fruit salad cheesecake

By foodiva

Ingredients

• Crust:
• 1 1/2 c. vanilla wafer crumbs (I give vanilla wafer cookies a quick whirl in the food processor)
• 2 T. butter, melted
• Filling:
• 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. cold water
• 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, cubed
• 1 1/2 c. halved seedless grapes
• 1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained and cut in half
• 1 (10 oz.) jar maraschino cherries, drained and roughly chopped
• 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans
• 2 c. whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
• Read more at http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2012/09/fruit-salad-cheesecake.html#1BKzeCV7i5hUU5XK.99

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from thekitchenismyplayground.com

Preparation

Step 1

So, for today's post I'm turning to a dish I've had in my queue for a while but just haven't shared yet. I have quite a few of those. I seem to be able to make stuff and photograph it much more quickly than I can edit all those photos and write posts. That queue of stuff sure comes in handy for crazy-busy times like now!

Think upscale fruit cocktail wrapped in a creamy, light-and-fluffy cream cheese-and-whipped-topping blanket. And what a different way to present fruit salad! I loved it.

Both worked, so size choice is just a matter of what presentation one wants to make.

So, how do you make this unique fruit salad? er, cheesecake?

Simply make a crushed pineapple, cream cheese, and gelatin mixture with a little simple simmering on the stovetop. Then mix in some halved fresh grapes, mandarin orange slices, coarsely chopped maraschino cherries, and chopped pecans.

Fold in some whipped topping, and pour the mixture into a vanilla wafer crust. Chill ... and you're done! Pretty easy, huh?

1. Pouring the fruit salad mixture into muffin cups first, topping with three vanilla wafer cookies as the crust, with the plan of then inverting them when I removed them from the pan.

2. Placing a single vanilla wafer in the bottom of foil cupcake liners, and pouring the fruit salad mixture on top.

3. Placing a single vanilla wafer directly in the bottom of muffin tin cups, without any type of cupcake liner, and pouring the fruit salad mixture on top. My worry with this one was that I wouldn't be able to get the mini cheesecakes out of the pan.

So, whether you make individual minis ...

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine vanilla wafer crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, cook crushed pineapple and sugar over medium heat for 5 minutes or until heated through.

3. Place cold water in a small bowl and sprinkle with gelatin; let stand for 1 minute. Stir gelatin mixture into the warm pineapple mixture.

4. Reduce heat to low and add cubed cream cheese. Cook and stir until cream cheese is melted and the mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and cool completely.

5. Stir the grapes, mandarin oranges, cherries, and pecans into the cooled cream cheese mixture. Fold in the whipped topping. Pour into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Instead of making vanilla wafer crumbs and butter mixture, place a single vanilla wafer cookie in the bottom of muffin tin cups that have been very lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Fill muffin tin cups full with fruit salad mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

I used 1 Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream to make 2 cups of homemade whipped cream. Turned out wonderfully.

Wow, so pretty and festive! Thanks for sharing this on 'Or so she says...' at last week's link party! I would love to have you add the party to your list and stop back to share more of your great ideas. There's actually a party going on right now (it's every Saturday through Tuesday.) Thanks a bunch! ~ Mariel www.oneshetwoshe.com

This looks amazing! I just seen the pin and it caught my eye! Love the picture and how pretty the cheesecake is with the fruit mixed in.

oh my goodness... I make a fruit salad with some of the same ingredients... every holiday...but this just sounds so much better going to do this for sure!! thanks for sharing if you would like to share it at One More Time Events linky party I would love it...here is the link http://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2013/03/share-it-one-more-time-features-and.html

I made this yesterday for a pot luck and it was a hit. I did make some substitutions to use what I had on hand. I used graham crackers for the crust, substituted a can of mixed fruit cocktail for the grapes, and used heavy whipping cream to make the whipped cream. It all turned out beautifully and delicious! Thanks for the recipe.

I just made it yesterday and the taste is good bit it seems like it has too much fruit, I van barely taste the cream cheese :/ I wonder if I can add more crean cheese. ..?

I just made it yesterday and the taste is good bit it seems like it has too much fruit, I van barely taste the cream cheese :/ I wonder if I can add more crean cheese. ..?

I would think you could add a bit more cream cheese, no problem ... or use less fruit to your liking. Enjoy!

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