Ambrosia Fruit Salad Cheesecake

Ambrosia Fruit Salad Cheesecake
This no-bake cheesecake brings the nostalgic flavors of Ambrosia salad to a delightful new form. With a buttery graham cracker crust and a creamy, fruit-packed filling, it’s the perfect treat for warm days or festive gatherings.

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

Ingredient	Quantity
Crushed graham crackers	1 ½ cups
Salted butter, melted	5 tablespoons

For the Filling:

Ingredient	Quantity
Crushed pineapple, drained	1 (20 oz) can
Granulated sugar	¾ cup
Cold water	½ cup
Unflavored gelatin	2 envelopes
Cream cheese, cubed and at room temperature	1 (8 oz) package
Seedless green grapes, halved	1 cup
Blueberries, halved	½ cup
Mandarin oranges, drained and halved	1 (11 oz) can
Maraschino cherries, drained and chopped	1 (10 oz) jar
Finely chopped pecans	½ cup
Cool Whip	2 cups

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Crust:
In a bowl, mix the crushed graham crackers with the melted butter until evenly combined. For a finer texture, pulse the ingredients together in a food processor. Press the mixture firmly into the base of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

2. Create the Filling Base:
In a small saucepan, combine the drained crushed pineapple and sugar. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, stir together the cold water and gelatin, allowing it to bloom for 1 minute. Stir the gelatin mixture into the warm pineapple mixture. Lower the heat and add the cream cheese. Stir frequently until the cream cheese melts and the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a glass or metal bowl and allow to cool fully.

3. Assemble the Cheesecake:
Once the base has cooled, mix in the grapes, blueberries, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and chopped pecans. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until fully incorporated. Pour the mixture over the prepared crust and smooth the top with a spatula.

4. Chill and Serve:
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until set. Slice and serve chilled.

Enjoy this fresh and fruity twist on a classic dessert!