No-Bake CheeseCake Parfaits

Fireworks, picnics, cottages, bon fires...... If you live in the United States, the most beloved of all summer holidays is the Fourth of July. A time when our country celebrates its independence from Great Britain. A time for family, friends and celebration with food and drinks.

The American flag sways proudly in the wind, it's red white and blue symbolizing the freedoms we have in this great country of ours. Many of our barbecues will incorporate the colors of our sacred flag. No bake berry cheesecake parfaits are a simple, creamy and very patriotic way to add color to your Fourth of July barbecue. No bake means no oven to heat up, and this delicious patriotic dessert recipe can even be made a few days ahead of time and be stored in the fridge!

No bake cheesecake parfaits with berries are the perfect way for small children to help out in the kitchen, too! Instead of using a food processor to crush the graham crackers, place the crackers into a large Ziploc bag, close securely and roll over the bag with a wooden rolling pin. You can even let the kids layer the desserts into parfait glasses or clear plastic cups. It's just that easy!

If you have visited our website before, you know that we can't make any dessert without the addition of vanilla or a vanilla based product.... So, the addition of Beanilla vanilla bean paste is essential to creating the perfect no bake cheesecake parfait with berries.

Vanilla Bean Paste is smooth, rich and creamy. Vanilla paste awards the simplicity of using vanilla extract while allowing the convenience, flavor and appearance of using whole vanilla beans. Our 3-Fold Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste is made using three times as many vanilla beans as our single fold extracts. We are all familiar with vanilla extract, the most popular flavor in the world. Now we offer the same full-bodied vanilla flavor with a unique twist: the addition of the distinctive vanilla seeds in a rich concentrated paste. Use vanilla bean paste's thicker viscosity to flavor cakes, puddings, cookies, custards, icing, frosting's, whipped cream, ice cream or anywhere the flavor and appearance of vanilla bean is desired. Using vanilla bean paste in this patriotic dessert recipe saves the effort of scraping the seeds from the whole vanilla bean.

We wish you a weekend filled with family, friends, great food and the celebration of our freedom! Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Beanilla!

No Bake Patriotic Cheesecake Parfaits

Yields 6-8

Ingredients:

  • 6 ounces Blueberries
  • 6 ounces fresh raspberries
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

(Crust)

  • 12 rectangular graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

(Cheesecake)

  • 16 ounces light cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (just a squeeze)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Beanilla Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 1 cup low fat Greek vanilla yogurt

Directions:

For the berry topping, combine the blueberries, raspberries and sugar in a medium bowl. Give the mixture a stir and let it sit for 10-15 minutes while the rest of the dessert is being made and assembled. The berries will macerate - which basically means the sugar will help the fruit become a bit syrupy while resting.

For the crust, combine the crushed crackers with the sugar and butter; mix. Divide the mixture evenly among 8 (6- to 8-ounce) bowls, ramekins or individual trifle dishes and press lightly into the bottom of the dishes.

For the cheesecake, in a medium bowl (or in the bowl of an electric stand mixer), beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together until the mixture is very light and creamy, 2-3 minutes. Mix in the lemon juice and vanilla. Add the yogurt and beat until well-combined and fluffy, 30 seconds to a minute.

Give the fruit/sugar mixture a good stir. Spoon a bit of the fruit mixture on top of each crust (keep in mind you'll only use half for this layer; the other half will go on top of the cheesecake layer). Spoon an even amount of cheesecake filling on top of the fruit (about 1/3 cup or until all the filling is divided evenly among the dishes) and top with a spoonful of the remaining fruit. Refrigerate your no bake cheesecake parfaits until ready to serve.