By Lindy Van Schalkwyk, last updated on February 1, 2022
Sometimes cheesecake can become repetitive. So, we’ve made a guide on how to decorate a cheesecake with fresh fruit to elevate your flavors!
Today, we will be looking specifically at refreshing fruit and the many ways you can use it! We have also developed an incredibly refreshing white chocolate cheesecake recipe with a passion fruit jelly topping and freshly cut oranges and strawberries.
How To Decorate A Cheesecake With Fresh Fruit – Why Choose Fresh Fruits?
Fresh fruit is an incredibly delicious way to add more flavor to a simplistic cheesecake. Especially when you are wanting to decorate no-bake cheesecakes. These unbaked cheesecakes are meant to be refreshing, so what better way to elevate them further than by using ripe sweet fruit?
Using fresh fruit will allow you to also play around with a ton of different flavors and flavor combinations. For example, you can go tropical and use a pineapple topping or passion fruit and coconut mix. For a more autumn-like flavor profile, you can use some ripe stone fruits like plums or apricots.
Now, the next point we would like to touch on is how to use the fresh fruit. “Fresh fruit” doesn’t necessarily mean that the fruits have to be used as-is. You can still have their delicious flavors enhanced.
You can grill the fresh fruit on a hot griddle plate to give it a charred flavor as well, while simultaneously keeping the fresh sweet flavors. You can also macerate them in a flavored sugary liquid, or even make a fresh fruit puree (that doesn’t get cooked).
For today’s recipe though, we thought it would be best to keep it fairly simple and use a fresh fruit puree with fresh fruit garnished too. This recipe is extremely flexible, which is why we love it!
Choosing The Flavors And Flavor Combinations
Now, let’s take a look at some incredibly easy fresh fruit flavor combinations you can try that works exceptionally well with plain cheesecake. But remember, you can also pair fresh fruit with flavored cheesecake.
For example, a mix of fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries will work incredibly well with a white chocolate cheesecake. And, a banana will work well with salted caramel cheesecake.
Stick to the Fruit Types
This is a tried and tested fruit pairing technique that has been used for decades! Sticking to a specific category of fruits (for example citrus fruit, berries, melons, or stone fruits) will always be a safe bet.
The only factor to consider now is how well they pair with the flavor of cheesecake you have.
Use True and Tried Fruit Flavor Pairings
There are tons of sites you can look at to explore well-known flavor combinations. We are especially in love with this one, which covers virtually every type of fruit you can think of. And, all of them can be easily found!
You can pair an apple with other fruits like apricot, cherry, lychee, pineapple, and pomegranates. And, to make it even more interesting, add some nuts or even soak the fruit in alcohol!
When using a banana, try pairing it with berries, mango, orange, or passion fruit. And, if you want to use some kiwi, pair it with limes, grapefruits, and coconuts.
Create your own Flavor Combination
We also encourage people to try and create their own flavor pairings. And, the best way to do it is to keep experimenting.
Start by using a neutrally flavored cheesecake, like vanilla, and add some fruit combinations. Have a few family members or friends try it and get some feedback. Then, either keep the pairing or make some adjustments.
How To Decorate A Cheesecake With Fresh Fruit – What You Will Need
Ingredients for Coconut Biscuit Crumb
- 16 coconut biscuits or graham crackers
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup fine caster sugar
- Pinch of salt
Ingredients for the White Chocolate Cheesecake
- 2 cups whipping cream, room temperature
- 17.5 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 10.5 grams white chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients for the Passion Fruit Topping
- 5 gelatin leaves
- 7 ounces fresh passion fruit pulp
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- Orange, segments
- Strawberries, cut
Equipment
- 8-inch springform cake pan
- Non-stick baking spray
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Medium saucepan
Step by Step Instructions For This Fruit Cheesecake Recipe
Step 1: Make the Graham Cracker Crust
Place all of the coconut crumb ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Blend the ingredients together until they form a uniform fine crumb.
Next, spray the springform cake pan with non-stick cooking spray or more melted butter. Then, press the coconut crumb into the springform cake pan. Make a slight edge against the side too.
Place the pan inside of the fridge and allow it to set until you need it later.
Step 2: Make the Cheesecake Batter and set it
Combine all of the no-bake white chocolate cheesecake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gently fold the ingredients together until you have a uniform and completely smooth batter.
