A cheesecake parfait is a quick and easy dessert. I’ve made it extra special with cookie crumbs and frozen berries. Make it in a jar and it’s a portable dessert for BBQs and picnics.
Partnered recipe.
Quick and easy
Don’t you just love an easy dessert? I spent weeks in my kitchen last summer, merrily baking cake after cake (after cake after cake…) testing recipes for my upcoming cookbook. As much as I loved the process, it was really rather intense. I tested some vegetable cakes up to 10 times before I got them just right. Then I tested them a few more times to make sure the recipe worked! My book will be out in August, so stay tuned for more information coming soon!
So today I wanted to show you a dessert that you can put together in minutes. Although it benefits from an hour or so chilling time in the fridge, you could just tuck right in if you don’t have time to wait. Instead of making a typical cheesecake-style crust, I just crumbled in cookies. You could use any cookies you have to hand, and it’s a great way to use up stale biscuits (if such a thing exists – not in my house!).
Cookie Cheesecake Parfait with Berries
I used frozen cookie dough to make the cookies. Just 12 minutes to cookie heaven! For the cheesecake parfait filling, I mixed plain Greek yogurt with cream cheese to make it a little bit lighter. Instead of sugar, I sweetened it with a little maple syrup. I’m thinkin’ about your waistlines, people.
The layers of creamy cheesecake contrast beautifully with the sweet cookie crumbs and sharp frozen berries in these cheesecake parfaits. You can make them in minutes and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to grab a spoon and tuck into creamy crispy yumminess. They’re a great make-ahead dessert for a dinner party, and you won’t be in the kitchen all day slaving away.
If you make this recipe, please tag it with #veggiedesserts on Instagram or other social media. I LOVE seeing your recreations of my recipes.
Get the recipe
- 6-8 cookies (You can use any cookies that you like, but I used double chocolate chip)
- For the cheesecake filling:
- 200g (¾ cup, 7oz) soft cream cheese, at room temperature
- 200g (¾ cup) plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 handfuls frozen mixed berries
- Sprigs of fresh mint
- Roughly break up the cookies so it is a mix of small chunks and cookie dust.
- In a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Layer the crumbled cookies (save some for garnish), cheesecake mixture and berries, alternating, in glasses or jars. Top with the remaining cookie crumbles, berries and a sprig of mint. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and serve chilled.
Mystery Bag
I love a surprise, don’t you? So, when Iceland Foods said that they were going to leave a mystery bag for me at my local shop, I was very excited.
On the way back from dropping my kids at school, I popped into the shop and the manager brought me out heaving bags of food treasure. I may have had a sneaky peak as I walked home, but I saved any major bag exploration until I got home. You may have seen my instagram stories where I unpacked it live for you all.
I discovered a fantastic selection from Iceland’s new ranges showcasing the #PowerofFrozen !
I had already tried the purple potato chips when I spied them on my last visit to the store. They’re certainly eye-catching and taste delicious. We tried the carrot fries last night and they’re lovely and naturally sweet. The spiced cauliflower has a lovely balance of indian spices and I’m always a sucker for roasted cauliflower. I’ve yet to try the hot and spicy corn cobs as I’m saving them for a barbecue (c’mon weather!).
My kids tucked into the ice lollies sharpish, giving them a resounding thumbs up. For this cheesecake parfait recipe, I used the Millie’s frozen cookies and added some of Iceland’s frozen berries – I always have a stash of them in the freezer.
Reasons to buy frozen fruit and veg:
- It helps to reduce food waste at a commercial level since it’s frozen during harvest.
- It reduces waste at a retail level since it won’t wither on the shelves.
- You can reduce food waste at home by only using what you need, when you need it.
- Fruit and veg are frozen at their peak of freshness so flavour is locked in.
- You can enjoy fruit and vegetables out of season.
- It’s convenient
- Frozen onions, herbs, chilli and garlic make cooking much easier and less fiddly.
- Frozen fruit and vegetables are usually picked at their peak ripeness – when they’re the most nutritious.
- Fruit and vegetables retain much of their nutrient content when frozen
- Frozen produce is often less expensive than their fresh counterparts.
Other mystery bag recipes:
Jerk Shrimp Tacos with Sweetcorn, Mango and Pineapple
Beef Ranch Burgers
Red Shrimp Tempura with Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce
Spiced Cauliflower and Purple Potato Poutine
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Disclosure: This recipe for Cookie Cheesecake Parfait with Berries was commissioned by Iceland Foods. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to write Veggie Desserts – Healthy Food and Lifestyle.
