When I’m looking to make a quick dessert that I know will impress guests, these no-bake strawberry cheesecake bites are always at the top of my list. Nearly everyone, kids and adults alike, falls in love with this sweet handheld dessert.
These creamy bites, with their sweetened cream cheese filling and slightly crunchy coating, are so easy to make, you’re going to want to put this recipe on repeat. Trust me when I say that these are so popular you’ll probably want to make a double batch — and even then you might not have leftovers!
Fall Head Over Heels For No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Not only are these delicious no-bake bites one of the most versatile desserts you’ll come across, they’re also incredible timesavers.
- Unique – The salt and vanilla extract are the secret ingredients that take the bites to the next level. Most recipes for this type of no bake bite of goodness call for only cake mix and cream cheese.
- Perfect For Any Occasion – You can take these easy bites to any event from parties to potlucks.
- Simple – With just a few ingredients and straightforward steps, it couldn’t be easier to make this rich dessert.
Ingredients
With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can make a show-stopping dessert that everyone will want the recipe for!
Cheesecake Bites:
- Cream Cheese – Soften the cream cheese ahead of time so that you can easily mix it.
- Fine Sea Salt – Sea salt brings out the flavors of the other ingredients and its fine granules dissolve easily when mixing.
- Clear Vanilla Extract – Vanilla balances out the bites and gives them a warm flavor and aroma. Feel free to use imitation vanilla – it won’t alter the taste.
- Boxed Strawberry Cake Mix – This is what makes this no bake dessert a cinch to make. With the addition of the salt and vanilla extract, no one will know about this simple shortcut.
- Almond Bark or Melting Wafers – These will be the coating for the bites — use whichever is most convenient.
- White Chocolate or Sprinkles – These garnishes are all optional but you can drizzle melted chocolate over top to take these bites up a notch. The sprinkles are also a great way to make these bites fun and festive
How to Make No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Since there’s no baking involved, these little bites come together in a flash!
- Mix. Add the cream cheese to a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a large mixing bowl and a hand mixer). Beat the cream cheese before adding the salt and vanilla extract and beating again.
- Heat Treat Cake Mix– If you choose to heat treat the cake mix, do so now.
- Add Cake Mix. Pour the cake mix into the cream cheese mixture and continue to beat until thick and smooth.
- Chill. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.
- Prepare The Covering. In the microwave, or using a double boiler, melt the almond bark or wafers.
- Make The Bites. Use a cookie scoop to portion the filling before piercing with a toothpick or fork and dipping it into the melted chocolate. Place on the prepared cookie sheet with parchment paper. Repeat until all of the filling has been used.
- Garnish. Add sprinkles while the coating is still warm or use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle melted chocolate after finishing the coating on all of the bites and allowing the chocolate to set.
- Store. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
How to Heat Treat Flour
If we are all being honest with one another, most of you will not heat your flour. And I didn’t either… shhh, don’t tell! There are some things I am willing to roll the dice on and sushi, raw cookie dough, and cake mix are the lot of them.
But if you do want to go through this step, and as a responsible recipe creator I have to implore you to do so… so here is how you do it.
How to Heat Treat Cake Mix In the Oven: To heat treat cake mix in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spread the dry mix evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the dry mixture reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Allow the cake mix to cool completely before using.
How to Heat Treat Cake Mix in the Microwave: Microwaving cake mix is not recommended as it may alter the texture and flavor. But if you want to use this method, place dry mix into a microwave safe bowl and heat at 50% power for 30 seconds, stirring and repeating twice. Allow the cake mix to cool completely before using.
What to Serve With No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
These little bites will ward off any cravings for sweets that you have all on their own. But you can serve them alongside some other treats as well, like Strawberry White Chocolate Bark or Valentine Nutella Truffles.
For a sweet sip, wash your bites down with a dalgona coffee or white hot chocolate. Or serve them up with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
Variations
You can switch up these delectable bites with any number of modifications to create your own sweet one-bite treats!
- Chocolate Chips – Use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips for the coating or add them to the dough.
- Nuts – Fold crushed walnuts, pecans, peanuts, or pistachios into the dough or roll the coated bites in them.
- Sprinkles – Use chocolatey sprinkles instead of colorful sprinkles.
- Sugar – Use decorator’s sugar or a dusting of powdered sugar to decorate.
- Graham Crackers – For a crunchy texture, roll the bites in graham cracker crumbs.
- Other Chips – Stir in peanut butter chips, caramel chips, or any other flavors.
Storage and Freezing
Since these cheesecake bites do contain dairy you’ll need to refrigerate fresh cheesecake bites as well as leftovers.
Can These Be Made Ahead?
You can make the filling and form the dough balls ahead of time and chill them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before dipping.
How To Store Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Keep these bites in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag.
Can I Freeze Them?
Freeze the bites for up to 3 months in a resealable freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
Common Questions About No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Absolutely! No-bake cheesecake filling does get firm in the refrigerator within a few hours. Leave it in for more than 6 hours for the best results.
Controlling the temperature of your ingredients is the key to making a no-bake cheesecake that has the perfect texture. Be sure to use room temperature ingredients, but don’t allow them to become overly warm.
If you froze your cheesecake bites but have a craving for them, don’t despair — you can snack on them straight from the freezer! If you want a softer texture, though, you can thaw them in the fridge overnight.
More Sweet Treats
We do love desserts and you know I am a lazy baker, so these super easy dessert recipes will also be up your alley!
No Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
Raspberry Cheesecake Recipe
Berry Cheesecake Salad Recipe
Strawberry Cheesecake Bites Recipe
Ingredients
Strawberry Cheesecake Bites:
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- 13.25 box strawberry cake mix*
- 12 ounces almond bark or pink melting wafers
Decoration:
- white chocolate , optional
- Valentines Day festive sprinkles , optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the salt and vanilla extract until combined.
- Add the dry cake mix and continue to beat until smooth. The mixture will be very crumbly, but will come together eventually and be smooth, but thick.
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- At 30 second intervals, melt the almond bark or pink chocolate wafers, stirring between each until smooth. Alternately, use a double boiler.
- Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, make a ball of the dense dough. Using a toothpick or fork, dip this into the melted chocolate, tapping on the side to smooth and shake off excess, then gently place onto the parchment paper.
- If adding sprinkles, top while the chocolate is still tacky. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Allow the chocolate to set and then, if desired, drizzle with more melted white chocolate. To set faster, chill for 10-15 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store leftovers chilled as well.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
How to Heat Treat Flour
If we are all being honest with one another, most of you will not heat your flour. And I didn’t either… shhh, don’t tell! There are some things I am willing to roll the dice on and sushi, raw cookie dough, and cake mix are the lot of them. But if you do want to go through this step, and as a responsible recipe creator I have to implore you to do so… so here is how you do it. How to Heat Treat Cake Mix In the Oven: To heat treat cake mix in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spread the dry mix evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the dry mixture reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Allow the cake mix to cool completely before using. How to Heat Treat Cake Mix in the Microwave: Microwaving cake mix is not recommended as it may alter the texture and flavor. But if you want to use this method, place dry mix into a microwave safe bowl and heat at 50% power for 30 seconds, stirring and repeating twice. Allow the cake mix to cool completely before using.Nutrition
These are so cute, they’re perfect for Valentines day parties or treats for our loved ones.
These turned out great! I love that they are no bake. I can’t wait to make them again.
Whipped up a batch of these for an afternoon treat and they do not disappoint! Easy, elegant and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth, indeed!
Delicious and addicting! We love these so much!
I love these! Everyone did, in fact. They’re so delicious and the strawberry flavor is really nice, not artificial tasting!