Crunchy cookie crust, creamy strawberry cheesecake filling, topped with whipped cream, this healthy treat tastes so sinful you’d have no idea it was made with good-for-you ingredients! No Bake Strawberry cheesecake parfaits are lower in sugar, can be made high in protein, and are gluten-free and dairy-free/vegan!
One thing about me, I can’t resist a cute little dessert in a jar. Mason jar desserts are just more fun, you know? My chocolate cheesecake jars were very popular on social media and i’ve been dying to make another flavor! If you haven’t tried the chocolate version yet.. you have to try that one next! These strawberry cheesecake jars are perfect for spring and summer, when strawberry season is in full effect! Nothing beats in-season juicy strawberries. Looking for a cute little healthy treat to bring to a picnic or potluck? I’ve gotchu covered!
And this isn’t your typical yogurt parfait. This one tastes like cheesecake. It has layers of “graham cracker” crust (just kidding, it’s actually Simple Mills Sweet Thins to keep these refined sugar-free, but you can always use graham crackers!), creamy “cheesecake” filling, and they are bursting with fresh strawberries. I always top mine with some coconut whipped cream, because why not!
Most cheesecakes require baking, but this no bake option is heat-free! Cheesecakes are also usually made with cream cheese but we are making these cheesecake jars without cream cheese and dairy-free (although, feel free to use greek yogurt if you’re not dairy-free!).
Why you’ll make these strawberry cheese parfaits on repeat
- They are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and can be made vegan/dairy-free!
- The perfect make-ahead dessert for any occasion, especially when you don’t feel like baking!
- Strawberry cheesecake jars are bursting with fruity, tangy flavor!
- They make a great meal prep snack or dessert.
- Made with nourishing, good for you ingredients!
- A great high-protein, low sugar snack option.
- They are kid and toddler friendly!
- Cheesecake jars make a great travel-friendly snack or dessert.
How to make strawberry cheesecake parfaits
Full measurements & steps will be in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Ingredients
Cheesecake filling:
- Unsweetened Vanilla Yogurt: The most important part of the recipe! Be sure to use a yogurt that you love as it’ll add a lot of the flavor to this recipe. I also recommend using a THICK greek yogurt or thick coconut yogurt as this creates a thicker, cheesecake-like texture. CocoJune & Culina are my two favorite coconut yogurt brands!
- Strawberries: We’ll be using fresh strawberries for this recipe!
- Strawberry jam: You can use homemade jam (I love making homemade strawberry chia jam) OR you can use a store-bought option. I’d try and find one without any added sugar.
- Maple syrup or honey: This adds just a touch of sweetness to the recipe!
- Cashew butter: Most healthy cheesecake recipes will use raw cashews as the base as it creates a super thick and creamy texture. Were skipping raw cashews to make this one-bowl cheesecake a little easier and opting for cashew butter. You can also use almond butter – it’s delicious, but cashew butter will give the most neutral flavor! Sunflower seed butter makes a great nut-free option.
Crust options: I love a buttery graham cracker crust and Simple Mills Sweet Thins are the closest healthier option i’ve found. They are paleo, gluten, dairy, & refined sugar-free and taste JUST like graham crackers. However, you can use your favorite graham crackers or other cookie if you’d like. I wanted to keep this recipe super simple, so I just crumbled them up and sprinkled them into the bottom of the jars.
If you want it to feel more graham cracker-like, you can blitz them in a food processor with a little coconut oil to create that real crust-like feel! (I’ll leave notes for this in the recipe card below!)
Steps to make strawberry cheesecake parfaits
- First, you’ll want to decide what containers you want to make your yogurt parfaits in. I like to use these 4oz mason jars. They are the perfect size and great for on-the-go! You can also use something like these overnight oats containers!
- Make the cheesecake filling: You can mix the cheesecake filling in a bowl, a blender, or a food processor. Honestly, I love using a food processor because it makes it so easy and quick and gets extra creamy! Once the cheesecake mixture is nice and creamy, fold in the chopped strawberries.
- Assemble your jars! Add a little of the homemade base or cookie crumbles if you’re using that option, to the bottom of your jars. Then divide the cheesecake mixture amongst them. Add 1/2-1 tbsp of strawberry jam on top, spreading it out over the cheesecake layer.
- I like to add a little coconut whip to the top when serving to make them feel even fancier, but you can also just sprinkle over some extra cookie crumble or even some granola or other fresh berries.
- Lid the jars and store in the fridge for 3-4 hours before enjoying!
FAQ’s
Can strawberry cheesecake parfaits be eaten for breakfast? This low sugar option could definitely be made a healthy breakfast option. Instead of the cookies, try swapping in some low-sugar granola! You can also stir in a scoop of protein powder to the cheesecake filling to make it higher in protein.
How long do cheesecake jars last? You can store these in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can you make dairy-free/vegan cheesecake jars? Yes! Simply use coconut yogurt or other vegan/dairy-free yogurt option!
Can you use different fruits? Of course! I love using blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries! You can also mix and match berries to make them even more fun! Using a mix of colorful berries would make these a cute Fourth of July dessert! Mangoes, peaches, or even cherries would also be great!
Can I use frozen strawberries in this cheesecake? I would opt for fresh strawberries! Frozen strawberries will thaw and release lots of liquid into the cheesecake which will make it watery and a bit of a mess!
Can these cheesecake jars be made ahead of time? YES! Just give them at least 1-2 hours to sit in the fridge before serving.
Toppings and variations
- Top cheesecake with sprinkles!
- Swap in granola for a healthy breakfast cheesecake vibe!
- Stir in peanut butter rather than cashew butter for a peanut butter and jelly flavor!
- Top with a little coconut whip or whipped cream.
- Stir some cacao nibs or chocolate chips into the filling.
More healthy dessert recipes to try
- Frozen yogurt bites
- Healthy snickers bites
- Cosmic protein brownies
- Healthy dilly bars
- Carrot cake bites/truffles
- Chocolate seed bars
Did you love this recipe!? It’d mean the world to me if you leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section! Follow me on Instagram to tag me in your creations!
Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 box Simple mills sweet thins *or similar graham cracker/cookie
Cheesecake filling
- 1 1/2 cups THICK unsweetened vanilla coconut or greek yogurt *see notes. I use culina or cocojune coconut yogurt
- 3 tbsp cashew butter
- 3-4 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- good pinch of sea salt *don't skip!
- 8-10 fresh strawberries diced into small cubes
Topping
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam, homemade or store-bought *I like using homemade chia jam
- Coconut whip *totally optional!
- extra cookie crumbles for topping
Instructions
- Make the cheesecake filling: You can mix the cheesecake filling in a bowl, a blender, or a food processor. Honestly, I love using a food processor because it makes it so easy and quick and gets extra creamy! Once the cheesecake mixture is nice and creamy, fold in the chopped strawberries.
- Assemble your jars! Add a little of the homemade base or cookie crumbles if you're using that option, to the bottom of your jars. Then divide the cheesecake mixture amongst them. Add 1/2-1 tbsp of strawberry jam on top, spreading it out over the cheesecake layer.
- I like to add a little coconut whip to the top when serving to make them feel even fancier, but you can also just sprinkle over some extra cookie crumble or even some granola or other fresh berries.Lid the jars and store in the fridge for 3-4 hours before enjoying!
