The Wimbledon Winner Luxurious Layered Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

Easy Layered Strawberries And Cream Parfaits

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Preparation time:20 Mins

Cooking time:0

Servings:4 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 cups (about 1 lb) Fresh Strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 ½ cups Heavy Whipping Cream, very cold
• ½ cup Full-Fat Greek Yogurt, plain, unsweetened
• ¼ cup Powdered Sugar (Confectioner's Sugar), sifted
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract
• ½ cup Shortbread or Digestive Biscuits, crushed into coarse crumbs
• 4 Mint Sprigs (Optional, for Garnish)

Instructions:

• Slice the Strawberries: Hull and slice the fresh strawberries thinly. Place them into a small bowl, sprinkle with granulated sugar and lemon juice. Gently toss to combine without bruising the fruit.
• Chill: Allow the strawberries to macerate (soften and release their juices) for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. This creates the essential strawberry syrup.
• Whip the Cream: Place the cold heavy whipping cream into a large, cold mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and the vanilla bean paste. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
• Fold in Yogurt: Gently fold the Greek yogurt into the stiffly whipped cream using a rubber spatula. Use a cutting motion to ensure the volume is maintained. Set aside.
• Prepare the Crunch: Crush the shortbread or digestive biscuits until they resemble coarse, uneven crumbs.
• Assembly: Place a dollop (about 2 tablespoons) of the vanilla cream mixture at the bottom of each parfait glass. Spoon a layer of the macerated strawberries (including some of the released syrup) over the cream. Sprinkle a teaspoon of the crushed biscuit crumbs over the fruit. Repeat the layers: Cream, then strawberries, then crunch, finishing with a final generous layer of the vanilla cream on top.
• Garnish and Serve: Top the parfaits with a few choice strawberry slices or a small mint sprig. Serve immediately, or chill for an extra 10–15 minutes if you prefer the cream to be very firm.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:777 kcal

Protein:3.3 g

Fat:15.2 g

Carbs:72.8 g

Fiber:2.1 g

Sugar:0.0 g

Sodium:177 mg

Recipe Info

Category:Dessert

Cuisine:British

Why These Strawberries and Cream Parfaits Are the Ultimate Summer Dessert

When the weather warms, few desserts offer the pure, unadulterated joy of fresh fruit paired with luxurious cream. While the simple bowl of Whipped Cream And Strawberries is a classic, elevating this pairing into a layered structure transforms it from a rustic treat into an elegant spectacle. These beautiful Strawberries and Cream Parfaits are visually stunning, yet deceptively simple to assemble, making them the ideal choice for relaxed entertaining. They satisfy the desire for something rich, but remain delightfully light and refreshingly cool, proving that the best Strawberry Parfait Desserts are often the ones that require zero oven time.

The Secret to Perfectly Macerated Strawberries

The fundamental difference between a good parfait and a transcendent one lies in the preparation of the fruit. We don't just dump sliced berries into a glass; we macerate them. By slicing four cups of ripe strawberries thinly and combining them with just two tablespoons of granulated sugar and a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, we encourage the fruit to release its natural, concentrated juices. A minimum 30-minute chill time is crucial, resulting in plump, sweet-tart fruit suspended in a brilliant syrup—the essential moisture needed to saturate the shortbread layers beautifully.

Tangy Greek Yogurt vs. Traditional Whipped Cream

Many traditional recipes for How To Make Strawberry Cream rely solely on heavy cream, which can sometimes feel cloying and heavy after a rich meal. Our refined Strawberry Cream Recipe incorporates a secret ingredient: full-fat Greek yogurt. By gently folding half a cup of plain Greek yogurt into the stiffly whipped heavy cream (1 ½ cups), we achieve a cream layer that is incredibly light, stable, and boasts a welcome tang. This acidity cuts through the sweetness of the fruit and the richness of the dairy, delivering a truly balanced and addictive Strawberry Cream Dessert .

A Dessert Ready in Under 20 Minutes

Despite their sophisticated appearance, these parfaits are remarkably quick to produce. The active preparation—slicing the strawberries and whipping the cream—takes approximately 20 minutes. While the full 50-minute total time includes the required 30-minute chill for the maceration, the actual construction of the Strawberry Parfait Cups is a swift and meditative process. This ease makes the complete strawberries and cream parfait recipe perfect for the host who wants high impact with minimal effort.

Gathering Your Royal Court of Ingredients

Creating these layered treats requires just a handful of quality ingredients, emphasizing freshness over complexity. For the vibrant fruit base, you will need four cups of sliced fresh strawberries—ensure they are fully ripe—along with a small dose of granulated sugar and lemon juice to kickstart the maceration process. The luxurious vanilla cream component demands 1 ½ cups of very cold heavy whipping cream, ½ cup of full-fat Greek yogurt, ¼ cup of sifted powdered sugar for smooth incorporation, and a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, which adds lovely visual flecks as well as flavor. Finally, the necessary textural element comes from ½ cup of crushed shortbread or digestive biscuits, providing a buttery crunch between the soft layers.

Essential Equipment for Effortless Parfait Assembly

While the techniques involved are beginner-friendly, having the right tools on hand ensures a professional finish and effortless execution.

Choosing the Sweetest, Ripe Strawberries

The success of your parfaits hinges entirely on the quality of your fruit. Select strawberries that are deeply red all the way to the stem, uniform in colour, and fragrant. Avoid berries with white shoulders or a dull appearance. After hulling them, slice the fruit thinly—about ¼ inch thick. This generous surface area allows the sugar to work quickly and efficiently, drawing out the juices needed for the fruit syrup.

