Hamdi Saidani This Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe is a creamy, dreamy, and simple dessert, which is made without ever turning on the oven. It features a rich cheesecake filling, a crunchy graham cracker base, and fresh fruit, all layered beautifully in a glass. It’s the perfect make-ahead treat, ready in about 25 minutes plus chilling time.
Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits Ingredients
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup chilled heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup sour cream
For the Whipped Cream Topping:
- 3 tablespoons chilled heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Assembly:
- 1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
- 1 1/2 cups fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries
How To Make Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
- Make the cheesecake filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or using a large bowl and a hand mixer), beat the room temperature cream cheese until smooth and free of lumps. Add the sugar and beat until combined.
- Add flavorings: Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla, the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and sour cream to the cream cheese mixture. Beat on medium speed until everything is smooth and well incorporated.
- Whip the cream: In a separate large, chilled bowl, whip 1 cup of the chilled heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Combine the mixtures: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to deflate the whipped cream.
- Assemble the parfaits: Layer the components in your serving glasses (about 4-6, depending on size). Start with a layer of crushed graham crackers, followed by a layer of the cheesecake filling, and then a layer of fresh fruit. Repeat the layers until the glasses are full, ending with a layer of cheesecake filling.
- Make the topping and chill: In a small bowl, whip the remaining 3 tablespoons of heavy cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until soft peaks form. Top each parfait with a dollop of this whipped cream. Chill the parfaits in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the smoothest filling: It is absolutely essential that your cream cheese is at room temperature. Cold cream cheese will result in a lumpy filling that is impossible to smooth out.
- How to easily crush graham crackers: Place the graham crackers in a resealable plastic bag, seal it, and crush them with a rolling pin until you have coarse crumbs.
- Make-ahead convenience: These parfaits are a perfect make-ahead dessert. You can assemble them up to a day in advance and keep them covered in the refrigerator. Just add the final whipped cream topping and fresh fruit garnish right before serving for the best look.
- Piping for a professional look: For neater layers, you can transfer the cheesecake filling to a piping bag (or a large resealable bag with the corner snipped off) to pipe it into the glasses.
What To Serve With Cheesecake Parfaits
These parfaits are a complete dessert on their own, but for a little extra flair, you can serve them with:
- A drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce
- A sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes
- A crisp cookie, like a shortbread or biscotti, on the side
How To Store Cheesecake Parfaits
Refrigerate: Cover the assembled parfaits with plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator. They are best enjoyed within 2 days, as the graham cracker layer will soften over time.
Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits Nutrition Facts
(Approximate values per parfait, assuming 6 parfaits)
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Protein: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fat: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I use a different kind of cookie for the crust?
Yes! Crushed shortbread cookies, digestive biscuits, Biscoff cookies, or even chocolate wafer cookies would be delicious alternatives to graham crackers.
Can I make this in one large dish instead of individual parfaits?
Absolutely. You can layer the components in an 8×8-inch glass baking dish or a trifle bowl for a family-style dessert.
Why is my filling runny?
This can happen if the heavy cream was not whipped to stiff peaks before being folded in, or if the cream cheese was too soft (microwaved instead of naturally brought to room temperature). Chilling the finished parfaits for at least 2 hours is crucial for the filling to set up properly.
Try More Recipes:
Easy No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe
Description
A rich and creamy no-bake cheesecake filling is layered with crunchy graham cracker crumbs and fresh berries for a simple yet elegant dessert in a glass.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Beat the room temperature cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
- Mix in 1 tbsp vanilla, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sour cream.
- In a separate bowl, whip 1 cup of heavy cream to stiff peaks.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Layer graham cracker crumbs, cheesecake filling, and fresh fruit in serving glasses.
- Whip the remaining 3 tbsp heavy cream with 1 tsp vanilla and use as a topping.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- Using room temperature cream cheese is the key to a smooth, lump-free filling.
- Be gentle when folding the whipped cream into the cheese mixture to keep the filling light and airy.
- The parfaits can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance; just add the final whipped cream topping before serving.
- For the neatest layers, use a piping bag to add the cheesecake filling to the glasses.
