Parfait with layers of pink cream cheese filling and chocolate cookie crumbles in a rocks glass with whipped cream garnish and a cherry.
Photography, Art Direction & Food Styling: Anthony Contrino

I’m kinda addicted to no-bake cheesecake these days.  It’s just as good and is ready to eat in minutes as opposed to the hours it would take to cook and properly chill a traditional cheesecake.  I’m also a sucker for Black Forest Cake.  Honestly, it’s probably because I love cherries and gravitate towards anything with them in it.  You can find Amarena cherries in most specialty or Italian markets, but even Trader Joes carries them seasonally.

No-Bake Black Forest Cheesecake Parfaits

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients
 

FOR THE CHOCOLATE CRUMBLE:

  • 1 9-ounce package chocolate wafer cookies
  • Pinch salt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE:

  • 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup Amarena cherry syrup
  • 2 to 3 drops pink gel food coloring, optional
  • ½ cup rough chopped Amarena cherries
  • 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup confectioners sugar
  • Amarena cherries, for serving
  • Shaved dark chocolate, for serving

Instructions
 

  • MAKE THE CHOCOLATE CRUMBLE. Place the wafer cookies in a large zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible.
  • Using a rolling pin, crush the wafers into sesame seed-sized pieces, then transfer to a bowl.
  • Add the salt and melted butter and stir until well combined; set aside.
  • MAKE THE CHEESECAKE MOUSSE. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese until smooth, scraping the sides down as needed, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the Amarena cherry syrup and food coloring and mix until well incorporated.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whip the heavy cream and confectioners sugar to medium peaks.
  • Reserve approximately ½ cup of the cream, then fold the remaining whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined. Transfer to a piping bag.
  • To ASSEMBLE, spoon half of the Chocolate Crumble into the bottoms of 6 parfait or rocks glasses.
  • Pipe a layer of Cheesecake Mousse over the crumbs. (You should use ½ of the filling.)
  • Add another layer of crumbs followed by another layer of the mousse.
  • Top each cup with a dollop of the reserved whipped cream and garnish with an Amarena cherry and shaved chocolate.
Author: Anthony Michael Contrino