Helloooo, grilling season! I realize that’s a confusing way to start a post about a dessert that isn’t even grilled, but bear with me. Is there anything more summer appropriate than a huge slice of key lime pie on an otherwise unbearably hot day? Luckily, yes. It’s these famous key lime cheesecake parfaits! No slicing, no sharing, no baking! We’re pretty much all over these and want you to be too.
Here’s why we love them so much:
- Cheesecake filling: cool, creamy, luscious, and perfect on a hot summer day!
- Key lime pie, but cheesecake!: we live for key lime pie, but when you mix it with cheesecake filling, it is on another level
- Graham cracker crumbs: true or false — the best part about cheesecake is often the crust? TRUE. Graham crackers + melted butter = heaven on earth
- Make-ahead friendly: that’s right, you can 100% make these a few days in advance; perfect for summer cookouts and group entertaining!
- Individual or group-friendly: serve ’em up in cute little individual jars OR turn it into a giant family-style, self serve dessert.
However you serve them, we know these cheesecake parfaits are going to become a staple in your summer dessert rotation. Can’t wait for you to try them! Like, now!
Ingredients For Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits
For the graham cracker crumble:
- Graham crackers, finely ground
- Granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- Unsalted butter (because melted buttah and graham cracker crumbs are life)
For the key lime cheesecake filling:
- Heavy cream
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Cream cheese
- Vanilla extract
- Key lime or lime juice + zest
Okay, so do we go for key limes or regular limes? We don’t care, and you shouldn’t either. Sure, the namesake dessert calls for the tiny little guys (key limes), but (1) they’re expensive, (2), they’re hard to find, and (3) juice from standard limes will be absolutely fine in this dish. Like, save your money and buy a bottle of wine instead. #goodlifeadvice
How To Make Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits
- Make the graham cracker crumbs. In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and Kosher salt. Add melted butter and stir using a spatula until mixture begins to stick together. Set aside.
- Whip the heavy cream. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with whisk attachment, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl, then switch out whisk attachment with the paddle attachment.
- Make the cheesecake filling. Cream the sweetened condensed milk together with the cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the vanilla extract, lime juice, and zest, then beat an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Fold in the whipped cream. Pour whipped cream into cream cheese mixture and fold gently until combined.
- Assemble the cheesecake parfait. In 6 small glass jars (or one container, if serving family-style) alternate layers of graham cracker crumbs with key lime cheesecake until you reach the top. Place lid on and chill in fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Garnish each cheesecake with extra graham cracker crumbs before serving and thinly sliced lime rounds or wedges.
Key Lime Parfaits Are Make-Ahead Friendly!
These little cheesecake parfaits are perfect for group entertaining! You can make individual key lime cheesecake parfaits (as pictured here) or you can assemble them in one large baking dish or bowl (clear glass, if possible, so guests can see those glorious layers!). Simply reserve a bit of graham cracker crumbs for sprinkling on top just before serving, then add a few lime rounds or wedges for garnish.
Cheesecake parfaits can be made up to 3 days in advance. And seriously, who doesn’t love a make ahead dessert that feeds a crowd?!
What To Serve With No Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
Because cheesecake parfaits are best served cold, we love to enjoy these during the summer months. So we’re talking all things cookouts and barbecues. Checkout all our favorite grilling recipes here, including our crispy grilled chicken wings, grilled lobster tails, and jalapeño poppers — don’t you just crave something cool, creamy, and sweet after a spicy dish?!
Want to serve a boozy drink featuring limes? We are crazy obsessed with this southside cocktail! Gin and mint forev!
Other Parfait Recipes We Love
Guys! These three no bake parfait desserts are some of our absolute favorites ever, period the end. Please promise us you’ll check them out!
If you make Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits, please let us know by leaving a review and rating below! We kinda, sorta think you’re going to be just as obsessed with these as we are! And P.S. they are my absolute favorite dessert for 4th of July. There, I said it!
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For more quick and simple desserts, check out the following recipes:
- Cookie butter skillet cookie
- Flourless peanut butter cookies
- Cannoli cream parfaits
- Dark chocolate chunk browned butter blondies
Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 honey graham crackers finely ground
- 5 Tbsp granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 8 oz packages reduced fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup key lime or regular lime juice about 4 limes
- zest from 3 limes
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and stir using a spatula until mixture begins to stick together. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a food processor with whisk attachment fitted, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl, then switch out whisk attachment with the paddle attachment.
- Cream the sweetened condensed milk together with the cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the vanilla, lime juice, and zest, then beat an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Pour whipped cream into cream cheese mixture and fold gently until combined.
- In 6 small glass jars (or one container, if serving family-style) alternate layers of graham cracker crumbs with key lime cheesecake until you reach the top. Place lid(a) on and chill in fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. Garnish each cheesecake with extra graham cracker crumbs before serving and thinly sliced lime rounds or wedges.
I’ve made these multiple times now and I can’t stop! Even my husband who usually won’t eat anything fruit flavored scarfed these down! The perfect tartness and saltiness in that graham cracker crumble to balance the sweetness. I used two packets of graham crackers (16 crackers) because I couldn’t handle having a few random ones left so I just threw in an extra tablespoon of butter and was more generous on the crumble on top. These will def be a staple for summer desserts for years to come!
Erin, I like the way you think! The more graham crackers, the BETTER. This is one of my favorite summer staples!! xo, Ari