There is just something magical about serving dessert in a glass, isn’t there? It instantly elevates whatever you’re serving, making even the simplest concoction feel like a fancy restaurant treat without any complicated baking involved. If you’re looking for easy dessert ideas that look gorgeous, stop scrolling right now. My favorite thing to whip up when guests are coming is this stunning Strawberry Mousse Parfait.
It’s shockingly easy—seriously, 15 minutes tops for assembly—and it truly delivers on those pretty, vibrant layers every time. I’m Grace Williams, and I’ve been contributing these simple, reliable recipes here at Recipes by Betty for years. Trust me when I say this parfait is foolproof, even if you usually shy away from baking!
Why This Strawberry Mousse Parfait is One of the Best Simple Desserts (E-E-A-T)
If you hate fuss but love putting out something that looks like you spent hours on it, listen up! This dessert is designed for you. It holds up beautifully, especially when you’re hosting easy desserts for a crowd. People always ask me how I get such clean lines in the glass, and it’s all about patience, which I promise you have!
- It’s virtually no-bake! You assemble it, you chill it, and you serve it. That’s it.
- It uses so few ingredients, making it one of those easy desserts with few ingredients that always impresses.
- The colors—pink mousse, white cream, red strawberries—are just naturally beautiful.
My biggest tip is to use clear glasses, tall ones or little footed bowls work great. You want those layers to shine! You can see some of my favorite serving dishes linked here, perfect little vessels for layered desserts.
Quick Assembly for Easy Treats
Seriously, the active time here is less than 15 minutes. You’re just layering things that are already ready to go! Because it’s so fast, it’s perfect for those last-minute invitations or realizing you forgot dessert after dinner is already cooking. It really qualifies as one of those go-to easy treats.
Visually Stunning Strawberry Mousse Parfait Layers
The visual impact is what makes this dessert an instant win. The contrast between the crunchy cookie base and the airy mousse layer is just divine. When you see that finished Strawberry Mousse Parfait, you’d never believe how little effort went into it! Just try to keep your spoon straight while you layer so those lines stay crisp.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Strawberry Mousse Parfait
Okay, gathering ingredients for this recipe is honestly half the fun because it proves how simple these homemade desserts can be. You only need four core things, plus the optional topping! Having everything prepared before you start layering makes the process go super smoothly. Trust Betty, you want all your components ready to build that perfect Strawberry Mousse Parfait.
For four glasses, you’ll need 250 grams of your pre-made strawberry mousse, 200 grams of crushed vanilla cookies, and about 200 grams of fresh strawberries that you’ve sliced up nicely. Don’t forget that whipped cream if you want that fluffy flourish on top!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Since this is an easy dessert, using a store-bought strawberry mousse is totally fine! It saves so much time, and honestly, finding a good quality one makes all the difference. If you happen to have a favorite recipe for homemade mousse, go right ahead—you can see some great techniques right here.
For the cookies, vanilla wafers are great, but don’t panic if you don’t have those exact ones. Graham crackers work fantastically, or even a crisp shortbread cookie will give you that lovely textural crunch we need at the base. Just make sure they’re crushed into varied sizes—too fine and it turns into dust!
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Strawberry Mousse Parfait
This is where the fun begins! Since we aren’t actually baking anything, this process is super fast—we’re building masterpieces in glasses in minutes. Just make sure you have your crushed cookies ready, your strawberries sliced, and your mousse sitting out so it’s easy to scoop. Remember, presentation is everything with this Strawberry Mousse Parfait, so keep your glassware handy!
We need to go slow and steady to get those gorgeous clear layers. If you mess up a layer, don’t worry; just try to keep the next one neat. You can check out some pro layering tips here if you want extra guidance on keeping those lines sharp. For even more inspiration on these kinds of layered treats, check out this recipe over at Taste of Home!
Building the Layers of Your Strawberry Mousse Parfait
The order is vital here! First, we start with the base texture. Take your crushed vanilla cookies and gently spoon a nice even layer—maybe two tablespoons—into the bottom of each glass. Don’t pack it down too hard! Next comes the smooth part: spoon in a generous layer of that strawberry mousse right over the crumbs.
