Strawberry Cream Cheese Dessert Cheese Ball Recipe
Are you looking for a sweet cheese ball recipe that’s both pretty and delicious? This easy STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE DESSERT CHEESE BALL recipe is the way to go! Made with just cream cheese, goat cheese, honey, and crushed freeze-dried strawberries. This strawberry cheeseball is light, sweet, and delicious. Serve it with soft heart-shaped bread, crackers, graham crackers or crisp apple slices for the easiest dessert or app ever.
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This recipe idea came to me while I was wandering around Trader Joe’s (as one does) and collecting ingredients for my Valentine’s charcuterie board. I was in the nuts and dried fruit aisle when I spotted the freeze-dried strawberries and thought they would be the perfect statement coating for a sweet and savory cheese ball.
I don’t know about you, but I love freeze-dried fruit, and it turns out this was a great way to create a sweet cheese ball dessert (or appetizer) without the mess and moisture of using fresh strawberries. And not to mention, the color and texture are stunning!
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Cream Cheese Ball
✔ There are only 4 ingredients
✔ No cooking or baking required
✔ It’s make-ahead friendly
✔ Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, brunches, baby showers, or a girls’ night in
✔ Lightly sweet but not overly sugary, making it a great app too
✔ Pairs perfectly with savory bread and crackers or sweet fruit and graham crackers
It’s the kind of dessert cheeseball that looks impressive but is really simple to make!
How to Make This Strawberry Cream Cheese Ball
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Hand mixer (optional but helpful)
- Plastic wrap
- Serving platter
- Spreading knife
- Heart cookie cutter (optional)
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces of cream cheese (or 1 block)
- 11 ounces of goat cheese (or 1 log)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of honey (or to taste)
- 1 package of freeze-dried strawberries (mine was a 1.2 oz. package, and I had a little left over)
The freeze-dried strawberries are key to the bold strawberry flavor without adding extra moisture. They create a beautiful pink, crunchy coating and that intense berry flavor.
Instructions:
- Before mixing, let the cream cheese and goat cheese sit out at room temperature for about 10 or 15 minutes, so they soften a little and are easier to mix.
- In your large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese, goat cheese, and honey until smooth. Use a sturdy spatula or a hand mixer, if available.
- Mold the cheese mixture into a ball shape with your hands, then cover it completely with plastic wrap.
- Place the cheese ball in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes to firm up again.
- Using a jar or cup, crush the freeze-dried strawberries into small pieces.
- Once chilled, roll the cheese ball in the crushed freeze-dried strawberries until fully coated. Press strawberries into any wholes to cover the cheese completely.
- Transfer to a serving platter, serve and enjoy!
That’s it. No baking, no complicated tools.
Pro Tips for the Best Dessert Cheeseball
Let cheeses soften for easier mixing.
Avoid a mess by chilling the cheese ball before rolling it in the strawberries.
Use plastic wrap to finish shaping the ball and smoothing out any lumps without sticking. If you’re feeling creative, mold the cheese ball into a heart shape.
Crush strawberries into small pieces (not powder) for the perfect crunch and texture.
Roll the cheese ball in the crushed strawberries and use your hands to press the strawberries into any holes to cover the cheese completely.
You can make the cheese ball ahead of time, but wait to roll it in the strawberries to maintain a crisp, fresh coating.
Recipe Riffs & Swaps
Make It Sweeter. Add 1–2 tablespoons of powdered sugar for a sweeter strawberry cheeseball.
Add Citrus. Stir in a little lemon zest for brightness.
Add Vanilla. A teaspoon or two of vanilla extract will make it even more dessert-like.
Swap the Fruit. Try freeze-dried raspberries, freeze-dried blueberries or any fruit you prefer.
More Crunch. Mix in mini white chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, crushed oreos or finely chopped nuts like pecans.
How to Serve a Strawberry Dessert Cheese Ball
This strawberry cream cheese dessert cheese ball is best served with:
- Soft bread, I used sourdough (cut into heart shapes for Valentine’s Day)
- Buttery crackers, like Ritz crackers or Club Crackers
- Fresh fruit such as apple slices, pear slices, raspberries and strawberries
- Vanilla wafers or graham crackers for added sweetness
How to Store a Strawberry Cheeseball
Wrap the cheese ball tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The strawberries will start to dull and lose texture after a few days. I don’t recommend freezing your cheese ball as it will cause the texture to change and the strawberries to soften.
Make Ahead Tips
Prepare 1-3 days in advance if needed. Store uncoated, then roll in freeze-dried strawberries right before serving for the brightest color and best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use only cream cheese?
Yes, but goat cheese adds depth and a tanginess, so you might need to adjust the amount of honey for balance. I would definitely add the vanilla if not using the goat cheese.
Can I use fresh strawberries?
I don’t recommend using fresh strawberries. They can add moisture and will make the cheese ball too soft.
Can I make this without a mixer?
Definitely, a spatula works fine, just make sure the cheeses are soft enough to mix and be willing to put in a little elbow grease!
Final Thoughts
This Strawberry Cream Cheese Dessert Cheese Ball recipe feels unique and special without requiring any extra effort. It’s sweet, creamy, lightly tangy, and made with just a handful of simple ingredients. This easy dessert (or app) is perfect for sharing and great for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day brunch, showers, or anytime you want a lovely and hassle-free no-bake treat.
Looking for other cheese dip recipes? Try my 3-ingredient Boursin cheese dip or my whipped goat cheese dip!
Strawberry Cream Cheese Dessert Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Before mixing, let the cream cheese and goat cheese sit out at room temperature for about 10 or 15 minutes, so they softens a little and are easier to mix.
- In your large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese, goat cheese, and honey until smooth. Use a strong spatula or a hand mixer if you have one.
- Mold the cheese mixture into a ball shape with your hands, then cover it completely with plastic wrap.
- Place the cheese ball in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes to firm up again.
- Using a jar or cup, crush the freeze-dried strawberries into small pieces.
- Once chilled, roll the cheese ball in the crushed freeze-dried strawberries until fully coated. Press strawberries into any wholes to cover the cheese completely.
- Transfer to a serving platter, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- Let cheeses soften for easier mixing. They don’t have to come all the way to room temperature; just soft enough to stir easily, especially if using a spatula instead of a hand mixer.
- Use plastic wrap to finish shaping the ball and smoothing out any lumps without sticking to your hands
- Don’t skip the chilling step, or you will have a sloppy cheese ball when serving.
- Best served with soft bread (I used sourdough), fruit slices, buttery crackers or graham crackers.
- You can make the cheese ball up to 3 days ahead of time, but wait to roll it in the strawberries to maintain a crisp, fresh coating.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Happy Hosting!
