She Loves Biscotti

Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Maria
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

Home » Desserts » Strawberry Parfait [With Ricotta]

Strawberry Parfait [With Ricotta]

July 15, 2017 , Updated July 3, 2020 Maria 10 Comments

Jump to Recipe  ↓ Print Recipe  ❒
A

Made with simple ingredients, this crowd-pleasing Strawberry Parfait is the perfect no-bake dessert for your dinner parties. Ricotta, yogurt & honey are whipped together to create creamy, luscious layers that are visually stunning when combined with macerated strawberries. Such a refreshing dessert!

 A close up of the macerated strawberries and whipped ricotta layered in a serving glass.
Strawberry Parfait

It’s finally strawberry season!

Is there anything better than biting into a freshly picked, farm-fresh strawberry?

The fragrance and flavors are truly irresistible.  

I don’t know about you, but I just can’t help myself.

A close up of fresh strawberries in a bowl.

Confession time… I get a little carried away whenever I go strawberry picking. I anxiously return home with baskets and baskets of strawberries to start my yearly ritual of making a few batches of this recipe for strawberry jam. These little jars make perfect hostess gifts.

I also love to use this fresh fruit to make these banana strawberry muffins and this buttermilk cake when I don’t have access to rhubarb. 

When it comes to strawberries, this recipe for macerated strawberries is another one of my favorites. I have already shared with you how delicious it is when served with this Italian cake.

Strawberries, along with other small fruits like blueberries and raspberries also make a great dessert when they are baked together in free form pie such as this crostata. 

There truly are so many wonderful desserts you can make with strawberries!

An overhead shot of a strawberry parfait topped with mint. Also visible are strawberry blooms and freshly picked strawberries with their stems.

Today, I am layering the macerated strawberries with whipped ricotta. The creamy texture of this cheese is achieved without the addition of whipped cream or cream cheese.

Let me show you how easy this recipe comes together.

A close up shot of the ricotta, honey and yogurt about to be whipped together.

How to whip ricotta cheese:

As you can well imagine, one of the key ingredients in this recipe is the cheese.

Combine it with a few tablespoons of honey and yogurt, and process the mixture until smooth and creamy.

There are different ways you can do this in order to achieve a creamy, aerated texture. You can use a handheld mixer, a handheld immersion blender or even a food processor.

A hand held immersion blender whisking the ingredients to make a ricotta parfait.

Using a handheld immersion blender is ideal for small batches; a food processor is great for larger quantities (recipe can easily be doubled). Once you obtain a smooth and creamy texture, transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

A close up shot of the macerated strawberries with lemon zest and shredded mint leaves in a bowl.

Once you have combined the sliced strawberries with the honey, lemon zest and mint, leave the strawberries at room temperature for the flavors to meld together.

It’s now time to assemble and create this easy summer berry treat!

A photo of whipped ricotta parfait surrounded with fresh berries.

How to assemble this recipe:

Start by placing a couple of tablespoons at the bottom of each glass, spoon a few tablespoons of strawberries on top, don’t forget the syrup that had formed from the maceration!

Finally, top with another tablespoon or so of the creamy topping.

Depending on the size of your glass, and the number of portions you need to make, you can increase the number of layers. I will get anywhere from 4-6 portions depending on the size of the glasses. If desired, garnish with fresh mint leaves and lemon zest.

I just love fruity desserts, especially in the summer where fresh local fruit is easily available. This recipe will provide you with a texture that is so creamy, that you won’t miss the extra calories and saturated fat provided by similar recipes that use cream cheese, whipped cream or even mascarpone.

Other uses of whipped ricotta:

Whipped ricotta is equally delicious in savory appetizers. In this crostini recipe, I use pistachio nuts, pomegranates, and pea shoots sprinkled to top this wonderful creamy spread, all on a whole wheat baguette. This is one of my go-to appetizers when pomegranates are in season.

 

Macerated strawberries and whipped ricotta layered in a glass serving dish.

