Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries with Chocolate Accents
My first introduction to the concept of filling a strawberry with the flavors of cheesecake was featuring a post by Nutmeg Nanny many Fridays ago. When I finally got serious about making these little gems for a bridal shower, there were tweaks to the recipe I could not resist—lemon zest is a must in cheesecake—and they were absolutely fabulous. Juicy, ripe strawberries dressed in flavors of cheesecake, graham cracker, and chocolate create a beautiful presentation and a memorable dessert for a shower or any gathering. What a great way to make the most of what is left of summer berries!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds strawberries -- stem and core removed, bottom trimmed flat
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest -- minced fine
- 8 ounces cream cheese -- softened
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 squares *graham crackers or Milano cookies -- crushed fine
- 1 cup white or dark chocolate -- chopped or in chips, melted
- *for gluten-free, use gluten-free graham crackers or cookies
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries and dry well. Trim the cap and hull strawberry with a paring knife, creating a small pocket. In order to stand the berries upright, trim the bottom of the strawberry creating a flat base.
- Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla with a mixer until creamed and fluffy. Add cream cheese mix to piping bag or large Ziploc bag with a small piece of the bottom corner cut off. Set aside.
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Place a dime-size amount of chocolate on a baking sheet or tray lined with wax paper. Place a strawberry on top of chocolate and cooling until chocolate hardens. This chocolate base adds stability to the strawberries, especially in transport.
- Using a piping bag or Ziploc bag, fill strawberries with the cream cheese filling.
- Sprinkle with crushed graham crackers. Accent with chocolate to finish the strawberries. Allow chocolate to harden or set.
Notes
Strawberries kept in the refrigerator will sweat in a warm room. Remove from refrigeration well in advance to allow time for the berries to come to room temperature and dry well before dipping in chocolate or filling so the moisture doesn't prevent the chocolate from sticking.
Shared on the following Blog Hops:
Simply Delish
Mom Trends
EKat’s Kitchen Friday Potluck
It’s too late for fresh strawberries here, but I really need to do this. Such a pretty and tasty looking recipe.
Yes, it is late in the season here in CO, relying on CA organic berries which are still coming in surprisingly flavorful. These really are worth the trouble finding some!
These are the second lot of cheesecake filled strawberries ive seen today… amazing. They look fantastic!
Thanks for stopping by and saying so. Glad to find your blog
Yum! I love that you added lemon zest!
You were such a help responding to my questions when I was making these, they turned out great for the shower. Thanks again!
A really pretty way to serve strawberries.
Wow simple amazing!
BTW I nominated you for a challenge hope to see your response soon
I’m working on it! Thanks again for thinking of me
Amazing. Those are Martha-Stewart pretty. So impressed…and a little hungry. Thanks so much for sharing with Momtrends for our Friday Food Linky. Have a great weekend.
Looks delish.
Thanks for sharing with us at
Simply Delish Saturday
What gorgeous stuffed strawberries – the fruit itself is awesome but this takes them to a whole new level
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I would love to have these right now. I had to stop myself from staring at these for awhile lol. Delish
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