Best Dairy Combinations for a Light and Stable Cream

To achieve that lofty, cloud-like texture in your Whipped Cream And Strawberries mixture, ensure both your heavy whipping cream and your mixing bowl are thoroughly chilled before you begin. The Greek yogurt must also be full-fat and unsweetened. The fat content in the yogurt aids in stability, while its acidic profile keeps the flavor profile bright and prevents the cream mixture from becoming too heavy on the palate.

Specialized Tools for Layering Success

To showcase the beautiful construction of this Dessert In A Glass Ideas , you will need four clear serving vessels—8 to 10-ounce parfait glasses, stemmed tumblers, or small mason jars work perfectly. A stand or electric hand mixer is highly recommended for achieving stiff peaks quickly and consistently, especially when working with the precise ratios required for the vanilla-yogurt cloud. Finally,, a rubber spatula is non-negotiable; it allows you to gently fold the tangy Greek yogurt into the whipped cream without collapsing the volume you worked so hard to achieve.

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Mastering the Art of Layering: Step-by-Step Instructions

This recipe moves through three logical stages: developing the fruit base, whipping the stabilizer cream, and then assembling the elegant structure.

Developing Depth: Macerating the Fruit Base

The first stage is preparation. Take your 500 grams of thinly sliced strawberries and place them into a small bowl. Sprinkle them with the two tablespoons of granulated sugar and the teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Toss the mixture very gently to combine, being careful not to crush the delicate fruit. Transfer this mixture to the refrigerator to chill and macerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. This rest period is essential, transforming the sliced fruit into a syrupy base that infuses flavor throughout the entire dessert.

Whipping the Vanilla-Yogurt Cloud

Next, create the defining Strawberry Cream Dessert layer. In a large, cold mixing bowl, begin whipping the 1 ½ cups of cold heavy cream. As the cream starts to thicken, gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and the vanilla bean paste. Continue beating until stiff peaks form; the cream should hold its shape firmly when the whisk is lifted. Immediately stop the mixer to prevent over-whipping. Using your rubber spatula, gently fold in the half-cup of full-fat Greek yogurt. Use a light, cutting motion, ensuring the yogurt is incorporated without deflating the air in the whipped cream.

Building the Elegant Parfait Structure

With both components prepared, it is time for assembly. Start each glass with a solid base, spooning a generous dollop (about two tablespoons) of the vanilla-yogurt cream mixture into the bottom. Next, follow with a layer of the macerated strawberries, ensuring you spoon some of the released syrup over the cream layer. Over the fruit, sprinkle a teaspoon of the coarsely crushed shortbread or biscuit crumbs. Repeat the layering process: cream, then strawberries, then crunch. Finish the structure with a final, generous layer of the vanilla-yogurt cloud on top, creating a smooth surface ready for garnish.

Expert Tips for Flawless Parfaits Every Time

The success of these Strawberry Parfait Cups often comes down to attention to detail in the whipping process and assembly timing. Always ensure your heavy cream, mixing bowl, and whisk attachments are fully chilled; cold ingredients whip faster and hold their volume better. Do not skip the 30-minute maceration period for the strawberries; the syrup is necessary for both flavor and moisture balance. Finally, the Greek yogurt is your key to a superior cream—it cuts through the richness and adds a stability that pure whipped cream alone cannot match in this specific context.

Customizing Your Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

While the classic arrangement is wonderful, the simple structure of these parfaits lends itself beautifully to personalization and accommodation of dietary needs.

Preventing Soggy Layers (The Shortbread Crisis)

The most common structural issue in layered desserts is preventing the crunchy element from turning mushy. To avoid this "soggy crisis," ensure you are using coarse, uneven crumbs (not fine powder) and, crucially, assemble the parfaits no more than one hour before serving. The biscuit layer is best protected when sandwiched between layers of the thicker vanilla-yogurt cream rather than placed directly underneath the wet, syrupy fruit layer.

Make-Ahead Strategy for Stress-Free Entertaining

These Strawberries and Cream Parfaits are perfect for entertaining because components can be prepped ahead. Macerate the strawberries up to four hours in advance and keep them chilled. You can also prepare the vanilla-yogurt cream mixture up to two hours ahead; keep it refrigerated, covered gently, and give it one or two gentle folds before assembly if it has settled slightly. Assemble the final Dessert In A Glass Ideas just before guests arrive to maximize the crunch of the shortbread.

Making the Parfaits Dairy-Free or Gluten-Free

These recipes are highly adaptable. To create a dairy-free version, substitute the heavy whipping cream and Greek yogurt with full-fat canned coconut cream (chilled overnight and scooped from the thick, firm top layer), whipped with the powdered sugar. For a gluten-free modification, simply replace the standard shortbread biscuits with gluten-free vanilla wafers, ginger snaps, or a crumbly gluten-free granola.

Adding Citrus Zest or Booze for an Adult Twist

For an elevated, adult flavor profile, consider boosting the vanilla cream with fresh citrus zest, such as half a teaspoon of orange or lime. Alternatively, for a boozy kick, drizzle a teaspoon of high-quality dark rum, Grand Marnier, or even a splash of Pimm's No. 1 Cup over the sliced strawberries during the initial maceration phase. This adds a complex, aromatic dimension to the fruit base.

Serving Size and Nutritional Snapshot

This strawberries and cream parfait recipe yields four substantial, individual servings. Each parfait, estimated at around 380 kcal, offers a reasonable balance for a summer dessert, providing fiber from the fruit and protein from the Greek yogurt. They are best served ice-cold, perhaps accompanied by a crisp glass of chilled Prosecco or sparkling cider for a truly celebratory experience.