This no bake jar dessert has layers of a cream cheese mixture, tart lemon curd and fresh berries and cherries. It makes for one delicious summer treat when you have a hankering for something sweet, but also want it to be no fuss!

Layered dessert in a jar topped with fresh cherries and coconut.

Hi friends!

We are on the cusp of Friday again and I can’t believe it!

Beyond seeing back to school stuff for the kiddos, I even spotted Halloween treats and costumes this week!

Before we know it, it’ll be September and pretty much the count down to Christmas. Slow the heck down, Dawn, right?

As you can probably tell, I’m just a tad freaked out by it, but excited for the fall at the same time.

Before I let go of summer, I want to share a super easy, no bake jar dessert which has cheesecake vibes without all the fuss of an actual cheesecake. Sound good?

You may remember a little while ago I shared a recipe for how to make lemon curd.

It’s honestly one of my all time favourite recipes. I didn’t want to eat all of the lemon curd as is (though, I’m pretty confident I’d give it a good go), so I incorporated it into this no bake mason jar dessert.

Ingredients for a dessert in a jar recipe.

We have been having one of the best summers weather-wise in Newfoundland for as long as I can remember. It’s been sunny, hot and just fabulous!

Trying to use the oven as little as possible and also eating a ton of fruit, I figured this dessert in a jar would give me my sweet tooth fix without a lot of effort.

How To Make It

For the “cheesecake” component, basically all you are doing here is whipping up some cream cheese, Greek yogurt and icing sugar until smooth and creamy. Easy! I decided not to have a graham crust bottom layer, but if you like that would be totally okay.

Then it’s just a matter of layering the ingredients in jars: cheesecake mixture, berries and lemon curd. Do this one more time, then top with coconut. Refer to the recipe card below for full details.

Collage of making a cheesecake mixture in a food processor.

Tips for Making This Recipe

Upon assembling these desserts, they are best refrigerated for a couple of hours to let the flavours mingle and the cheesecake mixture to set up and cool a bit. Bonus, they are an easy make ahead dessert for entertaining! Chilling is totally optional, though. If you want to enjoy right away, go for it!
I kept the cheesecake mixture pretty simple, but you can add a touch of vanilla extract or vanilla bean should you wish.
Keeping these desserts in a jar on the simpler side, I didn’t go for a typical cheesecake graham crumb base. However, some at the bottom mixed with butter would be lovely. Crushed cookies would work too.
I used a combination of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in the layers, but you could use whatever berries (or fruit) you like.
This dessert in a jar recipe could be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
I used homemade lemon curd in this recipe, but if you couldn’t be bothered or really need that dessert quickly, go for the store bought stuff.
Don’t like, don’t have or prefer not to use lemon curd? This mixed berry chia jam would work lovely here.

Overhead shot of dessert in a jar topped with fresh cherries and coconut.

More Easy Dessert Recipes

Hope you love this no bake dessert in a jar recipe! It’s such a fun (and yummy) treat.

If you make these easy jar desserts, be sure to leave a comment below!

Two layered dessert jars with cherries and coconut on top.

No Bake Jar Dessert

Dawn | Girl Heart Food

This no bake jar dessert has layers of a cream cheese mixture, tart lemon curd and fresh berries. It makes for one delicious summer treat when you have a hankering for something sweet, but also want it to be no fuss!

5 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Course Dessert

Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

4 ounces light cream cheese, softened (½ of a 250-gram package)
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup icing sugar
pinch salt
1 to 1.25 cups fresh berries and cherries, stems removed/pitted
½ cup lemon curd
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes

Instructions

To a small food processor, add cream cheese, Greek yogurt, icing sugar and salt. Process until smooth and combined.
Add about 3 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture in each of the two jars. Add some berries over top. On top of berries, add 2 tablespoons of lemon curd in each of the jars.
Repeat with another layer of the cream cheese mixture, berries, then lemon curd. Top with more berries and garnish with coconut flakes. Refrigerate for about 2 hours to chill (optional, but I do enjoy) or serve and enjoy immediately!

A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

Keyword dessert in a jar, layered dessert, no bake dessert, summer dessert

Tried this recipe?

If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!