Description
A creamy and delightful Banana Cheesecake Parfait featuring layers of graham cracker crust, luscious cheesecake filling, and fresh banana slices. This no-bake dessert is quick to assemble, perfect for an elegant treat or casual gathering, offering a balanced sweetness with optional honey drizzle and whipped cream garnish.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
For the Parfait Layers:
- 2 ripe bananas, sliced
- 1-2 tbsp honey (optional, for sweetness)
- Whipped cream, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Graham Cracker Crust: In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and granulated sugar until the mixture is well combined and resembles wet sand.
- Layer the Crust: Divide the graham cracker mixture evenly among serving glasses or bowls, pressing it down firmly to form an even crust layer at the bottom.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Whip the Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form, ensuring a light and airy texture.
- Combine Cheesecake Mixture and Whipped Cream: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to maintain the fluffiness. If desired, add sour cream at this stage for extra creaminess and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add Banana Layer: Place a layer of fresh sliced bananas on top of the graham cracker crust in each glass or bowl.
- Layer Cheesecake Filling: Spoon or pipe a layer of the prepared cheesecake filling on top of the bananas evenly.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the banana and cheesecake filling layers, finishing with a final layer of cheesecake filling on top.
- Chill Parfaits: Refrigerate the assembled parfaits for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the filling to firm up to a perfect creamy consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, drizzle optionally with honey for added sweetness and garnish with whipped cream if desired for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas for the best sweetness and texture.
- For a tangier cheesecake, include sour cream in the filling.
- Graham cracker crust can be substituted with digestive biscuits or vanilla wafers for variation.
- Parfaits are best consumed within 24 hours for freshness.
- To avoid bananas browning, you can lightly toss banana slices in lemon juice before layering.
- Whipped cream garnish is optional but adds a lovely finishing touch.
