Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfait Recipe

These berry cheesecake parfaits are easy to make with layers of a creamy no bake cheesecake, sponge cake and fresh sweet berries. It’s the perfect summer dessert! 

Summertime is the best time for easy no-bake desserts! I love my no bake mixed berry cheesecake, but sometimes it’s nice to have the same flavors without the fuss of making a whole cake. 

 

These easy berry cheesecake parfaits are the perfect individual sized dessert! They have layers of light sponge cake, a sweet and tangy cream cheese filling and fresh berry sauce. It’s the best way to celebrate summer. 

If you love to avoid turning on the oven like I do during the summer, my other favorite no bake parfaits to try include this creamy cappuccino parfait, no bake brownie cheesecake parfait and Nutella tiramisu.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

• Easy dessert: This sweet treat uses a few shortcuts including store bought cake to keep it, they are so easy even the kids could help make it! 
• No bake: No bake means no turning on the oven! If the temps are hot outside, these are the best no bake dessert to make. 
• Individual desserts: I love serving this berry cheesecake parfait recipe at summer parties or cookouts as they can be made ahead and everyone can just grab one to enjoy! 

No Bake Cheesecake Parfait Ingredients

• Cake: You can use store bought or homemade pound cake or sponge cake. I love to use leftover Italian sponge cake or lemon plumcake when I have it and have even used this coconut pound cake! 
• Berries: You will need at least two cups of fresh berries. Choose ripe strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or blackberries.
• Sugar: Powdered sugar helps bring out the sweetness of the berries. Use more or less depending on how ripe your berries are. You will also need some for the cheesecake filling.
• Cream: Whole cream, heavy cream or whipping cream at least 30% fat content.
• Cream cheese: Whole fat cream cheese will add the best taste. You could use low-fat but I would not recommend fat free.
• Vanilla extract: Compliments the rich flavor of the cheesecake filling.

Substitutions And Variations

• Angel food cake: Instead of a sponge cake or pound cake use cubed homemade angel food cake! 
• Graham crackers: Instead of cake, try crushed graham cracker crumbs or digestive biscuits. I would recommend crushing them then mixing with some melted butter to create better texture in the parfait layers.
• Type of berry: Whether you just want a blueberry sauce, strawberry sauce or a mixed berry sauce, the choice is up to you! 
• Lemon: If you love my no bake lemon cheesecake, you could add 1 ½ Tablespoons of lemon zest to the cheesecake filling in these parfaits or add a small dollop of lemon curd to the layers.

How To Make Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

I love no bake parfait desserts and this is one of favorites! For the full ingredient listing and instructions scroll down to the bottom of the post for the recipe card.

To start, cut the cake into bite sized pieces.

Next, in a blender add the washed and dried berries with the sugar and blend until smooth. Pass the mixture through a sieve to remove any small seeds.

To make your cream cheese filling, in a medium sized bowl using an electric mixer whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Fold the cream cheese mixture into the whipped cream until combined. 

Assemble the parfaits by adding 3-4 pieces of the cake to the bottom of each glass, drizzle with some sauce and then top with the cheesecake mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with the cheesecake layer. Place the no bake cheesecake parfaits covered in the fridge for a few hours until chilled.

Can I Make This Into A Trifle? 

Yes! Similar to my summer berry trifle, a berry cheesecake trifle would be great for a summertime cookout, BBQ or gathering. Just layer half of each ingredient into the trifle bowl and repeat the layers. 

What Type Of Glass Should I Use?

Mason jars work great as well as any 8 oz glass cup or parfait glasses. 

Can I Make The Filling With Yogurt?

Yes, but I would recommend using the filling from my no-bake Greek yogurt pie. If you substitute Greek yogurt for the cream cheese in this recipe it won’t turn out. 

How Do I Make A Thicker Berry Sauce?

If you want a thicker berry sauce, after blending the berries with sugar, add the berry sauce to a small pot on the stovetop. Combine 2-3 teaspoons of cornstarch with 2 Tablespoons of water and stir into the berries. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat to simmer and stir constantly for a few minutes until thickened. Alternatively, you could use pectin. 

How To Store Leftover Parfaits? 

These are best fresh! I would recommend eating them the day they are made or after they chill overnight. You can store the parfaits in the refrigerator up to 3 days assembled, though the cake will likely get soggy.

If stored separately, the cheesecake filling should last up to 2-3 days refrigerated and the berry sauce up to 5 days.

More Delicious Cheesecake Recipes

If you are looking for a quick and easy and a refreshing No Bake Cheesecake Parfait, then I hope you give this a try and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Updated from July 30, 2018.

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