Easy No-Bake Graduation Dessert Cups
A quick and easy no-bake dessert perfect for graduation parties, featuring layers of creamy tangy filling, crunchy graham crackers, and fresh berries. Ready in 15 minutes and can be made ahead for stress-free celebrations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) crushed graham crackers or digestive biscuits
- 1 ½ cups (225 g) fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth using an electric mixer on medium speed, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese, beating until fully combined and smooth. Stir in the lemon zest if using.
- In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream on high speed until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the cream.
- Crush the graham crackers in a food processor or inside a plastic bag with a rolling pin until mostly fine crumbs with some small chunks remain.
- Assemble the dessert cups by spooning about 2 tablespoons (30 g) of crushed graham crackers into the bottom of each serving cup, followed by about ¼ cup (60 ml) of the creamy mixture, then a few fresh berries. Repeat layers if cups are tall enough.
- Cover the cups with lids or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm.
- Before serving, optionally garnish with fresh mint or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Notes
Let cream cheese sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing for smooth blending. Whip heavy cream to soft peaks to maintain light texture. Fold whipped cream gently to avoid deflating. Chill dessert cups for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor and texture. Avoid freezing as it affects texture. Variations include adding cocoa powder for chocolate twist, using gluten-free cookies, or dairy-free cream cheese and coconut whipped topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup dessert cup
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: no-bake dessert, graduation dessert, dessert cups, make-ahead dessert, easy dessert, creamy dessert, berry dessert