No Bake Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
No Bake Berry Cheesecake Parfaits are a lightened up no bake cheesecake filling layered with strawberry and blueberry sauce. Add some graham crumbs, and you get your favorite cheesecake flavors without the fuss!
I can hardly believe it, but Major League Baseball is back on Monday! If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m going to do something geeky with food regarding my favorite team, the L.A. Dodgers.
And I made this silly logo out of blueberries that I’m reusing and recycling this year:
I’m really excited about a new season starting, because if you follow baseball, you know what happened. The Dodgers had a great season, and were in first place in N.L. West for most of it. Our arch-rivals, the dreaded Giants were on the skids, but made it into the playoffs.
I dreaded the possibility of what could happen, and it did. The Dodgers were out in the first round of the playoffs, and the wild card Giants somehow got on a huge roll and barreled through everybody and won the World Series. UGH. Any Dodger fan was devastated — it was the worst possible outcome. It couldn’t have ended any worse. 🙁
That means this season can only be better right? 🙂 GO BLUE!
Alright, enough of that. Let’s talk cheesecake! I was all over the place trying to figure out something to do for opening day, and I realized that baseball is the national pastime, which brought me to red, white, and blue.
I love no bake cheesecake, and normally make fruity dips with it. To make this lighter, I combined 1/3 less fat neufchâtel cream cheese with 2% plain Greek yogurt, and some sugar — that’s it.
As for the fruit, the berries I’ve been getting aren’t totally sweet yet, so I sliced the strawberries, tossed them with a little sugar, and left them to macerate at room temperature for about 1 hour.
They were nice and sweet and syrupy. You could also make a compote out of them like the blueberries, but macerating them is just way to easy to pass up!
The blueberry compote takes all of 5 minutes, and I used frozen blueberries here. They thicken up as they cool, and they’re just amazing. When berries are at their peak, you can bypass the macerating and the compote, and just layer with fresh berries instead.
It’s not cheesecake without graham cracker crumbs, so those went in first. I didn’t toss them in melted butter or anything else because we are going a little lighter here, and it’s just not necessary. Dip your spoon all the way down into the bottom, pull up the graham crumbs with the luscious cheesecake filling and fruit, and it’s all good. 🙂
These No Bake Berry Cheesecake Parfaits are my welcome back to our national pastime, and my hopes for a better season for my Dodgers. Of course you don’t need to be a baseball fan to enjoy these…not in the least.
They’re the perfect treat for spring and summer gatherings, picnics, or just because. We never really need a reason for cheesecake, do we?
No Bake Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
Ingredients
For the blueberry sauce:
- 8 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries thawed if frozen
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For the strawberries:
- 8 ounces fresh strawberries hulls removed and sliced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For the cheesecake filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt I used 2%
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- fresh berries more graham cracker crumbs, or whipped cream for topping, optional
Instructions
Prepare the blueberries:
- Place the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch in small saucepan. Cook over medium low heat until the berries have softened, and the liquid begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. The mixture will thicken as it cools.
Prepare the strawberries:
- Place the sliced strawberries and sugar in a small bowl and toss to combine. Let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes to one hour, or until the berries are softened and syrupy.
Prepare the cheesecake filling:
- Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the Greek yogurt, sugar, and lemon zest, and beat until combined.
Assemble the parfaits:
- Divide the graham cracker crumbs evenly between 4-6 serving dishes, jars, or wine glasses (how many parfaits you get depends on the size of the dish you’re using). Layer with cheesecake filling, alternating with the fruit fillings. Top with a dollop of cheesecake filling if there’s any left, or some whipped cream, additional fresh berries, and graham crumbs. Cover and chill for about 30 minutes or until serving time. Enjoy!
Notes
- I used small Weck jars for these, which yielded 4 servings.
- If the berries are in peak season, using fresh blueberries and strawberries would be delicious as well!
- Instead of macerating the strawberries, you can cook them the same as the blueberries.
- Store any leftover compote in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
60 Comments on “No Bake Berry Cheesecake Parfaits”
Marcie, haha love what you did with the blueberries. . my husband would love that!! He’s from LA! 🙂 and I love this no bake berry cheesecake parfait!!! perfect for brunch or a sweet treat, love it! Happy Easter weekend!!
Thanks, Alice, and you have a wonderful Easter! 🙂
Love the use of lightened up cheesecake filling with Greek yogurt! So yum 🙂
Thank you, Medha!
This is the perfect dessert for entertaining, isn’t it? I make a similar dessert with blueberries, too! Very pretty, as well!
Happy Easter, Marcie!
It is a nice dessert for entertaining — absolutely no fuss, too! Thanks, Helen, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter! 🙂
What a delicious summer recipe and who doesn’t love a fuss-free dessert? Love that they can be prepared in individual portions, too.
Thank you, Abigail! It’s always nice to have a dessert you can whip up in minutes that everyone will love. 🙂
This little parfaits look very patriotic Marcie! And delicious too.
Thank you, Thalia! 🙂
This parfait is such a nice little treat! To be honest, I could have this (and a banana on the side) for a quick light lunch and not feel guilty about it.
Funny you should say that, Thao — I got busy and skipped lunch, so I ate one of these instead. I really didn’t feel bad about it either! 🙂
Can we still be friends if I’m a Giants fan?? 🙂
This is a gorgeous parfait!!