Origins of the recipe for Whipped Ricotta Parfait:

I have always enjoyed eating fresh fruit with ricotta.

Thanks to Pinterest, I began noticing so many recipes that used whipped ricotta 

I was hooked from the moment I tried it.

Notice I did add a couple of tablespoons of creamy vanilla yogurt. Just in case you are wondering,  I used IOGO yogurt (not sponsored). As far as the ricotta is concerned, I will often make a homemade version. But when I am pressed for time (which happens often in the summer) I like to use the TreStelle Brand (not sponsored).

Summer entertaining has just become a lot easier with this wonderful dessert. It is quick to make and a delicious finish to any meal.

If you are looking for more ricotta inspiration, feel free to look at some of my favorite Ricotta Cheese Recipes.

Enjoy!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She loves biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this refreshing dessert, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

A strawberry Ricotta Parfait in a serving glass surrounded by fresh strawberries.

Easy Summer Berry Honey Whipped Ricotta Parfait

This Easy Summer Berry Honey Whipped Ricotta Parfait recipe will quickly become a household favorite. It's a no-fuss, no-bake, light, and refreshing dessert.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Canadian Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 148kcal
Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2-3 tablespoons creamy vanilla yogurt
  • 1 recipe for Simple Macerated Strawberries
  • mint leaves and lemon zest optional

Instructions

  • Combine ricotta, honey and yogurt and process until smooth and creamy (can use hand held beater, hand blender or food processor).
  • Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  • While waiting, make the recipe for simple macerated strawberries.

The assembly:

  • Divide ricotta and macerated strawberries among glasses (or serving dishes). Start by placing a couple of tablespoons at the bottom of each glass, spoon a few tablespoons of strawberries on top, and finally top with another tablespoon of ricotta.
  • If desired, garnish with mint leaves and lemon zest.
Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 86mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shelovesbiscotti or tag #shelovesbiscotti!

 

 

Desserts, Vegetarian

About Maria

Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

Comments

  1. Elaine says

    April 16, 2018 at 14:22

    5 stars
    Love whipped ricotta! Your dessert is perfection in a glass! Fresh strawberries with a touch of mint–what could be better?

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 16, 2018 at 14:29

      Thanks so much Elaine! Can’t go wrong with whipped ricotta and strawberries ♥ Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  2. Yvonne Langen says

    April 16, 2018 at 13:30

    This looks like the perfect way to end a meal. Light, fresh and flavourful! Can’t wait to try it.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 16, 2018 at 13:56

      Thanks Yvonne! Once you try whipped ricotta, there is no going back 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by ♥

      Reply
  3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    April 16, 2018 at 12:15

    5 stars
    I can’t wait for summer with all the fresh berries it brings! Whipped ricotta? I could seriously eat that by the bucketful, I’m sure! This is definitely a heavenly combination – perfect for breakfast or dessert, if you ask me 😉

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 16, 2018 at 12:23

      I absolutely agree Dawn… especially on a day like today… freezing rain in the middle of April! Will truly appreciate those Quebec strawberries when they will be on the markets! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  4. Barbarito-Levitt Paula says

    July 16, 2017 at 16:26

    Good quality ricotta & honey, nothing is better. Thanks for the reminder that dessert need not be complex to be utterly sublime.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 16, 2017 at 20:59

      Some foods were just meant to be together… thanks for dropping by Paula ♥♥♥

      Reply
  5. Inna says

    July 15, 2017 at 21:06

    So easy and very yummy! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      July 15, 2017 at 21:19

      My pleasure Inna ♥♥♥ Enjoy!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Maria

Maria headshot

Hello and Welcome to She Loves Biscotti!
I'm Maria: dietitian and full time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth, to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Read More…

Subscribe and Follow

Popular Posts

Banner of sites featuring She Loves Biscotti including Buzzfeed, Huffpost, etc.

Looking for something …

Links on this blog are affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission if you use those links. (There’s no extra charge to you).

PRIVACY POLICY | DISCLOSURE

Copyright © 2021

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoRead more