Chocolate Espresso No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
Rich chocolate and bold espresso layers in a creamy no-bake cheesecake parfait that’s quick to assemble and indulgent. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, layers cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 8 oz, softened cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp instant espresso powder
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups, crushed chocolate wafer cookies
- 4 tbsp, melted unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp, for garnish dark chocolate shavings
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp instant espresso powder, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Step 2: In a separate chilled bowl, whip 1 cup heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- Step 3: Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated and fluffy.
- Step 4: Combine 1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies with 4 tbsp melted unsalted butter and mix until crumbs are evenly coated.
- Step 5: Spoon a layer of the cookie crumb mixture into the bottom of 6 parfait glasses, pressing lightly to form a base.
- Step 6: Add a generous layer of the cheesecake mixture over the crumbs, then repeat layering crumbs and cheesecake mixture to fill the glasses.
- Step 7: Refrigerate the parfaits for at least 3 hours to set.
- Step 8: Before serving, garnish each parfait with 2 tbsp dark chocolate shavings for an elegant finish.





