Turn any beverage into a strawberry cheesecake latte with this easy to make strawberry cheese foam

The inspiration for this recipe

When I read about Starbucks Valentin’s Day beverage 2023, Pink Drink with Chocolate Cold Foam, I tried to recreate something similar with the ingredients I had at hand, but I my results didn’t turn out good enough to save the recipe.

However, this idea of a milk tea that combines strawberries and chocolate inspired me to make the one I’m presenting you in this post, using cheese foam as a base.
Although it uses other ingredients as Starbucks’ Valentin’s drink (and it also looks different), it tastes as delicious as it looks nice.

And then I realized, the strawberry cheese foam of this recipe was just as delicious over matcha milk or coffee as over chocolate milk (I didn’t try it with coffee myself, as I don’t drink coffee, but my husband gave me his seal of approval).

That’s why I decided to change the originally planned name of this recipe (“Chocolate Drink with Strawberry Cheesecake Foam”) to simply “Strawberry Cheesecake Foam”.
Feel free to use it as topping for your favorite drink!

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Why I love this recipe

DELICIOUS – The slightly tangy taste of cream cheese foam makes a dream team with strawberry.
EASY TO MAKE – it’s very easy to make this cream. And also, it’s very easy to just make the right amount of strawberry cheese foam you need, wether you want just one serving or several servings.
LOOKS GREAT – you get a lovely pastel pink cream WITH ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS.
NO FRESH STRAWBERRIES NEEDED – you could also make this recipe with fresh or frozen strawberries, but actually this recipe works even better using freeze dried strawberries or strawberry jam. This means, you will be able to enjoy this even when strawberries aren’t in season.

What you’ll need

Ingredients

For the strawberry cheese foam

Cream cheese (Philadelphia type)
Whipping cream
Milk
Sugar
Freeze dried strawberries
Vanilla (optional)

Alternatives and ingredient swaps

Feel free to substitute the sugar for your sweetener of choice (I use xylitol).
You don’t need whole freeze dried strawberries: I use the leftover “powder” or small pieces that remain at the bottom of the package.
Freeze dried strawberry powder will probably work even better (I just don’t have any at hand).
If you don’t have dried strawberries, you can use strawberry jam.
In this case, adapt the amount of sugar accordingly; you may even skip the sugar altogether.
You only have fresh (or frozen) strawberries? No problem, it also works!
Once the cream is whipped, blend the strawberries in.
You’ll need around 5 gr. of strawberries per serving.
Make sure you don’t add too much strawberries, so you the cream doesn’t get too watery.

Equipment

To whip the cream cheese, you’ll need a hand mixer or a handheld milk frother (in case you are only making small amounts).

Time needed: 10 minutes

How to make strawberry cheese foam

Make cheese cream
Whip cream cheese, milk, sugar and whipping cream together until you have the desired consistency.
If using a handheld milk frother (for small amounts), stir everything with a spoon first (clumps of cheese cream would clog the frother).
Add strawberries
Break the freeze dried strawberries into powder.
The easiest way is to rub them between you thumb and forefinger and middle finger.
Then whip again so the strawberry particles are combined with the rest and the foam gets a pastel pink color.
Pour
Use as topping for your milk drink.

Tips

If you use a handheld frother, your foam will probably be on the soft side.
When using a hand mixer, the cream can get quite stiff.
Both are okay, but take into consideration that if the cream is too stiff, it will be difficult to pour.
If the foam is too runny, it might mix too quickly with the drink.
If your foam is too watery, you may add more cream cheese (up to the double amount).

Ideas to make drinks with strawberry cheesecake foam

I originally made this recipe to top chocolate milk, but then I realized it also goes well for most milk-based drinks like lattes and milk tea.

My favorites are using homemade chocolate milk and cold matcha latte:

Chocolate strawberry cheesecake milk

I make my own chocolate drink by combining:
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon honey (or any syrup)
- 1 teaspoon of water
Stir with a spoon until you get a “chocolate syrup” (it smells amazing) and there are no chocolate powder clumps.
Then carefully add milk until you fill 4/5 of the glass. In my opinion, the less foamy the chocolate drink is, the better the resulting drink looks when you add the strawberry cheese foam.
Top with strawberry cheese foam. Optionally, you can decorate with a little bit of strawberry powder (I use small freeze dried strawberries crumbs).

Strawberry cheesecake matcha latte

Make cold matcha latte by combining:
- 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1 Tablespoon warm water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (or sweetener of choice)
Stir with a spoon until there are no matcha powder clumps.
Then add 3 Tablespoon more of water and whisk (I usually use a handheld frother).
Pour the concentrated matcha into the glass you will be drinking from (in case you used another recipient to make it) and add carefully milk until you reach around a 4/5 of the capacity or the glass.
Top with strawberry cheese foam and optionally decorate with crumbs of freeze dried strawberry.

5 from 3 votes