Easy Strawberry Parfaits

These pretty Easy Strawberry Parfaits feature a no bake cheesecake cream that's layered with fresh macerated strawberries and buttered crumbs for texture. They're a quick and easy dessert that's sure to please.

Easy Strawberry Parfaits Recipe

Busy days call for quick and easy desserts like these parfaits. When strawberry season is in full swing, this is one more delectable way to use them and there's no better pairing than strawberries and cream. My Easy Strawberry Layer Cake and Mixed Berry Pavlova are two of my go-to recipes using strawberries.

How to Make Lighter Strawberry Parfaits Recipe

Parfaits for summer desserts are among some of our family's favorites. If you'd like to lighten these up a bit, checkout the following tips about how to make them with less calories.

• Use reduced fat graham crackers or vanilla wafers.
• Use light butter to moisten the crumb layer.
• Sweeten strawberries with alternative sweetener of choice.
• Neufchatel cream cheese is already a lighter version of cream cheese. If you prefer, you could opt for fat free.
• Use low fat or fat free sweetened condensed milk for the cheesecake layer.
• Use lite, sugar free or fat free whipped topping.

How to Make the Best Easy Strawberry Parfaits Recipe

These parfaits are simple to assemble and you can relax, there's really no wrong way. A few pointers to keep in mind:

• Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Strawberry Parfaits: Fresh strawberries, crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers, melted butter, Neufchatel cheese, sweetened condensed milk, granulated sugar and whipped topping. (i.e. Cool Whip or similar)
• Kitchen tools you'll need: Parfait glasses or small mason jars, hand mixer, small bowl, medium bowl, measuring cups and spoons, strawberry huller, sharp knife and cutting board.
• Depending on the size of the parfait glasses. mason jars or glasses used, the yield can vary. The parfaits in the images are made in 8 ounce parfait glasses.
• The crumb layer can soften just a bit from the macerated strawberries. If this bothers you, layer them apart from the berries.
• You can make the crumbs, macerated strawberries and cheesecake layer in advance then assemble the parfaits just before serving.
• You can make these same parfaits with fresh raspberries, blackberries or blueberries.
• You can add alternate flavoring to the the cheesecake layer such as lemon or almond in addition to, or in place of, vanilla.
• Store assembled Strawberry Parfaits chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Strawberry Desserts to Make

I'm extremely grateful we can get our hands on fresh strawberries year-round. Due to this, they're often on our dessert menu. Other strawberry recipes you may also like to try:

• Strawberry Shortcake Brownie Cupcakes start with a brownie mix.
• Strawberry Lime Margaritas can be made family friendly, too.
• This Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle is a special dessert for a special occasion.
• Scratch made Strawberry Pound Cake is drizzled with a vanilla cream glaze.
• Strawberry Shortcake are a classic.
• Strawberry Sauce from Will Cook for Smiles.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• 8 ounce Glasses
• Electric Mixer
• Strawberry Huller
• Mixing Bowls Set

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5 from 1 vote

Easy Strawberry Parfaits

Prep Time20 mins

Chill time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 20 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy-strawberry-parfaits, no-bake-strawberry-parfaits, strawberry-parfaits

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 476kcal

Ingredients

• 1 ½ quarts strawberries hulled and cubed (Reserve 6 whole berries for garnishing)
• 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 2 cups vanilla wafer or graham cracker crumbs
• 4 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
• 12 oz Neufchatel cream cheese
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (regular or low fat)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 8 oz frozen whipped topping, thawed i.e. Cool Whip divided

Instructions

• In a mediums size bowl, toss cubed strawberries with 2 tablespoon sugar. Stir and set aside for 10 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, toss together vanilla wafer crumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened. Set aside.
• Using an electric mixer whip together cream cheese, condensed milk, ½ whipped topping and vanilla until smooth.
• To assemble parfaits: Start with 2 heaping tablespoon cheesecake cream topped with 2 heaping Tbsp buttered crumbs and 2 heaping tablespoon strawberries. Repeat layers ending with cheesecake cream. (Reserve a small amount of crumbs to garnish the top, if desired)
• To garnish: Top each parfait with a few crumbs, and divide the remaining whipped topping evenly among the parfaits. Decorate with one whole berry.
• Chill for 2 hours then serve.

Notes

To lighten-up these parfaits:

• Use reduced fat graham crackers or vanilla wafers
• Use light butter for the crumbs
• Use low fat or fat free sweetened condensed milk for the cheesecake layer 
• Sweeten strawberries with alternative sweetener of choice
• Use lite, sugar free or fat free whipped topping

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 341mg | Potassium: 484mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 739IU | Vitamin C: 139mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 1mg

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