The luscious layers in Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait make this the perfect no-bake summertime treat for all of your BBQs and get-togethers!

Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits are some of the best summer treats and are easy to make, too, since you don’t need to turn on the oven to make any of these incredible layers! Sweet strawberries, a tangy cheesecake filling, and buttery graham cracker layers are the ideal way to celebrate at any get-together.

close up of a strawberry cheesecake parfait with recipe name at the bottom

Everybody Likes Parfaits

Everyone loves a good no-bake dessert in the summer and these Strawberry Cheesecake Parfaits are like an 11 on a scale of 1-10! We love cheesecake but there is no way I’m spending my beautiful summer days indoors with a hot oven so these parfaits taste even more incredible because of the short amount of time it takes to make them and that I get to kick back on the patio and enjoy them with the family. The sweet creaminess of this dessert hits the spot at every summer BBQ we have.

When you can’t get enough of those sweet strawberries and tangy cheesecake, whip up a light Strawberry Cheesecake Fluff or a creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Dip for everyone to devour at the BBQ!

Other Recipes to Serve with Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

Pour all of the best flavors of summer into your glass with a Strawberry Watermelon Lemonade Slushie– make a couple of pitchers while you’re at it!
Strawberry Sorbet is a hugely refreshing sweet treat that is easy to make and keep on hand throughout the summer.

Ingredients

Strawberries: Strawberries are the star of this dessert, so be sure to pick up plenty at the store or farmers market.

Graham Cracker Crust: You will need graham crackers, melted butter, and granulated sugar to make the crust.

Cheesecake Filling: To make the filling, you will need two bricks of softened cream cheese, vanilla bean paste, and a container of whipped topping, such as Cool Whip.

How to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

STEP ONE: Dice the strawberries and add them to a medium bowl. Sprinkle sugar over the berries and stir. Let the berries rest.

chopped strawberries tossed in sugar in a mixing bowl

STEP TWO: Using a food processor or blender, pulse the graham crackers until they are crumbs. Pour the crumbs into a bowl and mix them well with the melted butter and sugar.

graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a mixing bowl

STEP THREE: In a stand mixer or a bowl with beaters, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in the whipped topping and vanilla bean paste. Taste the filling and add a little sugar if you prefer a sweeter taste.

cheesecake filling in a mixing bowl with a rubber spatula

STEP FOUR: To assemble the parfaits, set out four jars or tall glasses. Add a layer of graham cracker crust, followed by a layer of cheesecake filling and a layer of strawberries. Repeat with another layer of graham cracker crust, a layer of cheesecake filling, then a large dollop of whipped topping, and a sprinkling of strawberries. You can serve the parfaits immediately or keep them refrigerated until you are ready to serve.

collage of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of a jar, topped with cheesecake filling, strawberries, and then repeating the layers

Tips for Success

You can absolutely dive into these delicious treats as soon as they are assembled, but if you can, let them chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes so everything gets nice and cool, which makes it even better on a hot day!
When making these parfaits ahead of time, leave the whipped topping and strawberry garnish off until you are ready to serve. This will prevent the whipped topping from going flat.
An easy way to layer the cheesecake filling is to use a piping bag so you get nice clean lines. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can also spoon the filling into a ziplock bag with the bottom of one corner cut off and pipe it that way or simply use a spoon to add the cheesecake layer.

strawberry cheesecake parfaits on a tray with strawberries spread around

Can I make a different kind of crust for these parfaits?

Graham crackers make a wonderful and traditional crust, but there are a few other tasty options you could use as well. Chocolate and strawberries are a popular combination, so making a crushed Oreo crust would be one delicious option. A sweeter choice would be to make a crust of crushed vanilla wafers. Just like with the graham crackers, these cookies would be pulsed in a food processor until they are crumbs, and then melted butter can be added to hold the crumbs together. Each of these options makes delicious parfaits, so you can change it up each time you make these sweet layered desserts!

close up of a strawberry cheesecake parfait with a spoon stuck into the jar

Can I use other fruit besides strawberries?

Fruit and cheesecake go hand in hand, so there are a lot of different fruits you can use in these parfaits! Any type of berry that you like can be used, like blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries, or try a mixed berry combination. When fresh peaches are in season those can be used, or try canned peaches when they’re out of season. Bring in some tropical vibes and add chunks of mango or coconut flakes. Cheesecake parfaits are pretty versatile, so you can have fun mixing and matching crusts and toppings and find your favorite combinations!

spoonful of strawberry cheesecake parfait over the jar

More sweet fruit desserts for a cool summer!