Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake Taco (Printable Version)

Crispy taco shells with creamy cheesecake filling, topped with fresh strawberries and golden cookie crunch

# What You'll Need:

→ Taco Shells

01 - 8 small flour tortillas
02 - 2 tablespoons butter, melted
03 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Cheesecake Filling

05 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/3 cup powdered sugar
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Topping

09 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
10 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Crunch Topping

12 - 8 vanilla sandwich cookies, crushed
13 - 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Brush both sides of each tortilla with melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Dredge tortillas in the mixture to coat evenly.
03 - Drape tortillas over two bars of an oven rack so they hang like taco shells. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Let cool completely.
04 - In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mix until combined. Slowly add heavy cream and beat until light and fluffy. Chill until ready to use.
05 - In a small bowl, combine diced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes to release juices.
06 - Mix crushed cookies, freeze-dried strawberries, and melted butter until well combined.
07 - Fill each cooled taco shell with cheesecake filling using a piping bag or spoon. Top generously with strawberry mixture and sprinkle with the crunch topping.
08 - Serve immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between warm cinnamon sugar shells and cool creamy filling creates pure magic
  • These disappear faster than traditional cheesecake because they are so fun to eat
02 -
  • The taco shells must be completely cooled before filling or they will get soggy instantly
  • Do not skip chilling the filling because it pipes much better when cold
03 -
  • Use a cooling rack draped over a baking sheet if you do not want to hang tortillas directly on oven bars
  • The filling makes more than you need but it keeps beautifully for breakfast the next day