Happy Galentine’s Day y’all!
I’m teaming up today with a fun and super creative bunch of gals to celebrate one another on the official (according to Leslie Knope) Galentine’s Day. It’s basically Valentine’s Day for girls, and I’m SO EXCITED for you to see what all we’ve been cooking up for you!
When it comes to girly food I always ALWAYS think of cheesecake. Sweet + beautiful and in any flavor you like – what’s not to love, right?
So to celebrate my girlfriends I chose to make a super fun and really easy cheesecake parfait bar. The beauty of this is that you can totally customize it to whatever you like. Want ALL chocolate? Lord knows I won’t be stopping you… Want to make it healthier-ish? Go with fresh fruit! Want a little bit of everything (yes please!) No big deal – that’s the fun of it all, you know? You get to make what you want and let the ladyfriends you love do the same.
I would recommend getting some small (4-ounce) mason jars and letting everyone use theirs to fill up on cheesecake goodness. Then if there’s leftovers you can always send ’em home with a jar-full as well! And if not…well, there are about a billion uses for mason jars so you know. Just go with it 😉
Y’all enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup each of any desired toppings - great ideas are crushed cookies, fresh fruit, preserves, pie fillings, shaved chocolate or chocolate chips, candy, peanut butter, nuts, etc.
Instructions
- In a large bowl cream together the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until completely smooth.
- Add the vanilla and mix until combined.
- Pour into a beautiful bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Chop/crumble all other ingredients into bite-size pieces that layer well.
- Set out small mason jars or other small glasses, add spoons to all of the ingredient bowls, and let your guests go to town!
- Recipe inspired by and only slightly adapted from the Pioneer Woman's Cherry Cheesecake Shooters
Galentine’s Day Drinks
Blood Orange Bourbon Fizz with Fried Sage from Lauren of Climbing Grier Mountain
Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Martini from Shanna of Pineapple and Coconut
Ladies’ Night Rum Punch from Lindsay of The Live In Kitchen
Galentine’s Day Brunch
Sweet Potato Cornmeal Waffles with Bourbon Cream and Pecan Butter from Susan of Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
Chocolate Dipped Donuts from Angie of Big Bear’s Wife
Lemon and Ginger Scones from Lauren of Healthy. Delicious.
Beet, Blood Orange, and Chèvre Salad from Lori of Foxes Love Lemons
Galentine’s Day Desserts
Piña Colada Cupcakes from Courtney of Neighborfood
Strawberry Chocolate Dessert Bars from Marly of Namely Marly
Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Chocolate Frosting from Nancy of Gotta Get Baked
One Layer Fudge Cake from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Double Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Whipped Vanilla Creme Fraiche from Cynthia of Two Red Bowls
Dark Chocolate Pistachio Ice Cream with Candied Bacon Bits from Steph of Girl Versus Dough
Fruity Dessert Pizza from Morgan of Peaches Please
Secret-Ingredient Chocolate Pecan Bites (Gluten Free!) from Karen of The Food Charlatan
DIY Cheesecake Parfait Bar from Heather of Heather’s Dish
Heather! I wasn’t just leaving a fluffy comment earlier…I really am making this tomorrow for my daughter’s birthday party! So fun! You mention vanilla in the directions but not in the list. I’m making it right now so I’ll just add some til it tastes good 🙂 but just wanted to let you know.
OH, thank you for the update Karen! I didn’t think it was fluffy 🙂 I’m so glad you made them this weekend!!!
This is a super cute idea. I love interactive food!
You know I never thought of it as interactive, but I love that part of it too now that you mention it!
This is a brilliant idea and so much fun to boot!
Thank you so much Susan! I have to admit I’m pretty excited to pull it out for parties this summer. The no-bake aspect is pretty awesome!
I LOVE this! I love the Galentine’s Day and cheesecake! What a wonderful and simple recipe, cannot wait to dig my way out of all this snow and get to the store 🙂
I really can’t even begin to say how glad I am it didn’t snow here – I hope you can get out soon!
oh this looks delicious! My boys would also have so much fun doing this…(w/ a careful eye on a few of them….:)) Thanks for a great idea!
You guys could get SO creative with all the fruit growing on your land too!
What a cute idea! And cheesecake always has my heart. Happy Galentine’s Day!
Yes, cheesecake wins. ALWAYS 🙂
I have a great homemade strawberry sauce recipe on my blog that would be the perfect addition. It is so much more tasty than the canned/bottled strawberry toppings and really packs a punch.
These look lovely—and gave me a great way to use up the rest of my strawberry sauce!
Sounds like a match made in heaven 🙂
I would probably eat these two at a time haha! Girl those looks so good! I love the little glasses too!
I won’t lie, I ate almost the entire batch in one day. Seriously. And then was craving it the next day too!
This is such a great idea, Heather! Food in jars is adorable and it’s even better when it’s rich, creamy and easy to throw together cheesecake parfaits. I love your photos – I’m trying to reach into the screen to grab a few jars to nosh on but dammit, we don’t have the technology yet to allow me to do that! I hope you have a fabulous Galentine’s Day!
Some day we WILL have that technology and I’ll totally make extras for you 🙂
I love that you added “rockin'” to our party! Because these parfaits are totes rockin! Love!
Thanks ladyfriend! 🙂
Oh my gosh, this would be SO FUN for a girl party! I can’t think of a single woman that would not completely love this. And I have mason jars for days. Bookmarking this!
I know I thought it was super fun and feminine. Hope you and your friends love ’em!
I agree, cheesecake just feels like a feminine dessert. And I might need to get a bigger mason jar! I love the choose-your-own-adventureness of it!
Oh, I love that you said adventureness! Such a fun way to look at it 🙂
What a seriously fun and delicious idea Heather! The mason jars make them look so cute. And dessert bars are just perfect for girl’s night parties. I’m so glad you were able to join the party today. Happy Galentine’s Day!
Well I’m so glad YOU invited me!!!
Oh how fun! This would be such a great addition to any party, but especially today’s! Hope you have a fabulous Galentine’s Day!
I definitely am going to be using it a lot for summer entertaining – no baking required!
Cheesecake parfaits??? I think the fruit makes them equally appropriate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! So beautiful!!! Happy Galentine’s Day!
I totally had one for each meal the day I made them!
Love it!!! My friends and I are having a fun (but way less healthy!) Galentines Day party tomorrow. We’re watching slasher movies and eating our way through a tour of the finest junk food our town has to offer.
Mmmmmmmmm…junk food 🙂 Love it!
Love this idea Heather! This would be so fun to do at a bridal or baby shower …or dare I say, Galentine’s Day Party?? 🙂 I’m seriously bookmarking this for my next girly party. Looks fabulous!
ANY girly party, right?! Or just any day 😉