Fresh Strawberry season is here and want to make the most of it!  Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits with layers of sweet strawberries, whipped cream cheese and cool whip and crunchy graham crumbs makes a very quick cool summer dessert.

Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits.  Layers of buttery Graham crumbs, sweet strawberries and Whipped Cream Cheese

It’s so nice in the summer to make a quick dessert that DOESN’T need the oven!! I typically crave a sweet bite after supper and this dessert is very fast to make and feels so light to eat!

We have had a hot week and my house is not staying cool no matter how hard I try!  Running the oven seems unbearable but I love having a fresh berry dessert!  These Strawberry cheesecake parfaits are just perfect! 

I enjoy making a dessert that is an “individual serving” it feels so much more special.  Reminds me of when we were younger and got our own parfait with layers of cool whip and chocolate pudding!!  It was so special to have our own!  

This would even work so well made the day ahead even in plastic cups and taken to a picnic or barbecue for a fresh summer treat! 

Maybe its just me but the smell of graham crumbs makes my mouth water!  They smell AMAZING!  I loved creating layers for this dessert. The graham crumbs don’t have to stick together to form a crust because the berry juices and whipped cream cheese hold it all together!  There is a reason that plain cheesecake is served with fresh fruit topping at essentially every restaurant there is!  It is just simple and delicious.

So I took that cheesecake and made it no bake, foolproof, and ready in under 30 minutes.  This is a last minute company came over kind of dessert that had my kids begging for more…  They would have got it too if I didn’t hide it for myself!

If you are serving this dessert immediately a bit of the berry juice is delicious, but if you are making these the day ahead try not to mix in the juices as it will get a bit soggy.

You can also make your own whipped cream instead of cool whip and fold it in instead!

Gimme alllll the summer berries!!

Try using raspberries, blueberries or blackberries or even a combination for a fresh berry dessert!  Basically the sky is the limit.  Any berries (without pits) with a hint of lemon and a bit of sugar to draw out the juices is going to taste incredible!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

 

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Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits

Sweet fresh strawberries layered with buttery graham crumbs and rich cream cheese with whipped cool whip.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword no bake cheesecake, parfaits, strawberry
Prep Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Author Just a Dash

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Graham Crumbs
  • 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
  • 3 cups Strawberries, chopped *Approx 400g
  • 2 Tbsp Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 block Cream Cheese, softened *250 g
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 litre Frozen Cool Whip, thawed

Instructions

  1. Pour Melted butter into graham crumbs and mix until starting to form small clumps. Set aside.

  2. Wash and chop strawberries. I diced them fairly small but size is preference. Add 2 Tbsp sugar and lemon juice and toss to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes.

  3. Beat softened cream cheese until smooth and no lumps remain, add powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. Fold in Cool Whip. Set aside.

  4. Start layering the mixtures into parfait cups or stemless wine glasses. First add 2 Tbsp Graham mixture into the bottom followed by 1/4 cup Cream cheese mixture and then 1/4 cup of strawberry mixture. Repeat the layers 1 more time and serve immediately. If not serving immediately try not to add all the strawberry juices as it will make the graham crumb mixture soft.

Holly Hunt