Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait Cups (Printable Version)

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

# What You Need:

→ Cheesecake Layer

01 - 8 oz 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Toss diced strawberries with granulated sugar and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Set aside to macerate for 10 minutes.
02 - Combine crushed digestive biscuits with melted butter until mixture resembles wet sand.
03 - Beat softened cream cheese, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.
04 - Layer cookie crumble at the bottom of each cup.
05 - Spoon a layer of the cheesecake mixture over the cookie crumble in each cup.
06 - Top cheesecake with a spoonful of the macerated strawberries.
07 - Repeat layering cookie crumble, cheesecake filling, and strawberries, finishing with strawberries on top.
08 - Refrigerate parfaits for at least 1 hour to set and enhance flavors before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in twenty minutes and tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The layers look stunning in clear cups, so it feels fancy without any real effort.
  • You can make it the night before and pull it out when you need something sweet and impressive.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold, the filling will turn lumpy and grainy no matter how long you beat it, so patience at the start saves you frustration later.
  • Layering the strawberries with their juices adds moisture and flavor, but if you add too much liquid, the crumble can turn mushy, so spoon them in gently.
03 -
  • Use clear cups or glasses so you can see the layers, because half the joy of this dessert is how beautiful it looks before anyone takes a bite.
  • If you do not have an electric mixer, a whisk and a strong arm will get the cheesecake filling just as fluffy, it just takes an extra minute or two.
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