Apple Cheesecake Parfaits – A No-Bake Treat

No-Bake Apple Cheesecake Parfaits are the perfect, no-fuss, crowd-pleasing dessert. A creamy, apple-infused cheesecake mixture is topped with nuts, cranberries and caramel. Make ahead and freeze for easy entertaining.

Have I mentioned that I’m in apple butter overload these days? After making A LOT of low-sugar Crock Pot Apple Butter, I realized that this spread  is more than a condiment used to top waffles and toast.

I already had success using it in Cranberry Apple Caramel Popcorn and Stuffing Muffins. The addition of this sweet “butter” in a recipe infuses an apple flavor that’s hard to duplicate. Now that the holidays are in full swing, I decided it was time to incorporate it into a favorite cool treat…no-bake cheesecake.

The Not So Secret No-Bake Cheese Cake Formula

The quickest route to a cheesecake treat is the no-bake one. It’s a lower-calorie choice too. Simply mix 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and 8 ounces of whipped topping and you’ve got the base for so many desserts. Use low-fat ingredients to save a few calories. Mix-in and/or top it with your favorite ingredients, drop it in a graham cracker pie crust and wohoo…you’ve got a pie…that you can make ahead and freeze too!

Or, layer the ingredients into a parfait. I’m a big fan of the trifle because you get all the creamy goodness of cheesecake, but less of the calorie-laden crust. I love a graham cracker crust, but I save that indulgence for the real thing. 🙂

Apple Cheesecake Parfaits

To give the cheesecake mixture a hint of apple flavor, add 1/3 cup of apple butter to the cream cheese mixture. Even though the apple butter is sweet, a little sugar keeps the customary cheesecake flavor, particularly if you’ve used a low-sugar version of apple butter.

To make the parfait, layer dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, crushed graham crackers and more apple butter. For a decadent treat, top it with caramel sauce for caramel apple cheesecake parfaits.

Prepare apple cheesecake parfaits in trendy little mason jars and freeze them. Last minute guests…no problem!

Apple Cheesecake Parfaits

Apple cheesecake parfaits are layers of creamy, apple-infused cheesecake, nuts, cranberries, graham crackers and caramel. An easy and decadent no-bake dessert.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Refrigerating time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 273kcal

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup apple butter
• 8 ounce whipped topping
• Optional Toppings
• Toasted walnuts
• Dried cranberries
• Crushed graham crackers
• Apple butter
• Caramel sauce

Instructions

• In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, and 1/3 cup apple butter, using beaters to mix until light and fluffy.
• Stir in whipped topping.
• Spoon or pipe mixture into serving dishes, cups or mason jars.
• Top or layer with nuts, cranberries, crushed graham crackers, apple butter or caramel sauce.
• Allow mixture to set in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours or store in freezer for up to two months.
• If serving from freezer, allow parfaits to defrost in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving..

Notes

1) To toast walnuts, spreak walnuts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, cook in a 350 degree oven for 5-8 minutes or until walnuts become fragrant. 2) To "pipe" cream cheese mixture, fill a plastic bag with cream cheese mixture, cut the tip off one corner of the bag and squeeze the mixture into the serving container.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 105mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 535IU | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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Enjoy!