Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad

My red, white, and blue cheesecake salad is perfect for any backyard BBQ or picnic. It is easy and takes just a few minutes to make, with just a handful of ingredients. You only need cheesecake pudding, yogurt, some fruit, vanilla, and mini marshmallows, and you can whip up this sweet, creamy, dreamy salad. Making it the perfect festive and delicious patriotic dessert to serve for Memorial Day or Independence Day.

Summer desserts might be tricky to pick and please everyone. But this Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Salad is guaranteed to be a massive hit with everyone. First of all, it is super easy to make and very delicious. It contains strawberries, berries, and marshmallows. The combination of these ingredients, along with cream, makes it one irresistible treat.

It is also perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, or picnics. Because this recipe is so fresh and colorful, it is the best food for summer events or holidays. Whether you want something special for the Fourth of July and Independence Day or simply something refreshing, this red, white, and blue-themed dessert is a winner!

Summer is my favorite time of the year. The kids are on vacation from school, and my weekends are filled with family get-togethers. The best part is that all of the festivities include some kind of delicious food. That is one reason I love this recipe. It is also a versatile recipe because you can change the fruits depending on what is in season. 

The only thing to worry about is keeping it chilled. If you are outside at a picnic or barbecue, remember it can only sit out for two hours. Bring a cooler just for this purpose, or freeze some water in a large disposable foil pan to place under the dish you are serving the salad in. It also helps to serve it in an insulated container.

You should also check my other patriotic desserts such as Patriotic Fudge, or American Rice Crispy.

What you’ll need to make red, white, and blue salad:

Special items:

• Large mixing bowl – For mixing and serving the salad.
• Wooden spoon – For stirring and serving.

Ingredients:

• Yogurt – I use strawberry yogurt for the thickest dressing, but you can use regular. For a thicker dressing, use Greek yogurt.
• Instant cheesecake pudding – The instant pudding gives your salad a creamy and rich taste and a thick texture. 
• Whipped cream – I prefer to use my own homemade whipped cream, but you can use Cool Whip or whatever you like.
• Mini marshmallows – Miniature marshmallows meld perfectly with the fruit and soak up flavor from the dressing.
• Fresh fruit — I used strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows for the red, white, and blue theme.

How to make red, white, and blue cheesecake salad?

1. Get the freshest Fruits – It all starts with the fruits used. Since they are front and center here, you want to use organic, ripe, and fresh ones. We picked strawberries and blueberries in this mix to represent the colors of the American Flag. However, you can swap them with your favorite ones. 
2. Wash and Clean the Fruits – Before utilizing them, ensure you properly wash and clean the fruits. Also, we like to slice the strawberries in half or quarters, depending on their size. But you could also use whole once if desired. Make sure you pat them dry.
3. Prepare the Cream filling – Add the whipped topping, vanilla, pudding mix, and yogurt in a medium bowl. Using a hand mixer, whip the cream until it is well-balanced and fluffy. Once properly mixed and smoothed, it should be nice and soft. Chill it before using.
4. Assemble the salad — Now that you have everything ready, place the sliced strawberries, berries, and marshmallows in a bowl and add the cheesecake mixture on top. Stir gently a few times until well mixed.

Expert tip

Choosing the best fruit

No matter what kind of fruit you need, you should always wait until you are ready to use it and get it as fresh as possible. Farmers’ markets are typically the best choice for any fruits and vegetables wherever you live, and they often do not use pesticides. I prefer to buy organic to be on the safe side.

The first thing to look at is the color. Each fruit has a specific color. Strawberries should be red, and blueberries should be blue (or purple). You do not want any fruit that is not ripe yet, so avoid white or green strawberries or blueberries. The problem with these two fruits is that they are often sold in containers at the grocery store, which is another reason I get them from farmers’ markets.

Another way to check your fruit is for firmness. Even if it is in a container, you can tell if the fruit is firm or mushy. The smell should always be sweet, too. Also, sour or strange-smelling fruit should always be avoided. Another thing to avoid is bruises. They can show up as black spots or brown blemishes.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Different fruits: Try other kinds of fruit like raspberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, melon, and papaya.
• No marshmallows: To keep your salad white, chop some apples or bananas and add them to your salad. Toss them in lemon juice first to prevent them from turning brown.
• Other dressing: Instead of yogurt and whipped cream, you can use buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or vanilla glaze.
• Thicker and creamier: Use ricotta instead of yogurt for a thicker dressing. But let it come to room temperature first so it is easier to mix.
• Different flavors: Try a different yogurt flavor like strawberry or blueberry.

Serving suggestions:

This perfect sweet summer salad is often served as an appetizer or dessert. Here are some ideas I like.

• Add another cold salad to your picnic table with this easy cucumber salad recipe.
• Have some homemade strawberry pie filling or lemon curd to drizzle on top.
• Make this dish even more festive by sprinkling on some rainbow sprinkles.
• Talking about sprinkling things on top, I like to add chewy coconut macaroon bites on top. You can even dice them and use instead of marshmallows.
• Serve it with some strawberry sorbet and a refreshing mango lemonade.
• Try to make a fruit salad spread and serve this along with ambrosia salad and tropical fruit salad.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cheesecake salad?

I am not sure where it got the name because it does not have lettuce to be a salad, and it does not have cream cheese to be a cheesecake, either! However, it does have fruit, so you could call it a fruit salad. The traditional red, white, and blue cheesecake (like this one) uses strawberries, blueberries, and mini marshmallows tossed in a sweet cheesecake-flavored cream dressing.

How do I keep my fruit from turning brown?

I always use lemon juice for my fruits, such as apples, bananas, and pears. Just toss the sliced fruit in a bit of lemon juice, and it will lower the pH of the fruit’s surface to keep it from browning. Other acidic juices like orange, pineapple, and lime will work for this, too. Another way to lower the pH is to toss them in vinegar, club soda, or saltwater.

What is the difference between a fruit salad and a fruit cocktail?

The main difference between fruit salad and fruit cocktail is that in the salad, the fruit is typically large pieces or whole fruits. In a fruit cocktail, the fruit is usually diced. Also, a fruit cocktail has to have specific amounts of each fruit, including peaches, pears, pineapples, grapes, and cherries. They are served in syrup or fruit juice, while fruit salad is served with a sweet dressing like this recipe.

Why is my cheesecake salad watery?

It is essential to drain the fruits before adding them to your salad. Also, please do not cut them and toss them in lemon juice until ready to serve. The juices from the fruit will leak out and cause your salad to be too juicy. Another common mistake is stirring it too much or letting it sit out too long. But it is easy to fix. Just drain the excess juice, and it will become creamy again.

How to store:

• Refrigeration: This Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Salad can be refrigerated. It tastes better that way. Just try to make the cream filling beforehand and mix it with the fruits right before serving. Otherwise, the salad might become a bit watery and mushy. 
• Freezer: We do not recommend freezing it because it will get mushy. Plus, with summer on the horizon, it is advisable to use fresh fruits and just make them from scratch. It will take less than 10 minutes!
• Room Temperature: This dish can be served at room temperature for up to 2 hours. If it stays longer than that, it will form bacteria. Therefore, discard immediately after that.

More red, white, and blue recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Get the freshest fruits. Please do not buy them until the day you are ready to make the salad.
• Do not over stir. Gently mix with a wooden spoon to get all the fruit and marshmallows coated.
• Make sure you pat dry the fruit after rinsing so your salad is not watery.
• Let the ingredients warm to room temperature before making it so they will mix easier.
• Keep your salad chilling in the fridge when you are not serving it.