After the mousse, we bring in that fresh color! Dot or layer on your sliced fresh strawberries. Then, you just repeat the whole pattern: cookies, mousse, strawberries, until your glass looks full and tempting. Make sure your final layer is either mousse or strawberries, depending on how you want to top it!
The Essential Chilling Time for Strawberry Mousse Parfait
This is the step that separates a good parfait from a *great* one, so please don’t skip it! While the active assembly is only 15 minutes, you absolutely must chill these babies for at least 90 minutes, but honestly, two hours is better if you can swing it. Why? Chilling lets the mousse firm up properly so it doesn’t collapse when you try to eat it. It also lets the cookie crumbs soften just *a tiny bit* where they touch the mousse, melding all those wonderful flavors together. You want a set, dreamy Strawberry Mousse Parfait texture, and that needs cold time!
Tips for Making Perfect Strawberry Mousse Parfait Layers
Listen, I know you want those gorgeous, Instagram-worthy clean lines in your glass, and it’s totally achievable even when you’re rushing. The key to that beautiful presentation in your Strawberry Mousse Parfait isn’t complicated equipment; it’s about temperature control.
When you scoop your mousse, make sure it’s relatively cold but still very soft. If you use mousse that’s too warm, it will ooze right over your cookie bed, making a muddy mess instead of a clean line. Use a small spoon or a piping bag—if you’re feeling ambitious—to gently settle the mousse near the glass edge first.
Also, think about your strawberries! If they are soaking wet from washing, they will bleed juice into the mousse layer super fast, turning everything pink instead of distinct layers of color. Pat those beautiful slices dry with a paper towel before tucking them in. For more ideas on layering desserts that look spectacular, check out my tips for strawberry banana cream desserts; the physics of layering is the same!
Serving Suggestions for Easy Dessert Ideas
Because this parfait is already so bright, creamy, and texturally interesting, you really don’t need a lot of fuss when it comes to serving it alongside anything else. When I put these out, I’m usually looking for an easy dessert idea that acts as the grand finale itself, not one that needs three side dishes!
If you’re serving these after a big dinner, keep the accompanying items very light. A tiny side of delicate, plain shortbread cookies is nice—just something for an extra crunchy bite if someone wants it—but usually, the built-in cookie layer is plenty. They make a great pairing for coffee or tea, too, as the richness of the mousse balances the bitterness of a dark roast.
For events where you need more variety, try setting up a small platter of fresh mint leaves nearby. A little green sprig tucked right on top of the whipped cream adds a professional look instantly, and the mint aroma is lovely with strawberry. You can find some great surrounding ideas for easy desserts over on Betty’s main dessert category page if you need more inspiration!
Storage and Make-Ahead for Your Strawberry Mousse Parfait
One of the biggest blessings of a no-bake dessert like this is how well it plays nice with planning ahead! If you’re hosting, you know how valuable that extra hour in the kitchen on serving day can be. Good news: the Strawberry Mousse Parfait is an excellent make-ahead candidate, but there’s one trick you absolutely must know about the cookie layer.
If you are making these the day before, I’d recommend assembling everything *except* the very bottom cookie layer. You want those crumbs to stay extra crunchy, and if they sit overnight against the cold, damp mousse, they will dissolve into a slightly gooey base, which some people love, but I prefer the snap!
So, if you’re prepping the morning before: layer the mousse, strawberries, and the top crumb layer. Cover each glass tightly with plastic wrap—you don’t want any fridge smells coming in—and pop them in the cold spot until about an hour before you plan to serve. Even if you skip the base layer prep, these homemade desserts stay fresh and delicious for up to 24 hours.
If you have leftovers (which is rare in my house!), store them covered in the fridge. They hold up really well for about two days, though the cookie layer will definitely soften up the longer they sit. For quick storage ideas and other make-ahead secrets, peek at my favorite no-bake recipes here!
Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Mousse Parfait
I get so many questions every time I post a picture of these beauties! People always want to know if they can cheat the process or how to make more when company shows up. Here are the ones I hear the most. If you’re looking for tips on other easy family meals, I’ve compiled a bunch of my favorites over here!
Can I make the strawberry mousse layer from scratch for this Strawberry Mousse Parfait?
Absolutely, you totally can! While using a pre-made mousse is my secret weapon for speed, nothing beats homemade flavor if you have the time. I’ve experimented a lot, and when you make it yourself, you control the sweetness. If you search around Betty’s site, you can find a great recipe for rich strawberry mousse that will take this parfait to the next level! It’s usually just a simple mousse base with real strawberry puree folded in.
What are the best cookies to use for these Easy Treats?
For these easy treats, you need a cookie that offers resistance! We want crunch, not mush, right away. Vanilla wafers are my usual go-to because they are subtly sweet and hold their shape well when they hit the cold mousse. If you want something a little more buttery, a simple shortbread works like a charm. Just avoid anything too heavily flavored, like chocolate, as it fights with the fresh strawberry taste we are trying to highlight!
Is this recipe suitable for Easy Desserts For A Crowd?
Oh, yes! Scaling this up is one of the reasons I love it so much for parties. Since you are assembling in individual glasses, you can make any number you need! Just multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you have. If you are making more than 12, though, make sure you have enough vertical space in your fridge! It’s one of the easiest dessert ideas for feeding a crowd because everyone just grabs a glass. No slicing or serving tools needed!
Estimated Nutritional Information for Strawberry Mousse Parfait
Now, I know we are making this for the flavor and the fun, not necessarily for tracking macros, but it’s helpful to have a general idea, right? Since we are relying on store-bought mousse and crushed cookies, these numbers can swing wildly based on the brand you choose, so please take this as a rough guide for one single serving (one glass).
This information is based on using standard vanilla wafer-style cookies and a moderately sweet strawberry mousse. Always remember that I’m not a nutritionist—this is just my best guess based on the core components of these simple desserts!
- Calories: Approximately 320–380 kcal
- Total Fat: Around 15g
- Protein: About 4g
- Total Carbohydrates: Roughly 45g
See? It’s a perfect, manageable portion for an evening treat! Because we aren’t baking anything from scratch, we avoid heavy fats from butter, which keeps the carb load down compared to a hefty slice of cake. If you add that optional whipped cream topping, you can expect the fat and calorie count to increase slightly, but you deserve that little extra dollop!
Share Your Homemade Desserts Experience
Now that you’ve whipped up your own beautiful layers and enjoyed the easiest, prettiest treats imaginable, I truly want to hear all about it! Seeing your results is honestly the best part of sharing these recipes. Did your mousse set perfectly? Were your cookie crumbs crunchy enough?
Don’t keep all that deliciousness to yourself! Please take a second to leave a rating right below this section—a simple five-star review really helps others find this wonderful Strawberry Mousse Parfait recipe. If you had any tweaks that worked really well for you, drop them in the comments below, too. We all learn from each other’s home kitchen experiments!
And if you snapped a picture of those gorgeous layers showing off in your clear glasses? We absolutely want to see them! Tag us when you share all your fantastic Homemade Desserts on social media. If you have questions or want to send a photo privately, you can always reach out through the contact page here. Happy layering, everyone!
Strawberry Mousse Parfait
Equipment
- Serving Glasses
Ingredients
- 250 g Strawberry mousse (prepared)
- 200 g Crushed vanilla cookies or biscuits
- 200 g Fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 Whipped cream Optional
Instructions
- Add a layer of cookie crumbs to the bottom of your serving glasses.
- Spoon strawberry mousse on top of the cookie layer.
- Add a layer of sliced strawberries.
- Repeat the layers—cookies, mousse, strawberries—until the glasses are full.
- Top the parfaits with whipped cream or a single strawberry slice.
- Chill the parfaits for 1 to 2 hours before you serve them.