4th of July Cheesecake Dessert with Chiquita Banana Stars

The Fourth of July is only a couple days away and I’m sure you all have fantastic holiday plans to celebrate the day! From what we wear (Swing over and check out our Fourth of July Fireworks T-shirts we made!) to what we eat, we like to celebrate in style in our family. Fourth of July actually marks the anniversary of the day my husband and I met, so it’s a pretty special occasion for us. This year we are celebrating at our friend’s annual Independence Day cookout and then off to watch fireworks in the evening. I can’t wait!

Everyone is supposed to bring a side dish or dessert to the cookout, and our family is bringing my newest favorite cheesecake dessert but with a patriotic twist – 4th of July Cheesecake Dessert with Chiquita Banana Stars!

Ingredients:

• 4 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup + 1T sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip, thawed
• Graham Crackers, finely crushed (about 1/3 of a box)
• Fresh Berries for decoration
• 2-3 Chiquita Bananas
• Small Star-Shaped Cookie Cutter (or small paring knife)

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer until smooth. Gently stir in cool whip until well blended.

Fill individual serving dishes half way with the cream cheese mixture. I did this easily and evenly using a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off, but you could also use a spoon, or piping bag.

Top the mixture with a layer of graham cracker crumbs. Then, fill to the top with more of the cream cheese mixture. Lightly sprinkle the top with additional graham cracker crumbs. Refrigerate for four hours, then serve chilled. Before you serve your desert, don’t forget to add the patriotic flair!

Take your Chiquita bananas and slice them into semi-thick slices. Using the small star-shaped cookie cutter create Chiquita banana stars to place atop your dessert. If you don’t have a small star-shaped cookie cutter, you can also use a small paring knife to cut the star shape. Add a red berry (we used strawberries) and a blueberry or two to your Chiquita banana star, and you’re done!

This recipe makes about 16 mini servings, or one large layered dessert in a 9×13 dish. If you use small individual glass serving dishes you can see the layers in the dessert for a pretty effect. Keep in mind that this is a rich cheesecake dessert and you want your servings to be fairly small. My husband wants me to add a layer of Chiquita banana slices in the middle next time I make it. Sounds like a yummy idea!

Any favorite Independence Day desserts? If you’re looking for even more 4th of July ideas, check out Natalie’s DIY 4th of July Wreath tutorial!