Wow..this looks so good. I am sure my girls are going to love this. I will surely try it soon.
DO come back and let me know how you like them. They’re so quick and easy.
These. OMG these. So perfect for my BBQ that I am hosting this weekend.
Oh yes! You can make them ahead of time and just bring them out to wow everyone! Easy peasy.
Easy desserts are definitely where it is at for me, I can happily spend hours in the kitchen working on savoury stuff but desserts… I just can’t be bothered with them, this sound super.
I love having a few easy dessert recipes up my sleeve. And ones that you can make ahead as well!
Love how healthy this recipe is. Millie’s cookies from Iceland Foods are wonderful, I baked a batch a couple of days ago.
They’re so good. Perfect for a quick sugar-hit. I like that you can just bake one or two at a time.
This looks mouthwatering and delicious! Thanks for sharing!
WOW! They look so beautiful Kate! I ‘made’ these cookies for Jonny recently too and he LOVED them!
Jane x
They’re fab cookies! And so great that you don’t have to make loads. Just what you want to eat!
Those Mini Vienna ice creams are amazing, my kids love them as an after school treat.
This is heaven! and, I must say you have spectacular photography and presentation!
Wow, this cheesecake parfait looks absolutely divine! Can’t wait to try it!
OMG OMG OMG! I am obsessed with parfait! I always use granola but you make it sound so boring while yours are… omg, they look amazing! I had never thought of cookies instead of granola but I am so gonna try this out! thanks a lot for sharing! you may have changed how i do breakfast for ever 😉 xx corinne
Ha! I’m happy to be of service! 🙂
I would pig out on these. I love cheesecake and berries, so this is a perfect combo!
This indeed does look delicious and easy to make. My question is, after placing them in the fridge will the cookie stay crispy?
They’re crumbs so they absorb a little of the moisture. Still a bit crispy though!
These are just gorgeous! My kids LOVE these Millie’s cookies but they get eaten literally straight out of the oven.
Gorgeous pictures, and I cannot even tell you how much I love the idea of packaging these up in little mason jars for a picnic dessert. It would be so delicious and feel extremely Pinterest-y without actually being much work – HA!
I love things that look special but are super-easy!
All tho this is a very easy recipe, it looks so elegant and would satisfy my dessert craving in a heartbeat.
Perfect garden party desserts! I love the idea of using cheesecake mixture instead of cream!
Now THIS is my kind of dessert! Light, fruity and made with chocolate. So perfect for summer.
These look yummy! I have pinned it to try later 🙂
These look amazing. I love make ahead desserts – it is the best way to feed guests and still be able to entertain them at the same time!
Absolutely! I hate slaving away in the kitchen while everyone has fun without me.
Oh these look SO good. I need a new freezer then I will be stocking up on frozen goodies! Kaz
These look amazing!! I really have to try these this weekend!
WOW, these look delicious and love to see that they are not as hard as they might look. Love to find recipes that are delicious but also easy to make.
Wow that looks amazing, thanks for sharing your recipe. It would be a great option for summer.
Lennae xxx
These look heavenly! Prefect for summer weather. I love how pretty and colorful they are too. These I’m definitely adding to our summer entertaining menu.
Looking at the pictures makes me drool over it and wanting to eat some! Glad you had the recipe and its so easy to prepare! Thanks for this!
These parfait cus look absolutely delicious. So beautiful, refreshing and full of berry flavours. Mouthwatering photos. Just yum!
What beautiful gorgeous layers! Pass me one, please!
I love layering up berries with yogurt and something crunchy, I usually use granola, but crumbled cookies is such a great hack.
I need to try more desserts like this, Specially since every time I go to the super market i fall for the unhealthy stuff. Its a weakness!
Love all the berries in this parfait! I can imagine how great it tastes!
I love cheesecake and this cookie cheesecake parfait with berries look so tempting and divine! It makes me drooling just by seeing your pictures!
Wow these look incredible and i bet they taste amazing as well. Great that you can make ahead of time as well x
Oh my gosh, these are my idea of heaven! Definitely bookmarking for my next dinner party! xxxx
I can happily spend hours in the kitchen working on desserts… I just can’t be bothered at all. loved this 🙂
That’s a delicious recipe .I love light and quick recipes with a healthy twist .
That looks great for summer. My children love this Berries much. Thanks for recipe