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    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Published: Jul 9, 2013 · Modified: Aug 6, 2017 by alexandra · This post may contain affiliate links

    Confession #129: I've become a layerer...Lightened-Up Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

    Jump to Recipe

    Layerer... is that even a word? Based on the red dots lined up underneath it as I type,  spell check is telling me it's not.... Maybe it should be layer-er? Who knows. What I DO know is that layering food is fun, and suddenly I'm doing more of it.

    Lightened-Up Strawberries and Cream Parfaits | brighteyedbaker.com this recipe

    If you remember, there was last week's Mississippi Mud Pie - four layers of oreo-red velvet-cream cheese awesomeness. This week we're lightening things up a bit with Strawberries and Cream Parfaits (made with greek yogurt and less cream!). They're what I call a breakfast/light dessert, depending on which way you want to take it. Either way, they're fruity, creamy, and summer-perfect.

    Lightened-Up Strawberries and Cream Parfaits | brighteyedbaker.com

    Layer number one of today's recipe is crushed graham crackers, nothing more, nothing less. Think graham cracker pie crust, but lighter and easier, because you don't need butter holding it all together. Layer two is the "cream": Greek yogurt plus a little cream cheese and a smidge of heavy cream, infused with vanilla extract and vanilla bean. It's just lightly sweet and per-fect for these parfaits. Then we have layer three, the fresh strawberries, macerated with just a bit of sugar. I have a talent for making things complicated, but today, for once, things are simple and easy. It's nice. :D

    Lightened-Up Strawberries and Cream Parfaits | brighteyedbaker.com

    I couldn't quite decided if these parfaits reminded me more of strawberries and cream, or a light cheesecake (thank you, graham cracker crumbs), or a strawberry tart filled with pastry creme. I just decided that they were parfait (which means perfect in French, in case you didn't get that). ;) Anndd... I'm officially done with the silly French puns. Thanks for putting up with me, guys.

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    Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

    Lightened-Up Strawberries and Cream Parfaits | brighteyedbaker.com
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    These light, creamy parfaits layered with fresh strawberries are perfect for a summertime breakfast or dessert. They're like a cross between cheesecake and strawberry tart, in parfait form!

    • Yield: 2 parfaits 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Strawberry Layer:

    • 5 ounces (1 cup) chopped strawberries
    • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

    Cream Layer:

    • 5 ounces (⅝ cup) nonfat greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
    • 2 ounces cream cheese*
    • 1 tablespoon heavy cream**
    • ½ vanilla bean, split and scraped
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch salt

    Graham Cracker Layer:

    • 1 ⅛ ounces (5 tablespoons) graham cracker crumbs

    Garnish:

    • 2 whole strawberries
    • graham cracker crumbs

    Instructions

    Strawberry Layer:

    1. Place the strawberries in a small bowl and sprinkle on the sugar. Toss gently together. Let sit for about 30 minutes to macerate so that the juices are drawn out from the strawberries. Meanwhile, prepare cream and graham cracker layers.

    Cream Layer:

    1. Combine the yogurt, cream cheese, heavy cream, vanilla bean seeds, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl and beat together with a whisk until smooth.

    Graham Cracker Layer:

    1. Divide graham cracker crumbs between two serving glasses of choice, shaking the glasses lightly to level out the crumbs on the bottoms.

    Assembly and Garnish:

    1. Strain juices from strawberries and reserve for other use.*** Place a layer of yogurt over graham cracker crumbs in each glass, followed by a layer of strawberries, then yogurt, strawberries,and finally one more layer of yogurt. Divide as evenly as possible to keep layers consistent. Top each parfait with graham cracker crumbs and a fresh strawberry. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    *You can use reduced-fat cream cheese to make this even lighter and healthier, although I've never used it, so I can't promise that it will taste quite the same.

    **You can also sub the heavy cream for regular whipping cream. Half-and-half should work, too.

    ***Don't throw away the strawberry juices!! Add it to sparkling water, use them in a smoothie, or mix them with some plain yogurt; just don't throw it away!

    Have you made this recipe?

    Tag @brighteyedbaker on Instagram and hashtag it #brighteyedbaker

    Thanks to Chobani for sending me some of their delicious yogurt which inspired me to make this recipe!

    Disclosure: I was not asked to promote Chobani in any way, nor was I compensated for writing this post. I chose to mention them simply because I personally love their products!

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    1. Martha says

      April 09, 2015 at 11:34 am

      wow, these were a real hit! really gave the satisfation of strawberry shortcake. Thanks.

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        April 09, 2015 at 5:03 pm

        So happy to hear that!

        Reply
    2. Shari says

      August 09, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      These look absolutely delicious! I LOVE just about everything strawberry so these are making my mouth water. I even have some strawberries in the fridge waiting for me. Yum! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        August 11, 2013 at 7:13 pm

        No problem! Let me know if you make the parfaits! They're easy and really good. :D

        Reply
    3. Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says

      July 12, 2013 at 9:28 am

      These look gorgeous! And nothing goes better together than strawberries and cream. Yum!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        July 12, 2013 at 12:07 pm

        Thanks Sarah! Gotta say, they are a pretty good match!

        Reply
    4. Belinda @themoonblushbaker says

      July 10, 2013 at 8:22 am

      Oh yum! Now I can have this for breakfast, completely legal right? ^_^

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        July 11, 2013 at 9:07 am

        For sure! I did. :)

        Reply
    5. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      July 09, 2013 at 4:11 pm

      Beautiful parfaits, your layers look perfect!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        July 09, 2013 at 5:18 pm

        Thanks Laura! :)

        Reply
    6. Izy says

      July 09, 2013 at 11:16 am

      ahaha I freakin' loooove layering! it's the BEST :) and these parfaits look ACE!

      Reply
      • alexandra says

        July 09, 2013 at 5:19 pm

        Haha thanks Izy!

        Reply

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    Hey There! Thanks for stopping by! Here's what you can expect to find on Bright-Eyed Baker: lots of baked goods and other sweets made from scratch (many of which are gluten-free), plus the occasional savory recipe or mixed drink. My goal is to show you that from-scratch baking - gluten-free or not! - doesn't have to be intimidating. Learn more about me.

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