These gorgeous deconstructed strawberry cheesecake parfaits have all the flavour of a cheesecake without all the hassle. As easy to make as they are to eat!
I know it's winter here in Australia, and we're all craving lovely warming puddings, but yesterday was such a lovely day.
Despite the cold morning, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was summer, so I decided I wanted to celebrate it with these beautiful Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits.
I've not so patiently been waiting for strawberry season to start here in Queensland, and when we were driving home from the Noosa Food and Wine festival on the weekend and I saw one of the strawberry farms open I just had to get some. I didn't have a plan for what I'd make with the strawberries, I'd just been craving strawberries for so long I was a bit like a child in a lolly shop and ended up buying 1 kilogram of strawberries. With half chopped and tucked away in the freezer for a future recipe, I sliced the remaining fresh strawberries for my Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits.
I ended up buying 1 kilogram of strawberries. With half chopped and tucked away in the freezer for a future recipe, I sliced the remaining fresh strawberries for my Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits.
These strawberry cheesecake parfaits are easy to assemble, and if you don't feel like going to the trouble of making a crumble feel free to substitute in crushed biscuits or granola you might already have squirrelled away in the cupboard. But given it is winter, and crumbles are my favourite winter dessert I just couldn't resist the allure of the combination of smooth creamy cheesecake and crunchy crumble.
Enjoy!
Recipe
Ingredients
- STRAWBERRY SYRUP:
- 150 g of caster sugar
- 60 ml of water
- 4 large strawberries diced
- CRUMBLE:
- ⅓ cup of plain flour
- 60 g of butter chopped
- 2 tbs of brown sugar
- 1 tbs of white sugar
- 3 tbs of rolled oats
- 2 tbs of flaked almonds
- MACERATED STRAWBERRIES:
- 400 g of strawberries sliced
- 1 tbs of sugar
- 2 tsp of Cointreau optional
- CHEESECAKE:
- 400 g of cream cheese
- 250 g of mascarpone cheese
- Strawberry syrup
Instructions
- Begin by making the crumble. Preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 fahrenheit). In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment combine all of the ingredients and turn on to the lowest speed. Mix until the butter resembles the size of peas. Pour the mixture onto a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool and use your fingers to crumble the mixture. Store in a container until ready to use.
- For the strawberries combine the sliced strawberries, sugar and cointreau in a bowl and cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours.
- To make the strawberry syrup place a smal saucepan over a medium heat and add the sugar and water and stir until the sugar is disolved. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the strawberries. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes to infuse before blending in a food processor.
- To make the cheesecake place the cream cheese, mascarpone and strawberry syrup in a food processor and process until smooth.
- To assemble alternately layer the macerated strawberries (along with some of the syrup from the strawberries) with the cheesecake mixture followed by the crumble mixture ending with the cheesecake mixture. Top with extra strawberries to decorate.
- Serve immediately if you'd like the crumble to remain crunchy.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Oh Jen I didn't know that strawberry season had started already. How exciting! I think I miss them the most out of all the fruits when they're not in season. This looks delicious.
Nic@diningwithastud says
Ooh macerated in Cointreau - looks delish 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Your parfaits are so pretty! I always buy more strawberries than I can use at one time - thanks for another sweet way to use them :).
Marina@Picnic at Marina says
Oh How beautiful it is! And from the photo you can't even tell it's winter down under... 🙂
Simone says
Gorgeous!! Strawberry season has started here as well and I do eat them a lot but trying to loose weight so not combining them into this dessert yet!! Keeping it for a later date!!
Lizzy (Good Things) says
I think every season is a good season to enjoy strawberries Jennifer. A beautiful recipe xox
Rosa says
A divine dessert! I'd love to dig into that verrine right now... :-)Cheers,Rosa
Dee says
Your parfaits look delicious. Can I have a spoon please? 🙂
jenny wright says
yum! i didn't realise you could freeze strawberries?! i love my freezer and freeze heaps of things but never thought of doing strawberries. although it does make sense, i use frozen raspberries!i am heading up that way next week. i think i might have to stop there and pick some up too.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hi Jen! So pretty! It may be winter for you but here we appreciate this kind of refreshing delicious dessert! Your photography is stunning as always and I get so much inspiration from you!
delicieux says
Awww Nami, you are far too kind. I think your photography is just stunning! 😀
Choc Chip Uru says
Winter or summer a food dessert is always craved for my friend 😀 This looks amazing!CheersChoc Chip Uru
thelittleloaf says
Lucky for me we're just moving into summer in the UK so this pudding is absolutely perfect! Yum.
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
I thought all the farms up here didn't open up til June. I'm jealous you found one in my back yard and I haven't done it yet. I've got the jam jars all ready to go. These parfaits are brilliant!
delicieux says
Hi Maureen,You're right, the season doesn't officially start until June, but I managed to find one farm open. I'm planning on making homemade strawberry jam this strawberry season too. 😀
Asmita says
What a fantastic dessert! Would love to eat this right away!
Carole says
Looks and sounds wonderful! Strawberries are in season here too, but it's springtime. 🙂
delicieux says
Mmm this would be great with spring strawberries. 😀
beti says
this is definetly my type of dessert, so easy yet fresh and delicious
Amanda says
I can't get used to the difference in seasons in Australia. I had no idea strawberries grew in winter in Queensland - they are a summer crop here in the south, so it will be a while before I can try out this delicious treat. Still, I'm thinking frozen berries might just do the trick for me.
delicieux says
I can't get used to the different strawberry growing seasons here in Australia either. I was feeling tortured when my Mum was telling me about the strawberries they were getting in Tasmania and was getting so impatient for the season to start here. I'm so glad it finally has, although the season officially starts in June.
Thanh @ eat, little bird says
These look like they would be great for a dinner party dessert! I'm patiently waiting for my strawberries to grow on the balcony ... there seems to be a small handful which might be ripe by next week 🙂
delicieux says
Thanh, I'm sure this would taste even better with strawberries you grew yourself. I'd love to grow my own strawberries but I'm a bit of a brown thumb. My latest victim is my parsley which I managed to kill the other week 🙁
Katie @ Epicurean Mom says
LOVE these Jennifer! SO summery and fun!!
K-bobo @ Gormandize with A-dizzle & K-bobo says
These look gorgeous Jennifer! I wish I had one right now!
cc11 says
It was a gorgeous day yesterday - I wish there were strawberries atm here in Vic - been dying for the Winter ones to come in! The parfaits are adorable
delicieux says
It's been quite unseasonably warm for winter hasn't it. At least it's a great excuse to enjoy summerlike desserts 😀
Liren says
Ok, where's my spoon? Just beautiful! Love the crumble 🙂
Lauren @Part Time House Wife says
Your pictures are stunning! This looks incredible! I love strawberries in any dessert but especially desserts with cheesecake in their title!
delicieux says
Thank you so much Lauren 😀
Baker Street says
Now that looks like its been custom made for me! LOVE everything about this dessert. 🙂
delicieux says
Thanks 😀 It was pretty good. In fact my fiance insisted I make them again for dessert tonight.
gina_at_cateror says
What a beautiful, simple, and wonderful dessert idea! Perfect for a "do it yourself" dessert table, too. Thank you for sharing!