Luscious layers of fresh strawberries, cream cheese & whipped cream followed by graham cookie crumbs are a delight in these classic Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits. A simple make-ahead dessert the whole family will love!
These parfaits are just so tasty. I love how quick they are and that they can be prepped earlier in the day and chilled in the refrigerator until you need them. They're the perfect treat after a summer bbq!
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YOU'LL LOVE THIS!
- takes only 15 minutes to prepare
- the flavours of strawberry cheesecake without all the work
- simple ingredients and no fancy equipment
INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
- fresh strawberries are readily available 12 months of the year. If it happens to be strawberry season, then you're in luck! Is there anything better than locally grown strawberries?
- graham crumbs can be found whole and crush by hand or in the food processor. You can also find the crushed ones in the baking section in most food stores.
- cream cheese in this recipe can be the regular cream cheese or light.
- whipping cream is so simple to make from scratch. In a pinch, you could buy the can or container and use that as well.
- heavy cream just a few tablespoons go into the cream cheese mixture. It adds texture and flavour.
INSTRUCTIONS
Before you begin, assemble all ingredients and supplies needed.
Place a glass mixing bowl in the refrigerator to chill for making the whipped cream. On a day where your kitchen is warm in the summer, this will make a big difference!
PREP THE STRAWBERRIES AND SLICE
Ready in 15 minutes, these are really simple to make and look so pretty in a fluted vintage glass or ramekins.
Start by rinsing the strawberries and hulling them. There are many handy gadget available for doing this or you and simple slice them off the top with a paring knife.
Toss the berries in 2 tbsp. of granulated sugar and set them in the refrigerator. The sugar will sweeten them a little and brings out the juices of the strawberries. You can easily omit the sugar in the recipe and simply slice the strawberries and set aside in the refrigerator.
GRAHAM CRUMB LAYER
If you're using graham crumbs that are already crushed, then you will simply have to combine them with melted butter and set aside.
If you've purchased the cookies whole, then you will either process them in the food processor until they're a fine crumb. Alternatively, you can put them in a zippered bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
CREAM CHEESE LAYER
In mixing bowl or stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, heavy cream and 4 tbsp. sugar.
Mix slowly to combine, then mix on medium-high speed for one minute until well-blended and smooth. Add in lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract. Beat at medium speed for one more minute. Set aside.
MAKE THE WHIPPED CREAM
If using hand mixer, begin the whipped cream in a clean bowl. You can also use a mixer. I like to do it by hand with a whisk. It thickens up pretty quickly.
Combine whipped cream, icing sugar and vanilla in mixing bowl.
Mixing by hand - whisk vigorously with a whisk until medium peaks form.
With electric mixer - beat on medium-high until medium peaks form.
Next, fold the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
ASSEMBLE THE PARFAITS
You can use stemless or stemmed glasses, champagne flutes, ramekins. There are so many possibilities on how you can make this pretty dessert.
Do you have old glass vintage dishes in your collection that you never get to use? This is the perfect opportunity!
Start with the whipped cream mixture followed by a layer of graham crumb mixture.
Next, add a layer of strawberries and repeat until the glass is full.
Place strawberries on the top. A garnish of mint leaves can add a nice touch as well.
Refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
The parfaits can be made the night before and store in the refrigerator until the next day. Although they will keep for longer, the texture of the graham cookies and strawberries changes. Best enjoyed the same or next day.
OTHER DESSERT RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
Banana Split Cake with Strawberry Sauce
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No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 parfaits
Description
Summer fresh berries, cream cheese, whipped cream and graham cookie crumbs in luscious layers make this simple no-bake dessert the ideal 'don't-get-the-kitchen-hot' kind of dessert.
Ingredients
1 package (8oz.) cream cheese, softened at room temperature
3 tbsp. heavy cream
4 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. lemon zest
1 and ½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 and ½ cups graham crackers crumbs
2 tbsp. butter
8 cups chopped strawberries
2 tbsp. sugar
1 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (for whipped cream mixture)
Instructions
Strawberry layer
1. Clean and hull strawberries.
2. Gently stir cleaned strawberries in 2 tbsp. of sugar. Set aside in refrigerator.
Graham Crumb Layer
1. Melt 2 tbsp. of butter.
2. In small mixing bowl, combine melted butter and graham crumbs. Stir well to combine and set aside.
Cream Cheese Layer
The cream cheese layer has two parts. The cream cheese and the whipped cream. The whipped cream is folded into the cream cheese mixture.
1. In mixing bowl or stand mixer with paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, heavy cream and 4 tbsp. sugar.
2. Mix slowly to combine, then mix on medium-high speed for one minute until well-blended and smooth.
3. Add in lemon juice, lemon zest and vanilla extract.
4. Beat at medium speed for one more minute.
If using stand mixer, transfer cheese mixture to large mixing bowl and clean the stand mixer bowl.
If using hand mixer, begin the whipped cream in a clean bowl.
Make sure to rinse the stand mixer bowl in very cold water so that it's chilled enough for the next step - whipping the cream.
Whipped Cream
1. Combine whipped cream, icing sugar and vanilla in mixing bowl.
2. Beat on medium-high speed of mixture until medium peaks form. Keep a close eye on the cream. It will turn to butter if you leave it too long!
NEXT, combine cream cheese mixture and whipped cream
1. Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Fold only until combined.
Assembling the parfaits
1. Using four parfait glasses (or preferred glass container) start with whipped cream mixture followed by a layer of graham crumb mixture.
2. Add a layer of strawberries and repeat until parfait glass is full. Place strawberries on top layer.
Notes
There is no right or wrong way when layering these parfaits. You can repeat the graham crumb layer on the top if desired.
Any seasonal fresh berry can be substituted for the strawberries.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 parfait glass
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 42.1 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 27.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 16.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 56.9 g
- Fiber: 6.6 g
- Protein: 5.2 g
- Cholesterol: 77 mg
Keywords: no bake strawberry parfaits
Tim
Delicious strawberry parfait. The only problem is I need it in a larger dish!!
★★★★★