1-First, make the strawberry sauce: Combine 1 cup of thawed frozen strawberries and 3 tablespoons of water in a small saucepan. In another bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, then add it to the saucepan. Stir everything until it’s dissolved and cook over medium-high heat until it thickens and turns clear, which takes about 5 minutes. If you want a brighter color, stir in some red food coloring. Once done, pour this over the 6 diced fresh strawberries and mix gently. This sauce can be made ahead and chilled for easier serving later. For a detailed look at fruit pairings, check out our guide to easy fruit sauces on the blog.

2-Next, focus on the cheesecake filling: Beat the 1 8-ounce package of room-temperature cream cheese with ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour until smooth and creamy. This usually takes about 2 minutes with a hand mixer. Then, add 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon sour cream, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, blending until everything is fully combined. This mixture should be thick and flavorful, ready to spoon into the wrappers.

3-Now, prepare the egg wash by whisking together ½ cup water and 1 egg. This helps seal the wontons perfectly, preventing any filling from leaking during frying.

4-Assemble the wontons with care to ensure they turn out just right. Lay a 2-inch square wonton wrapper on a clean surface and brush the edges with the egg wash. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the cheesecake filling into the center of each wrapper. Fold the corners over to form an “X” shape and pinch the edges firmly to seal. Place them on a lined baking sheet and cover to keep them from drying out. Repeat this for all 30 wrappers, and you’ll have a batch ready for frying.

5-Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan to 375°F, making sure you have at least 1 ½ inches of oil for even frying. Fry the wontons in batches of five, turning them occasionally until they turn golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per batch. Once done, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil. For a healthier twist, you can brush them with olive oil and air fry at 300°F for 7-9 minutes instead.

6-Serve these deep fried cheesecake wontons warm, paired with the strawberry sauce for dipping. This step-by-step process not only makes deep fried cheesecake wontons accessible but also allows for personalization, like adding garnishes for special occasions.