Sparkling Parfaits Recipes

RASPBERRY & CREAM PARFAITS

Steps:

• Have 4 wineglasses or glass dessert cups at hand.
• Combine the cream cheese, liqueur, and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until creamy and lump-free, about 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the heavy cream and start beating on low speed (so it doesn't splash), then increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is thickened to a pudding-like consistency, about 2 minutes.
• Distribute half of the raspberries among the bottom of the glasses or dessert cups, then distribute two-thirds of the cream mixture so that it covers the berries in each portion. Distribute the remaining berries evenly among the glasses or dessert cups, gently placing them on the layer of cream. Spoon equal amounts of the remaining cream on top of each portion. Refrigerate for at least one hour or up to 4 hours. Garnish each serving with a mint sprig and serve.
• Make Ahead: The cream mixture can be made and refrigerated a day in advance. Assemble the parfaits up to 4 hours before serving.
• Note: It's okay to leave out the liqueur if you are avoiding alcohol.

SPARKLING PARFAITS

Steps:

• For the champagne flutes: Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the boiling water, honey and gelatin. Refrigerate until the mixture is cooled slightly but still liquid, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in the champagne. Pour the mixture into 6 champagne flutes. Let set for 20 more minutes in the fridge. Place a raspberry in the bottom of each flute. Let sit in the fridge until fully set, about 3 hours.
• For the whipped cream: Begin to beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Gradually add the sugar and keep beating until you have soft peaks of whipped cream.
• To serve: Top the champagne flutes with whipped cream and gold sugar sprinkles.

VERY BERRY DREAMBOAT PARFAITS

Steps:

• Combine pudding mix, sweetener, vanilla extract, and milk in a bowl. Stir vigorously until it's smooth and slightly thickened. Mix in whipped topping and cream cheese. Stir thoroughly, until it's completely mixed and smooth. Cover it and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Evenly distribute raspberries between 2 parfait glasses (or any midsized glasses). Evenly distribute half of the chilled pudding mixture between the glasses, about 1/4 cup per glass.
• Repeat layering with strawberries and the remaining half of the pudding mixture.
• If you like, top each parfait with a squirt of whipped topping. Evenly distribute the crushed graham crackers between the glasses. Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Hull and quarter 1 quart strawberries. Toss with 1 teaspoon sugar in a large bowl. Sprinkle a layer of gingersnap crumbs or graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of parfait glasses. Top with the berries. Mix 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, then spoon over the berries.

CHAMPAGNE PARFAITS WITH PEARS AND RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon Champagne in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until soft, about 10 minutes. Combine remaining Champagne and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer just until pears are tender, turning pears often, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, place pears on plate and cool. Boil poaching liquid until reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot poaching liquid; return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until candy thermometer registers 175°F., about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved. Chill custard until thickened but not set, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Set aside 4 raspberries for garnish. Combine remaining raspberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Coarsely chop pears. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into custard. Place 1/4 cup raspberries in each of four 12- to 16-ounce goblets or balloon-shaped wineglasses. Spoon half of pears over raspberries, dividing equally. Spoon 1/2 cup custard over each. Repeat layering with remaining raspberries, pears and custard. Cover loosely with foil; chill until custard is set, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Garnish parfaits with reserved raspberries, mint and rose petals, if desired.

CHOCOLATE TRINITY PARFAITS

Steps:

• To prepare the dark chocolate cream, heat 1-inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place the 8 ounces semisweet chocolate broken into pieces in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap and allow to heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a stainless steel bowl and set aside until needed. Place 2 1/2 cups heavy cream and 2 tablespoons sugar in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Whisk on high until stiff peaks form, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Use a hand whisk to combine 1/4 of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the combined whipped cream and chocolate to the remaining whipped cream and use a rubber spatula to fold together.
• Transfer the dark chocolate cream to a stainless steel bowl. Tightly cover the top with film wrap and refrigerate until needed. To prepare the cocoa cream, place 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup sugar, the cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Mix on medium until stiff peaks form, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the cocoa cream to a stainless steel bowl. Tightly cover the top with film wrap and refrigerate until needed. To prepare the speckled chocolate cream, place the remaining 2 cups heavy cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Mix on high until stiff peaks form, about 1 1/4 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to fold in the 4 ounces grated chocolate. Transfer the cream to a stainless steel bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before assembling the parfaits.
• To assemble the parfaits, fill a pastry bag (without a tip) with the dark chocolate cream. Pipe an even layer of about 1/2 cup of the cream into each of the brandy snifters. Then fill a clean pastry bag with the cocoa cream and pipe an even layer of it onto the layer of dark chocolate cream. For the final layer of cream, fill a clean pastry bag with the speckled chocolate cream and pipe an even layer of the cream onto the cocoa cream. Refrigerate the parfaits until just a few minutes before serving.