Holiday entertaining is made easy with these make-ahead Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits. They’re dairy-free and grain-free, and have all the decadence you’d expect from a cheesecake!
This post is sponsored by E.D. Smith. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Crumb Top Baking possible.
Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to consider your dessert options for the big day!
While I always have cookies, bars and cakes on hand for the holidays, Christmas Day dessert requires a little something special. I love serving a decadent dessert that looks pretty and festive, and leaves dinner guests asking for seconds. I know, I have high expectations for my desserts!
This year, to help meet my high exceptions, I’ve teamed up with my friends at E.D. Smith to create a recipe that will wow your guests! These Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits have an almond cocoa crumb base, with a creamy cheesecake filling made from avocados, cocoa, maple syrup and coconut milk. So they’re dairy-free and grain-free, and with a layer of E.D. Smith ready-made raspberry pie filling, they’re an absolute show stopper.
If you’ve been following Crumb Top Baking for a while, you know I’m a fan of E.D. Smith. Their pure pumpkin has been a staple in my recipes for years. From pumpkin donuts to avocado pumpkin cookies, fall baking wouldn’t be complete without pure pumpkin in the mix.
And while I’ve been buying E.D. Smith products for years, it was only recently that I learned they’re the largest Canadian manufacturer of jams, jellies and marmalades (for over 135 years!), and their real fruit pie filling is the number one brand in Canada.
So with those kind of stats, I was eager to create a festive dessert with their pie fillings. And what better pie filling to use at Christmas than raspberry!? It’s bright, vibrant and festive, and it pairs beautifully with the layers of chocolate in these parfaits.
And speaking of chocolate layers, can we take a moment to appreciate the thick and creamy texture that avocado, cocoa, maple syrup and coconut milk create when they’re all whipped together?! I could eat this dairy-free cheesecake filling straight out of the bowl!
Some tips for making Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits:
- These parfaits should be made a few hours (or up to a day) in advance and refrigerated to allow the cheesecake layer to firm up. Just add the coconut whip and other toppings before serving.
- The coconut whip is just solidified coconut milk whipped up in a high-speed mixer. In order to get a whipped cream texture, you need to use full fat coconut milk that has been refrigerated for about 24 hours. This allows the milk to separate and solidify. If you’re not sure if it’s fully solidified, just place the cans in the freezer for 20 minutes or so.
- As for toppings, I like to reserve some almond cocoa crumbs and raspberry pie filling for the top. And crushed pistachios are always a festive touch.
- For an elegant dessert, serve the parfaits in stemless wine glasses. Just cover them with plastic wrap while they set up in the fridge. For a more casual theme, use glass jars with lids.
- This recipe makes six large parfaits or 10-12 small ones.
If you make these Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits, I would love to hear about it in the comments below. Or take a pic and share it on Instagram by tagging @crumbtopbaking. And be sure to follow #LavishlyEDS and #EverydayEDS for other amazing E.D. Smith recipes!
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Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits (Dairy-Free)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes (plus time to set up)
- Yield: 6 parfaits 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
Holiday entertaining is made easy with these make-ahead Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Parfaits. They’re dairy-free and grain-free, and have all the decadence you’d expect from a cheesecake!
Ingredients
- 1–1/2 cups blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup + 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, divided
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons chai spice
- 1/4 cup virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil, melted
- 2 large ripe avocados
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 4 – 400 ml cans of full fat coconut milk, refrigerated for 24 hours
- 1 – 540 ml can of E.D. Smith Raspberry Pie Filling
- Crushed pistachios for topping
Instructions
Making the almond cocoa crumb base:
- Pre-heat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, sift together the almond flour, 1/4 cup of cocoa, coconut sugar and chai spice. Add the melted coconut oil and stir until well combined.
- Press the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into crumbly pieces. Set aside.
Making the chocolate cheesecake layer:
- Add the avocados and maple syrup to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined.
- Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of cocoa, beating well after each addition. Increase to high speed, and beat the mixture until the cocoa is well incorporated and the mixture resembles a chocolate frosting.
- In a large mixing bowl, scoop out the solidified coconut milk from the four refrigerated cans (discard the liquid). Using an electric mixer, beat on high until the milk is whipped and creamy. This will take a few minutes.
- Add half of the coconut whip to the avocado chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. (You can also use the electric mixer to do this). Set aside the other half of the coconut whip for the parfait topping.
Assembling the parfaits:
- Set out six 8-ounce wine glasses or glass jars and add the almond cocoa crumbs to the bottom of each glass or jar, reserving some to top the parfaits.
- Add a layer of raspberry pie filling to each parfait, reserving some for the topping.
- Next, divide the chocolate cheesecake mixture into each glass or jar, and cover and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the cheesecake to set up.
- When ready to serve, top with the remaining coconut whip, almond cocoa crumbs, raspberry pie filling and crushed pistachios.
Notes
- These parfaits should be made a few hours (or up to a day) in advance and refrigerated to allow the cheesecake layer to firm up. Just add the coconut whip and other toppings before serving.
- For the coconut whip, you will need to use full fat coconut milk that has been refrigerated for about 24 hours. This allows the milk to separate and solidify. If you’re not sure if it’s fully solidified, just place the cans in the freezer for 20 minutes or so.
- This recipe makes six large parfaits or 10-12 small ones.
Keywords: dessert, raspberries, chocolate, cheesecake, dairy-free, grain-free
Dairy free for the win! These parfaits look so scrumptious!! Perfect for Christmas. I love the use of avocado to make these too….so genius!
Thanks Kelly! Gotta love the versatility of avocados! They’re perfect for dairy-free desserts!
Make ahead desserts are the best and especially during a super busy season. These look absolutely beautiful and delicious Leanne. It is such a rich and delicious combo of flavours. Thank you for a great recipe, this I would love to try.
I totally agree Ashika! Make ahead desserts are so great this time of year! Hope you get a chance to make this one!
These look amazing! This is just the recipe I need for a make ahead holiday dessert, raspberry and chocolate is my all time favourite combination. Yum! Thank you 💕
Thanks Sabrina! So glad you like the combo. And gotta love make ahead holiday desserts!
I love how easy these are for holiday entertaining Leanne! And the flavor combination is perfect. I’m a huge fan of chocolate raspberry. And I can never pass up cheesecake.
★★★★★
Thanks Mary Ann! I love raspberry and chocolate together too. And I’m big on make ahead desserts for the holidays. Makes life easier!
These just look so creamy and chocolate and delicious. Love that raspberry layer too to cut through all the richness.
★★★★★
Thanks Marie! The raspberry definitely pairs nicely with the chocolate crumbs and ‘cheesecake’ filling!
All there ingredients allows one to enjoy the treats this time of the year without the guilt. Thanks.
I’m glad you like the ingredients! Hope you get a chance to make them!
These look amazing! Would be perfect for a Xmas gathering.
And as always, the pictures look incredible.
Thanks Terry! I’m definitely planning to make these over the holidays!
Decadent and healthy…what a great combination. Everything look so good!
Thanks Barbara! I think that makes a great combo too! 😉
Oh. My. Gosh! I am going to need to make a huge batch of this deliciousness. Your photos have me drooling all over my keyboard lol We have a few family members that are dairy free and grain free so these will be the perfect dessert for Christmas dinner. Thank you! I can’t wait to give this a try. 🙂
★★★★★
Thanks Jo! You’re too sweet! I would love to know what you and your guests think if you make them!
Well this looks delicious!! A perfect dessert – so luxurious! Pinned!
★★★★★
Thank you Annie! And I appreciate you pinning. Enjoy the rest of your week!
If these are the kinds of desserts you serve dinner guests, I want an invite! Haha, all jokes aside these look absolutely beautiful and delicious! And it was interesting to know E.D. Smith has been around that long! I use their pumpkin purée often to and had no clue. Saving this link onto my phone so that I can make these next time I have people over for dinner!!!
★★★★★
Thank you Vanessa! You’re welcome for dinner any time! I don’t always make these types of decadent treats, but the holiday season calls for a little something special! Would love to know what you think if you make these!
These look fantastic Leanne!! Especially that pudding layer! I could eat that by the spoonful for sure!
★★★★★
Thanks Lisa! I was definitely eating it by the spoonful, straight out of the bowl!
These look absolutely divine, Leanne! So creamy and rich and just perfect for Christmas! I don’t think we have E.D. Smith down here but I’m going to check because if they’ve been around so long, I know they make good stuff! Have a great week!
★★★★★
Thanks Kelsie! I hope you can find some E.D. Smith in your neck of the woods. They have been a staple in grocery stores around here for as long as I can remember!
I love make ahead dishes for entertaining. Makes life so much easier.
Absolutely agree! Thanks for stopping by Patrick!
Love everything about this dessert, Leanne! Those layers are so distinct and pretty…and I especially love that it’s healthier than a traditional cheesecake. Twinning using avocado for chocolatey filling – I have some tarts coming up. Makes me feel less guilty for eating a few, lol 😉 Didn’t realize that E.D. Smith has been around so long – that’s awesome. Happy Monday to ya 🙂
★★★★★
Thanks so much Dawn! I love using avocado for a chocolate filling or frosting. It’s so creamy and you don’t even taste the avocado. Can’t wait to see your tart recipe!