Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Fresh, ripe, juicy strawberries filled with a rich, creamy, silky cheesecake filling, and topped with the crunchy deliciousness of crushed graham crackers. Each strawberry is stuffed with a decadent dollop of creamy cheesecake filling, then rolled in crushed graham crackers, making it a delightful bite-sized treat.
With only 5 simple ingredients, and no cook time, this is the perfect treat for parties, Valentine’s dinners, or special occasions; and the ideal way to use fresh strawberries, indulge your taste buds, and satisfy your sweet tooth while enjoying the fresh taste of berries.
Enjoy these strawberries for dessert for Valentine’s Day after a tasty Sirloin Steak or Lobster Tail.
What You Need to Make Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
- Cream cheese, softened
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Fresh strawberries, hulled and cored
- Graham crackers
How to Pick Good Strawberries
When selecting fresh strawberries, look for berries that are:
- Deeply Colored. You want berries that are a deep, bright red in color, with no white or green spots.
- Firm. Give the berries a little squeeze, berries that are too soft or mushy may be overripe and will spoil quickly or may not taste as good.
- Free from mold or mildew. Check your packaging thoroughly, berries tend to mold easily, so avoid strawberries that have any signs of mold or mildew. And wash them in a vinegar solution once you receive them to help them stay fresh longer.
- Heavy for their size. When selecting fresh strawberries, the juiciest ones are heavier and also sweeter.
- Smell them. Do they smell like strawberries? Fresh strawberries that were picked too soon won’t have that sweet aroma. Let your nose guide you.
It’s always best to buy strawberries in season and from local farmers markets, when you have a choice. But if buying out of season, use the above tips to get the best berries.
Then use those strawberries in all the things, like these Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars!
How to Wash Strawberries
Use a vinegar wash. A vinegar wash for strawberries is a simple method for cleaning the berries in a way that helps to remove dirt, debris, and pesticides, and keep the berries fresh longer.
- Make a vinegar wash: To make a vinegar wash, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl.
- Wash Berries: Place the strawberries in the mixture, swish it around, and let the berries sit for a few minutes
- Rinse Berries: Remove the berries from the vinegar mixture and rinse thoroughly with cold water.
- Dry Berries: Set berries out on a paper towel or drying cloth, and let dry fully before coating, stuffing, or storing.
How to Make Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Clean and Core Strawberries: Clean strawberries in the vinegar wash mentioned above. Let dry completely, then use a strawberry huller/corer to core the strawberries. Set aside.
- Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth and silky. It is best if the cream cheese is room temperature before you begin.
- Prep the piping bag: Take the filling and spoon it into a piping bag or zip topped bag with a corner snipped.
- Fill Berries: Using the piping bag, fill the cavities of the cored strawberries with the cheesecake mixture.
- Dip Berries: Take your filled berries, and dip the filled side of strawberries in crushed graham crackers to coat. Press the crackers in gently if needed.
Variation Ideas For Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
While these cheesecake stuffed strawberries are amazing as they are, there are so many fun things you can do to mix things up. Here are a few ideas:
- Toffee Rolled: Instead of graham cracker crumbs, roll the strawberries in toffee bits or chunks for added crunch and a fun flavor mix up!
- Chocolate-dipped: One of my favorite variations is the chocolate dip. After stuffing and rolling, dip the stuffed strawberries in melted chocolate for an even more decadent treat.
- Nutella: Nutella added to the cheesecake filling gives it a fun and even more decadent twist. And you can roll it in crushed hazelnuts for even more fun.
- Caramel: Skip the chocolate and instead drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the stuffed strawberries.
- Nutty: Skip the graham crackers again, and instead roll the stuffed strawberries in crushed nuts, such as almonds or pecans, or a combo of nuts and graham cracker. .
- Zesty: While I love the filling as is, a nice addition is skipping the vanilla, and instead add a touch of lemon or orange zest to the filling for a burst of citrus flavor.
- Spiced: Want a homier flavor? Add in some spice. A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cheesecake gives it a warm, spicy flavor that is fun for the holidays.
- Even more Berries: I love a good flavored filling, get even more berry flavor by mixing raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries into the cheesecake filling before stuffing the strawberries.
These are just a few of countless ways you can mix things up with these cheesecake stuffed strawberries. So have fun, and experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create your own twist. If you try something new, leave a comment to let us know!
Storing Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
This is a treat best made fresh, but if you happen to have extras, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. As long as the strawberries stay good, they are great! Washing in the vinegar bath will help them stay good longer.
Other Great Recipes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Strawberries and Cream Donuts
- Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake Bars
- Strawberry Pie
- Strawberries and Cream Puffs
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Ingredients
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened (1 package)
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pint fresh strawberries hulled and cored
- 3 graham crackers crushed, or as needed
Instructions
- Clean and Core Strawberries: Clean strawberries in the vinegar wash mentioned above. Let dry completely, then use a strawberry huller/corer to core the strawberries. Set aside.
- Make the Filling: Beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth and silky. It is best if the cream cheese is room temperature before you begin.
- Prep the Piping Bag: Take the filling and spoon it into a piping bag or zip topped bag with a corner snipped.
- Fill Berries: Using the piping bag, fill the cavities of the cored strawberries with the cheesecake mixture.
- Dip Berries: Take your filled berries, and dip the filled side of strawberries in crushed graham crackers to coat. Press the crackers in gently if needed.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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