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Easy No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits

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A quick and easy no-bake dessert featuring creamy cheesecake layers, fresh strawberries, and crunchy graham crackers, perfect for summer gatherings and hot days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz softened cream cheese (full-fat recommended)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt (optional)
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups graham crackers, crushed (honey-flavored preferred)
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon sugar for macerating strawberries

Instructions

  1. Crush the graham crackers by placing about 1 1/2 cups in a zip-top bag and crushing with a rolling pin or pulsing in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt, then mix until combined.
  3. In a separate chilled bowl, whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form, being careful not to overwhip.
  4. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula, keeping it fluffy and light.
  5. Hull and slice about 2 cups fresh strawberries. Optionally, toss them with 1 teaspoon sugar and let sit for 10 minutes to macerate.
  6. Assemble the parfaits by layering 2 tablespoons of graham cracker crumbs at the bottom of each glass, followed by 1/4 cup of the cream cheese mixture, then a layer of strawberries. Repeat layers until the glass is full, finishing with strawberry slices on top.
  7. Refrigerate the parfaits for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm up.

Notes

Soften cream cheese fully before mixing to avoid lumps. Stop whipping cream at soft peaks to prevent graininess. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture to keep it light and fluffy. Macerate strawberries with sugar if they are not sweet enough. Parfaits improve in flavor after chilling for a few hours or overnight. Use clear glasses or jars for attractive layering. For dairy-free version, substitute coconut cream and dairy-free cream cheese. For gluten-free, use gluten-free graham crackers or almond flour crumbs.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake cheesecake, strawberry parfait, summer dessert, easy dessert, quick dessert, no oven dessert, creamy cheesecake, graham cracker crust

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/easy-no-bake-strawberry-cheesecake-parfaits-recipe-perfect-for-summer-desserts/