Everyone can agree on Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits because they are pretty, sophisticated and surprisingly easy to make.
Parfaits are also the smartest choice ever when hosting a party. They are an easy make-ahead that looks gorgeous lined up on a buffet. And no need to spoon or serve, all the guest has to do is pop in a spoon and enjoy the fabulous flavors.
Chef's Note:
I did not include vanilla extract in the cream recipe because this is a cheesecake parfait, and the addition of vanilla takes away the tang of the cream cheese. This also is a matter of personal preference. If you'd prefer more of a 'purely cream' taste, with the addition of a 'few-drops' of vanilla, like magic, the cream cheese tang will be completely eleminated.
On the other hand, if you'd prefer a strong tangy flavor, hold back some other the heavy cream and instead introduce some fresh sour cream, or even a teaspoon or so of lemon juice would do fine in achieving that delicious rich cheesecake flavor.
If the parfaits are stored in an airtight ziplock bag for more than a few hours the crumbs will begin to soften and the cream will begin to set-up. Personally, I prefer the crumbs to be crisp and the cream to be loose. For this reason I do not put my parfaits together until close to the time I will be serving them, but this is simply a matter of preference.
All the preparations can be done in advance, even a few days in advance, but the actual contruction of the parfaits I always leave until just a few hours before serving.
Bon Appetit -
Easy & Delicious Parfaits
Guests always swoop down on the parfaits first.
Parfaits are always the number one dessert to go first
on the dessert buffet when I am hosting a gathering.
I made this recipe for a party. I prepared it with strawberries. It was a big hit and was really easy to make. I got everything ready the day before and just put the dessert cups together and refrigerated them for a few hours before putting them out on the buffet. This is probably going to be my go-to recipe for gatherings, potlucks, etc. What was really nice too was there was no serving. Everything was done in advance and people just helped themselves and then tossed the empty cups. Much appreciated. Did I mention it was delicious? : )