Then, pour it into your crusted cake pan and allow it to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
Step 3: Make the Passion Fruit Pulp Layer
First, soak the gelatin leaves in cold water for 10 minutes. Then, press out any excess water. Then combine the passion fruit pulp and sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the gelatin leaves and stir until they are melted. Then, allow the mixture to cool completely.
Then, pour it over your semi-set cheesecake and place it back into the fridge to continue setting overnight.
Step 4: Decorate the Cheesecake with Fresh Fruits
Remove the cheesecake from its pan and decorate it with beautifully segmented fresh oranges and cut strawberries. You can play around with the design a lot and add as much or as little fruit as you want.
Tips and Tricks for Making Cheesecake With Fruit Topping
- It is crucial that the white chocolate you add to the other ingredients has been cooled to room temperature. If it is hot or even slightly warm, it will affect the texture of the other ingredients. And, by using room-temperature ingredients, you can make a much more uniform batter and prevent overmixing it.
- When setting the cheesecake, make sure to wrap it with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
- You can use other fruit purees instead of passion fruit pulp to make the fresh fruit jelly layer. You can even use regular jello if you’d like.
- Other fresh fruits you can use as a cheesecake fruit decoration include banana, coconut, kiwi, mango, papaya, peach, pear, and pineapple.
Servings and Preparation Times for Cheesecake with fruit Topping
| Preparation time | Setting time | Servings |
| 20 minutes | 8-24 hours | 8-10 |
How To Decorate A Cheesecake With Fresh Fruit – Final Thoughts
We bet you’ve already fallen in love with this incredibly delicious cheesecake recipe that uses fresh fruit. Let us know what you think in the comments below and which fresh fruit pairings you like to use!
How to decorate a Cheesecake with fresh fruit - what you will need
Equipment
- 8-inch springform cake pan
- Non-stick baking spray
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber or silicone spatula
- Medium saucepan
Ingredients
Ingredients for coconut biscuit crumb
- 16 coconut biscuits or graham crackers
- 3 tablespoons salted butter melted
- 1/3 cup fine caster sugar
- Pinch of salt
Ingredients for the white chocolate cheesecake
- 2 cups whipping cream room temperature
- 17.5 ounces cream cheese softened
- 10.5 grams white chocolate melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients for the passion fruit topping
- 5 gelatin leaves
- 7 ounces fresh passion fruit pulp
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- Orange segments
- Strawberries cut
Instructions
- Place all of the coconut crumb ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Blend the ingredients together until they form a uniform fine crumb.
- Next, spray the springform cake pan with non-stick cooking spray or more melted butter. Then, press the coconut crumb into the springform cake pan. Make a slight edge against the side too.
- Place the pan inside of the fridge and allow it to set until you need it later.
- Combine all of the no-bake white chocolate cheesecake ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Gently fold the ingredients together until you have a uniform and completely smooth batter.
- Then, pour it into your crusted cake pan and allow it to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
- First, soak the gelatin leaves in cold water for 10 minutes. Then, press out any excess water. Then combine the passion fruit pulp and sugar in a medium saucepan. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the gelatin leaves and stir until they are melted. Then, allow the mixture to cool completely.
- Then, pour it over your semi-set cheesecake and place it back into the fridge to continue setting overnight.
- Remove the cheesecake from its pan and decorate it with beautifully segmented fresh oranges and cut strawberries. You can play around with the design a lot and add as much or as little fruit as you want.
Notes
Tips and tricks for making cheesecake with fruit topping
- It is crucial that the white chocolate you add to the other ingredients has been cooled to room temperature. If it is hot or even slightly warm, it will affect the texture of the other ingredients. And, by using room-temperature ingredients, you can make a much more uniform batter and prevent overmixing it.
- When setting the cheesecake, make sure to wrap it with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
- You can use other fruit purees instead of passion fruit pulp to make the fresh fruit jelly layer. You can even use regular jello if you'd like.
- Other fresh fruits you can use as a cheesecake fruit decoration include banana, coconut, kiwi, mango, papaya, peach, pear, and pineapple.
Lindy Van Schalkwyk is a culinary specialist with a background in Advanced Cooking, Advanced Pâtisserie, Media Communications and Nutrition. She has gained invaluable experience in the culinary industry having worked in some of the top restaurants in Africa in 2016 and 2017. Her expertise in nutrition has enabled her to develop recipes for special dietary needs. In 2018, Lindy began working in the Food Media industry, focusing on recipe development, recipe writing, food writing and food styling.