Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait (Printable version)

Creamy layers of cheesecake, fresh strawberries, and crunchy cookie crumbs in elegant cups.

# What you need:

→ Cheesecake Layer

01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

05 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
06 - 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Cookie Crumble

08 - About 8 digestive biscuits or graham crackers, crushed
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Steps to follow:

01 - Toss diced strawberries with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes.
02 - Combine crushed biscuits with melted butter until mixture resembles wet sand.
03 - Beat cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.
04 - Layer cookie crumble at the bottom of each dessert cup.
05 - Add a layer of cheesecake mixture over the cookie crumble in each cup.
06 - Spoon macerated strawberries over the cheesecake layer.
07 - Repeat the layers once more, finishing with strawberries on top.
08 - Refrigerate the layered cups for at least 1 hour before serving to enhance texture.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in twenty minutes with no baking, no waiting, and no stress.
  • Every spoonful gives you creamy cheesecake, juicy fruit, and buttery crunch all at once.
  • You can make them the night before and pull them straight from the fridge when company arrives.
02 -
  • Soften the cream cheese completely or it will never whip smooth, I once tried to rush it and ended up with cheesecake filling full of tiny white lumps.
  • Do not skip macerating the berries, those ten minutes turn plain strawberries into a sweet, syrupy layer that soaks into everything it touches.
03 -
  • Crush the biscuits in a sealed bag with a rolling pin instead of a food processor if you want control over the texture, I like mine with a few bigger chunks for surprise crunch.
  • Taste the cheesecake filling before you layer it and add an extra pinch of sugar or splash of vanilla if it needs it, every brand of cream cheese is slightly different.
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