dressing and peaches separate no matter what. Let everyone mix the dressing and peaches themselves.

Doing it this way also allows everyone to add as much or as little dressing as they like. Another thing I would like to mention is that in my video, I used large slices of peaches that were not peeled. Some people do not like eating their peaches that way. Feel free to peel them and chop them into smaller, thinner slices or chunks if you like.

Another option is to use canned peaches. However, if you use the kind with syrup in it, I would rinse the syrup off and drain the peaches well because the syrup has a lot of sugar. Nobody needs that much sugar, and it would also add too much sweetness to the overall taste of the salad itself. But that is up to you.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Crunchy salad: To make your salad crunchy, add chopped walnuts, pecans, or cashews.
• No nuts: You could also use seeds such as sesame seeds, pepitas, or poppy seeds instead of nuts.
• Softer stuff: If you would rather mix in something softer, add mini marshmallows.
• Real cheesecake taste: To make it taste more like a real cheesecake, crumble some graham cracker crumbs on top.
• Less fat: For a lighter dish, use low-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt.
• More fruit: You can always add more fruits like chopped strawberries, bananas, pears, and apples. Or toss in some berries.   

Serving suggestions:

This is a great summer dish. But you can serve it whenever you want. Here are some ideas.

• Serve with a big piece of my slow cooker peach pork. It is mouthwateringly delicious.
• Since this dessert is so easy to make its perfect for get togethers, like BBQ parties, tailgating, or picnics.
• This goes wonderful with a glass of peach sangria. To make it, mix Moscato or Pinot Gris with peach juice or peach-flavored liquor and add some fruit slices. 
• For a tropical beach party, pair it with lemons, pineapples, and limes, or serve it with margaritas.
• Make this even more enticing by adding a scoop of peach jam to it and serving it with a slice of cake.
• I like to serve it to kids with a glass of homemade peach smoothie.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make peach cheesecake salad ahead of time?

You can make the dressing a couple of days ahead of time. Then, just keep it in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you are ready to mix it with the fruit. But only mix what you plan to eat within the next few hours. Once you mix the peaches and the dressing together, it will get soggy quickly. Just keep them separate and add a few spoonfuls at a time and you should be able to make it last for a few days.

What would be a good substitute for peaches in salad?

I have used apricots instead of peaches in this salad and others before, and they worked just fine. In fact, they are very similar in that they look alike and both have fuzzy skin. Although peaches are larger and a bit sweeter, they can be substituted in many dishes. You could also use nectarines or plums. Really, any sweet fruit would work, like mangos, pears, papayas, bananas, and melons. 

Can I use frozen peaches?

Sure. Just thaw them in the refrigerator overnight for the best results. Or you could thaw them under running water in the package, turning it frequently for even thawing. If you are thawing it under running water, it will take about an hour. Remember that as they thaw, they will actually be juicier so they can cause a bit of excess water. You may want to drain them before adding them to your salad.

Can you use fresh or canned peaches?

You can use both. Just slice the pieces according to your needs and drain the juice very well. Any excess moisture may make the dessert runny. The canned ones are preserved in syrup, so, its sugar content is higher than fresh ones. But if you are reluctant to use the canned version thinking they are less healthy, then, this study comparing fresh and canned peaches will help assure you.

In this study, the researchers concluded that canned ones are not better nor worse than fresh ones. Even the canned version retained most of the key nutrients and vitamins. With that said, enjoy this dish all year round!

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: This salad will stay fresh for about 24 hours in an airtight container in the fridge. You should not have any trouble eating it before that. If you want to make it ahead of time, prepare the dressing but keep the fruit separately. The dressing will stay fresh for several days in the fridge.

More no bake recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Make sure your cream cheese is softened to room temperature so it will be easier to mix. Otherwise, you will end up with lumpy cheesecake salad.
• If you do not have peaches, try apricots, nectarines, or plums instead.
• You could also use canned or frozen peaches if they are not in season in your area.
• Do not make more than you need. Keep the fruit and dressing separate until you are ready to eat it. The dressing can stay fresh in the fridge for several days. But once you mix it with the peaches it will go soggy in 24 hours.
• If you use canned or frozen peaches, rinse and drain them.