Of course! I live in enemy territory and have LOTS of Giants fan friends. haha Thank you, Dorothy, and hope you’re having a great Easter! 🙂
Ooh lightened up cheesecake sounds like something I need ASAP! Love this version Marcie.
Thanks, Alyssa!
These parfaits are gorgeous, Marcie! The strawberry and blueberry layers sound delicious and I love that you lightened up the cheesecake layers too! That blueberry logo is still the cutest and these are the perfect no-bake desserts!
Thank you, Kelly! I can’t even tell these are lighter — it’s no nice to have cheesecake with less guilt.
The Cubs had their home opener last night, so my husband was splitting his tv time between the Hawks, Bulls, and Cubs…busy night in Chicago! 🙂 These parfaits look gorgeous, Marcie! Love that their no bake and so festive for spring. Looks delicious, too!
Chicago is busy, and so is your husband! Haha. We’re flipping games a lot too, and Now it will be NBA and MLB, not to mention college finals! Hope you had a great Easter!
Uh Oh……I’m an SF Giants girl… eek! I’m even wearing my Giants sweatshirt right now, ha! Can we still be friends, *wink*. I’m not hard core into baseball, but I love watching all the exciting games, especially when we play the Dodgers. And it’s been really fun the last couple years since we keep going to the World Series.
I love these parfaits! You have got to share these again around 4th of July, the red white and blue is perfect!
You know we can still be friends — I’m used to being surrounded by black and orange, esp after all the World Series wins the past few years! The LA-SF games are always the best.
These parfaits look delicious Marcie! I love individual-sized desserts, especially if they are no bake. 🙂
Thanks Christin! I need to do no bake a lot more often!
I love that you made a special dessert in honor of opening day! I’m not much of a sports fan myself, but my boys were climbing-the-walls excited for tonight’s Phillies game. These cheesecake parfaits are just gorgeous, and I love how you lightened them up with Greek yogurt!
Oh, those Phillies are always so good — I’ll bet they do well again this year! And thank you! Lightened up cheesecake means more cheesecake.
I love no bake desserts, especially this time of year. We’ve been buying strawberries and blueberries like crazy lately. These look so delicious right now!
This was the first winter that I didn’t buy any berries — they’re just the pits when they’re not in season. I can’t get enough right now because of it.
haha I definitely remember the blueberry logo from last year!! Made me smile then and again now! These parfaits sound so good! I cannot get enough of berries right now (even if they aren’t quite totally amazing yet). And individual sized desserts like this are the best!
I can’t wait till berries are at their peak — I won’t be cooking them then! Haha. Thanks, Ashley!
So easy & so delicious! Love it Marcie 🙂
Thank you, Manali!
Thank you, Christina, and I hope you had a lovely Easter!
I’m glad you appreciate my dorkiness! Haha. And I’m glad you’re on team blue! Thanks for the pin, Mary Frances!
You’re right…one does not need a reason to indulge in cheesecake. I am living proof of that! 🙂 And, I adore the logo you did for your Dodgers! You are like the best fan ever – and they are VERY lucky to have you! Did you send them that picture? You totally should! I’m pinning this – looks FAB!
When it’s less guilt, there’s really no reason not to indulge! haha And I should send the Dodgers my blueberry logo — maybe I’ll score some box seats! 🙂 Thanks for the pin, Kristi! 🙂
Hahha playing with your blueberries 🙂 This parfait looks amazing!! No bake is always a win win in my books.
I really need to stop playing with my food. haha Thanks, Zainab! 🙂
Love the way you used the blueberries Marcie! And these cheesecake parfaits look awesome! Baseball season treat!!!
Thank you, Mira! 🙂
I love this no bake cheesecake! Quick and easy is just my style! Pinned!
Thank you, Mariah! 🙂
YUM!! Aren’t these the cutest little treat ever!! Seriously, yummmmmmmmm!! Great recipe!
Thanks, Cailee! 🙂
Thank you, Juliana! 🙂
These are plenty light, and since cheesecakes can be heavy, these were perfect for me. Thanks, Dannii! 🙂
Thank you, Stacy! I think I’m a little over-enthusiastic, but that’s what happens when you’re True Blue. haha
This California girl is a Red Sox fan! 😉 BUTTTTT I do love cheesecake! These look so yummy and are perfect for all the patriotic summer holidays! Go Sox!
Being a Red Sox fan is ok! As long as it’s not the Giants. haha Thanks, Jess, and go Dodgers!
I absolutely love no-bake cheesecakes! These berry cheesecake parfaits look divine, Marice!
They’re so easy and so fun to eat aren’t they? Thanks, Jess! 🙂
Thank you, Matea! 🙂
I love dessert parfaits and these look perfect! Great for summer, too!!
Thanks, Cathy — these really are perfect for summer! 🙂
Parfaits make such an easy breakfast and healthy snack. Love this idea!
Thanks, Julie! 🙂
Perfect for warmer weather – and a great way to use Spring/Summer berries!
Thanks, Jamie! 🙂
That was a dark day indeed!! I have friends on both sides, so I got to watch all of the happy and sad posts mixed together in my newsfeed, lol. I love the Dodgers posts, so bring it on. 🙂
LA is doing pretty well right now, so let’s keep our fingers crossed! 🙂