Strawberry cheesecake parfait cups deliver all the elegance of fancy dessert without turning on the oven or spending hours in the kitchen. I created these three years ago for my daughter Maya’s 7th birthday party when I needed something that looked impressive but could be made the morning of the event while she was at school. Watching twelve seven-year-olds reach for seconds and hearing parents ask for the recipe made me realize this no-bake dessert was a keeper worth sharing.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait Cups
I always use full-fat cream cheese for these parfaits because it creates the richest, creamiest texture. Pro tip for selecting cream cheese: let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before mixing so it blends smoothly without any lumps. You’ll get that silky, professional texture that makes these parfaits taste like they came from a bakery. In my experience, Bonne Maman strawberry jam has the best fruit flavor and isn’t too sweet, but any quality jam works well.
- 8 oz cream cheese (I recommend Philadelphia brand, at room temperature for 20-30 minutes)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (also called confectioner’s sugar)
- 1 cup strawberry jam (my preference is Bonne Maman for the best fruit flavor)
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 8-10 full crackers, crushed, I usually use Honey Maid)
- Fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries for topping
- Optional: whipped cream for extra garnish
Step-by-Step Instructions
In my experience, using a piping bag for the cheesecake filling creates much cleaner, more professional-looking layers than spooning it in. I recommend setting up all your cups in a row so you can assembly-line the process and fill them quickly without the cream cheese mixture sitting out too long.
Step 1: Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes until it’s soft enough to press your finger into easily. This step is crucial because cold cream cheese will leave lumps no matter how long you beat it. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is fluffy, smooth, and completely lump-free. The color should lighten slightly from ivory to pale cream, and the texture should look like thick frosting.
Step 2: Transfer the cheesecake mixture into a piping bag or a zip-top bag with one corner snipped off (cut about 1/2 inch from the corner). This makes layering so much neater and prevents smearing on the sides of your glasses. Set aside while you prep your glasses. If you don’t have a piping bag, the zip-top bag trick works perfectly.
Step 3: Add about 2 tablespoons of graham cracker crumbs to the bottom of each 8-ounce glass or parfait cup. Use the back of a spoon to press down gently and create an even layer. Pipe a layer of cheesecake filling on top of the crumbs, filling about one-third of the glass (roughly 3-4 tablespoons of filling per layer).
Step 4: Add about 1-2 tablespoons of strawberry jam on top of the cheesecake layer. Use a spoon or a skewer to gently swirl the jam into the cheesecake filling, creating pretty ribbon patterns. Insert the skewer or spoon and make 2-3 gentle figure-eight motions. Don’t overmix or you’ll lose the distinct layers and end up with pink cheesecake instead of pretty swirls. Repeat the layers (crumbs, cheesecake, jam swirl) until you reach the top of the glass, ending with a cheesecake layer for the cleanest presentation.
Step 5: Cover the parfaits with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, though 2-3 hours is even better. This chilling time allows the filling to set properly so it holds its shape when you spoon into it instead of being runny. Right before serving, top each parfait with fresh berries. The berries stay brightest and freshest when added at the last minute rather than sitting in the fridge where they can release juice.
When to Serve Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait Cups
These elegant parfaits work beautifully as a sweet ending to various dinner menus, especially when you want something lighter than cake that can be made ahead.
After Herb Roasted Chicken in Creamy White Wine Sauce: Following a rich, savory chicken dinner, these creamy parfaits provide a refreshing, fruity contrast that cleanses the palate without feeling too heavy. The bright strawberry flavor is a perfect palate cleanser.
Following Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni: After a hearty pasta dinner, the bright strawberry flavor and cool, creamy texture offer the perfect light finish that won’t leave guests feeling overstuffed. The sweetness balances the savory richness beautifully.
Brunch or Special Breakfast: These parfaits shine at brunch alongside savory egg dishes or breakfast casseroles. The sweet-tart strawberry flavor complements coffee perfectly and adds an elegant touch to morning gatherings.
Summer BBQ Dessert: When serving grilled meats and hearty sides, these chilled parfaits provide a cooling, elegant dessert that can be made ahead so you can enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen during the party.
Valentine’s Day or Special Occasion: The romantic red strawberry swirls make these parfaits ideal for Valentine’s Day, whether you’re serving a fancy steak dinner or a simple pasta dish. They look special without requiring pastry skills, and the individual portions mean no awkward cake cutting.
Storing and Serving Your Parfaits
These strawberry cheesecake parfaits are best when chilled for at least 1 hour before serving, though you can make them up to 24 hours ahead. Store them covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator, and they’ll keep their beautiful layers and fresh taste for up to 2 days. The graham cracker crumbs will soften slightly as they sit, but most people actually prefer the softer texture.
I recommend adding the fresh berry topping right before serving to keep the berries looking vibrant and prevent them from releasing juice into the parfait. If you’re transporting these to a party, keep them upright in a shallow box and add the berries once you arrive. Pro tip: write the assembly date on a piece of tape on the plastic wrap so you remember when you made them.
For serving, you can also pipe a small dollop of whipped cream on top along with the berries for extra richness and visual appeal. You can crush a few extra graham crackers and sprinkle them over the top for added texture and a finished, professional look that really impresses guests.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh for the topping?
Fresh berries work best for topping because frozen berries release too much liquid as they thaw, which can make your parfait watery and dilute the pretty layers. However, you can use thawed frozen strawberries to make homemade jam if you prefer that over store-bought, just make sure to drain excess liquid first.
How far ahead can I make these parfaits?
You can make these up to 24 hours ahead, which makes them perfect for stress-free entertaining. The graham cracker crumbs will soften slightly as they sit, but most people actually prefer the softer texture. Just wait to add the fresh berry topping until right before serving to keep everything looking fresh and beautiful.
Can I substitute the strawberry jam with other flavors?
Absolutely! Raspberry, blueberry, or mixed berry jam all work wonderfully. You can even use lemon curd for a tangy twist, or Nutella for a chocolate cheesecake version. The basic cheesecake filling is versatile enough to pair with any flavor you love, so feel free to get creative based on what you have or what’s in season.
Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait Cups
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes until soft enough to press your finger into easily. In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat with hand mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until fluffy, smooth, and completely lump-free. Color should lighten slightly from ivory to pale cream, and texture should look like thick frosting.
- Transfer cheesecake mixture into a piping bag or zip-top bag with one corner snipped off (cut about 1/2 inch from corner). This makes layering neater and prevents smearing on sides of glasses.
- Add about 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs to bottom of each 8-ounce glass or parfait cup. Use back of spoon to press down gently and create even layer. Pipe layer of cheesecake filling on top of crumbs, filling about one-third of glass (roughly 3-4 tablespoons filling per layer).
- Add about 1-2 tablespoons strawberry jam on top of cheesecake layer. Use spoon or skewer to gently swirl jam into cheesecake filling by making 2-3 gentle figure-eight motions, creating ribbon patterns. Don’t overmix or you’ll lose distinct layers. Repeat layers (crumbs, cheesecake, jam swirl) until you reach top of glass, ending with cheesecake layer.
- Cover parfaits with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, though 2-3 hours is even better. This allows filling to set properly so it holds shape. Right before serving, top each parfait with fresh berries. Berries stay brightest when added at last minute.
