Best Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfait

Best Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Dessert Parfait, is an easy, no bake recipe with a sweet and salty crust, cream cheese custard, jello and fresh berries.

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Cheesecake Parfait 

So many desserts require time in the oven to create them and this parfait requires some time on your stovetop and some boiling water for your Jello and that is it.

This is the perfect dessert for summer or the hotter months! Oh who am I kidding. We make this amazing dessert parfait all year ’round!

Dessert Parfait Recipes 

I love these easy dessert parfaits. They are just delicious at any time of year. I have thrown every kind of berry inside one, both fresh and frozen work beautifully, and even used canned mandarin oranges and orange jello before.

There is nothing written here that says you can’t use frozen or canned fruits in this tasty treat! My close friend Julie uses a can of drained fruit cocktail and whatever Jello she can find in her pantry and her family devours it all, every time she makes this.

The mousse in the center is a favorite of everyone who tries it. It is that good.

I try and use fresh fruit, whenever possible, but unfortunately fresh fruit isn’t always available so I will use frozen and canned fruit too. There is always some in my pantry or in my freezer, just in case I need it.

No Bake Cheesecake Parfait 

When I feel like this easy no bake dessert I have to make it and I usually have all of the ingredients around, except for the fresh fruit. That I don’t always have but I can still make this with frozen or canned so whenever I’m in the mood I make ’em.

We will usually enjoy this super easy no bake cheesecake parfait recipe over the course of two days if I just make them for my immediate family.

We haven’t gotten sick of them yet and I doubt we ever will.

I love the bottom sweet and salty crust. The addition of crushed pretzels is a game changer as far as I am concerned.

If you are worried about the taste and don’t want to just try this crust as written you can always skip the pretzels and add the same amount of graham cracker crumbs.

That being said chocolate or Oreo crumbs will work, and work well, too.

The dessert parfait will still be a hit.

Jello Parfait with Cream Cheese

You can make these Jello parfaits in any size cup or glass. We have even used shot glasses and they were totally fabulous! If you are a fan of raspberries, or any berry, this is a recipe you must try!

As you are aware you have the option to switch the fruit used in the mousse and inside the Jello on top. Once you have decided which fruits you are using make sure to swap them out of the recipe as necessary for an equal amount.

Check out the photo above. If you decide you would rather use blueberries, blackberries or strawberries, now is the time to add them on top of your parfaits instead of raspberries. I need choice in my life and luckily this recipe includes quite a few of them.

Here are some of the most common Jello flavors that many of you will have to choose from.

• Strawberry
• Cherry
• Lime
• Lemon
• Cherry
• Peach
• Berry Blue
• Raspberry 
• Watermelon
• Apricot
• Island Pineapple
• Strawberry-Banana
• Grape
• Orange
• Cranberry
• Tropical Fusion and more. I can’t believe it either.

At this point you have to plan and pick the kind of fresh, frozen or canned fruit that you would like to use and the flavor or color of Jello you want as well.

Think colors and flavors. My husband thinks picking a flavor of Jello is impossible because they all taste so similar and I disagree. I think paired with the right fruit, the taste of the Jello will shine through!

Regardless, your dessert will look and taste amazing!

Mini Cheesecake Parfaits with Fresh Berries

These desserts can be made in everything from shot glasses or as mini’s to big bowls. I made this dessert one time in a casserole dish and it worked out great for me.

The only complaint I received was regarding the individual servings or lack of. It became apparent to me that everyone became used to the individual cups or jars and didn’t want a messy scoop, even though everyone agreed the dessert still tasted great!

All I remember thinking was that it was my fault for getting them used to individual servings. Maybe if you don’t get your family used to individual servings you won’t have the same problem and can make less work for yourself. Just a thought. 😉 

Easy Berry Cheesecake Parfaits

We have served this dessert for parties and family gatherings and the individual portions worked out great. Usually, I try to use different berries to appeal to different tastes.

I tried mixing the berries up by including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and maybe blackberries too, I can’t exactly remember, but regardless, I won’t do it for large gatherings like that again because too many people are too fussy I have found for a variety of reasons.

I loved having all of the berries together but others definitely do not or can not.

I met a relative of mine that has been allergic to strawberries ever since she ate them every day when she was pregnant and I had no idea. I felt terrible because I felt like I should have known.  

I have a few friends that don’t like raspberries, including my husband who could take them but would prefer to leave them and I could go on.

You just never know so now I make at least 2 or 3 kinds or one set with blueberries, one with raspberries and maybe one with both. I always use the same flavor of Jello for all of it. Just different berries. 

No one ever cares or complains about the color or flavor of the Jello.

Maybe you might consider that as an option? You never know. Anything is truly possible. 😊

Ingredients in The Best Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfait

• sugar
• egg yolks
• vanilla
• heavy or whipping cream
• flour
• white chocolate 
• cream cheese
• fresh or frozen raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or strawberries, canned will also work in a pinch
• raspberry or your preferred fruit extract
• jello
• graham crackers
• salted pretzels
• butter

How to make The Best Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfait

First you have to make the custard base for the cheesecake.

Whisk 1/2 cup of sugar, the 4 egg yolks and vanilla extract together in a small bowl.

In a saucepan, over low heat, whisk together 1 cup cream with the flour.

Cook the cream mixture over low heat for a few minutes until hot.

Stir constantly and whisk vigorously to remove all of the lumps.

Slowly pour cream mixture into the egg yolks. Whisk constantly.

Cook custard over low to medium heat for 7-10 minutes until thick.

Remove from heat and add white chocolate.

Whisk until completely melted.

Cover custard and set aside to cool to room temperature.

In the meantime prepare your crust.

Crush pretzels and graham crackers, in a food processor if possible, into small crumbs.

Combine crumbs with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/3 cup of melted butter. Set aside.

Once custard has cooled, prepare cheesecake mousse.

Whisk cream cheese in an electric mixer and beat until light and fluffy.

Add the 2 cups raspberries and raspberry extract or whichever fruit you decide to use.

Blend until raspberries are completely crushed.

Add the cooled custard and blend until well combined.

Scrape down sides of bowl frequently.

Remove mixture from mixer bowl into another bowl.

Wash and dry your mixer bowl.

Once dry, add the remaining 2 cups heavy cream and ¼ cup sugar.

Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.

Fold 1 cup whipped cream into cream cheese mixture, then gradually begin folding in cream cheese in to the whipped cream.

Fold very gently so that the whipped cream stays light and fluffy.

To assemble dessert

Spoon and press several tablespoons of graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of the glass cups, glasses or jars.

Transfer mousse into a resealable bag.

Squeeze the mousse into the corner of the bag and cut the tip off.

Squeeze mousse into the cups, on top of the crust, filling about 3/4 of the way up.

Place cups into your refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.

Prepare the jello according to package instructions, replacing the cold water with ice water to cool down the jello faster.

Add fresh or frozen raspberries, or whichever fruit you are using, on top of the mousse, as many as you like.

Then carefully pour the jello on top.

Fill the cups up to their edge.

Place in refrigerator to set completely, between 4-6 hours, if not longer.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

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Best Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfait Video