Fresh seasonal cherries make the perfect topping to these no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits. An easy 4-ingredient filling thats light, fluffy and a balance between mousse and cheesecake.
Sweet summer cherries are one of my favorite summer fruits. They are perfect for snacking on and make for some delicious summer desserts. Cherries can easily be the star of the show, as they are in these no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits, but they also pair well with many other summer fruits such as peaches (like in my peach cherry crisps).
What I love about this recipe, is that it's easy to make and the no-bake filling is only 4 ingredients.
Types of cherries to use
Summer is the season for cherries. They are sweet and juicy, but have you ever noticed the variety of cherries available on the market? There are so many! The ones you use for these no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits really comes down to a personal preference.
I love Bing cherries (the ones I used here). They are very sweet cherries that are firm, juicy and large. Their deep red color is beautiful. These types of cherries are usually the most common ones available on the market. However, if you like sweet cherries, black cherries are another option. They also have a firm, bold flavor.
If you prefer a more tart flavor that I suggest Rainier or Tulare cherries. Rainier have a two-toned color (yellow and a light red) making for another beautiful presentation. They do have a sweetness to them with a hint of tartness. On the other hand, Tulare cherries resemble the Bing, but are the most tart out of all the sweet cherries.
How to make 4-ingredient no bake cheesecake filling
Always begin with room temperature cream cheese to get a creamy, smooth filling. If you don't, then the mousse will have small clumps of cream cheese. Beat the room temperature cream cheese with the powdered sugar on medium speed until completely smooth (allow to mix for about 2-3 minutes). Then add the pure vanilla extract and mix until incorporated. At this point, set aside while you prep the heavy cream.
Whisk heavy cream until medium peaks form (if you are using a stand mixer for this recipe, you can whisk the heavy cream by hand to avoid washing your bowl from mixing the cream cheese). Carefully, fold in half of the heavy cream into your cream cheese mixture and then fold in the rest of the whipped heavy cream. It's really is that simple.
Putting it all together
Assembling these no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits is my favorite step. It comes together in such a beautiful presentation. I always immediately spoon my graham cracker mixture into my glass containers after it’s mixrd. Because of the three layers, glass jars or cups work best for this dessert especially if you are serving it to guests.
The easiest way to evenly distribute the no-bake cheesecake filling is to use a pastry bag. Spoon all your filling into a pastry bag and cut a large enough hole at the tip to pipe the filling onto the graham cracker crust. If you do not have a pastry bag, then a re-sealable plastic storage bag will do the trick.
Finally, spoon as little or as much of the cherries on top (just make sure it's room temperature)! Any leftover cherry topping is delicious spooned over ice cream (especially when its slightly warmed).
More desserts in a cup
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No-bake Cherry Cheesecake Parfaits
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 parfaits 1x
Description
Fresh seasonal cherries make the perfect topping to these no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits. An easy 4-ingredient filling thats light, fluffy and a balance between mousse and cheesecake.
Ingredients
For the cherries
- 3 cups sweet cherries, pitted
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the crust
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the filling
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (245 g) heavy cream
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, combine cherries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch over medium heat. Using a fork, gently mash cherries. Allow mixture to come to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook cherries, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until cherries have softened and the juices have slightly thickened. Allow to cool to room temperature before assembling parfaits.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and salt. Divide mixture evenly between 6 glasses and set aside.
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. Mix in the vanilla until incorporated.
- In a medium bowl, whisk heavy cream until medium peaks form. Gently fold in half of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, then fold in the other half.
- Evenly distribute no-bake cheesecake filling on top of graham cracker layers. Top with cooled cherries. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert in a Cup
Keywords: no-bake cherry cheesecake parfaits, cheesecake, parfaits, no bake
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