Ingredients
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream (or double cream)
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam or preserves
For serving:
- Graham crackers
- Vanilla wafer cookies
- Fresh strawberry slices
- Pretzel sticks
- Shortbread cookies
These ingredients closely match other strawberry cheesecake dips that combine softened cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, heavy cream or whipped topping, and strawberry jam.
Step-by-step instructions
1. Prepare the cream cheese base
- In a medium mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed for 1–2 minutes.
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, then continue beating until completely smooth, creamy, and lump-free.
Other cheesecake dip recipes emphasize fully softening cream cheese and beating it with confectioners’ sugar and flavoring until very smooth. Using powdered sugar (rather than granulated) helps create a silky, no-grit texture.
2. Whip the cream
- In a separate clean, cool bowl, pour the cold heavy whipping cream.
- Using clean beaters or a whisk attachment, whip on medium-high speed until the cream forms soft to medium peaks—when you lift the beaters, the peaks will hold but curl over slightly at the top.
- Avoid overwhipping to stiff peaks; you want the cream to stay soft enough to fold in easily and keep the dip light.
Many strawberry cheesecake dip and whipped cheesecake recipes whip heavy cream to medium peaks before folding it into the cream cheese base.
3. Combine and fold
- Add about one-third of the whipped cream to the cream cheese base.
- Use your spatula to gently stir and loosen the thick cream cheese mixture.
- Add the remaining whipped cream.
- Using a gentle folding motion—down the side, across the bottom, and up over the top—incorporate the cream until no white streaks remain.
Other recipes stress folding whipped cream or whipped topping gently into the cream cheese mixture to keep air in the mixture and maintain a fluffy, mousse-like texture.
Assemble, swirl, and serve
4. Assemble the dip
- Spoon or spread the fluffy dip into your serving bowl—a wide, shallow dish works well for swirling jam.
- If your strawberry jam is thick, warm it slightly in the microwave for 5–10 seconds to make it more pourable.
- Drizzle or dollop the jam over the surface of the dip.
- Use a knife, skewer, or toothpick to gently swirl the jam into the top layer in a marbled pattern, without fully mixing it in.
Swirling strawberry jam on top (rather than mixing it all in) is a common styling choice in strawberry cheesecake dips for a pretty, marbled finish and pockets of strawberry flavor.
- Serve immediately with your chosen dippers, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Many cheesecake dips can be served right away, but chilling for a short time helps the dip firm slightly and the flavors meld.