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!
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! What the what?! I know.
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.
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 opted not to have a graham crust bottom layer, but if you like that would be totally okay.
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Recipe Tips
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 opt 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? My mixed berry chia jam would work lovely here.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Hope you love this no bake dessert in a jar recipe!
If you make these easy jar desserts, be sure to leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed!
No Bake Jar Dessert
Ingredients
- ½ cup lemon curd
- 4 ounces light cream cheese (about ½ a 250 gram package)
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup icing sugar
- pinch salt
- 1 to 1.25 cups fresh berries and cherries
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes
Instructions
- To a small food processor, add cream cheese, 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 and berries. Garnish with coconut. Refrigerate about 2 hours to chill (optional, but I do enjoy) or enjoy immediately!
Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 serving.
Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.
Nicole
I love no-bake desserts and this looks fantastic!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Nicole! Me too 🙂
Julie
I love individual desserts so much. So perfect to end a dinner party!
Girl Heart Food
Me too! That would be a lovely idea 🙂 Thanks Julie!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Yum! This looks like the perfect way to end the week. And love how easy this treat is to make!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely! Thanks Sam 🙂
Shanna Jones
This is screaming at-home-movie-date-night! And I love that it’s so simple to pull together!
Girl Heart Food
Yes! Love that idea! Thanks Shanna 🙂
Sharon
So many layers of delicious in these dessert jars. Really simple too – I might have all these ingredients in my refrigerator right now.
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Sharon! Gotta love easy, tasty desserts 😉
Karyl Henry
Oh this looks so yummy! And perfect too, that you can fill it with your favorite berries. Definitely a great idea for date night
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Karyl! Yes, it’s totally customizable 🙂
Elaina
Please come make me some of these for me! 😀 I love lemon curd and eat it straight from the pan while it’s still warm. This reminds me that I need to visit my local pie shop to grab a slice or two of cherry pie before cherries disappear for the year!
Girl Heart Food
Happy to!! Love lemon curd too….nothing like homemade 🙂 Thanks Elaina – have a wonderful week!
Anne Murphy
Lemon curd and berries go together so beautifully – and your creamy layer just makes it right. (And I can’t believe it’s almost September, either… but school is about to start in my neighborhood, and… there we are! )
Girl Heart Food
Definitely! I know, right?! Crazy how fast time flies! Thanks Anne 🙂
Sri Mallya
This dessert lools so pretty. Love that its no bake and so many flavors in one jar. Can’t wait to try this delicious dessert!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Sri! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Eileen Kelly
I am so loving these tasty dessert treats! I love that these are no bake and for two. So whether I am with the hubs or one of my kiddos or gfs. I have a delicious dessert!
Girl Heart Food
You got that right! Thank you Eileen 🙂
Emily Leary
OMG the combo of lemon curd, cream cheese and fruit sounds and looks so, so good. I just want to grab a spoon!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Emily 🙂 It is quite delish 😉
Renee Gardner
This looks so yummy! Perfect for a date night for two.
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Renee 🙂 Great idea!
Kevin
Two things that make these the best thing I have seen! They are no bake and they are for two! Love that you don’t have a bunch leftover!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Kevin! Happy you like it 🙂
Laura
Dawn – there’s nothing like a layered dessert! And this one is extra-fantastic with your “cheesecake layer”. So so delicious! It’s a great way to use up the last (!) of those delicious berries, too! Thanks for the inspiration!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Laura! So happy you like it 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Shashi at SavorySpin
It has been a hot summer here in Athens, Georgia – and I share your sentiments for fall weather right about now! Though, Dawn, am not sure I share your sentiments on this dessert – you see, I don’t think this is just a summer treat – this is way way too good to be enjoyed only during one season – In fact, think I’d LOVE this all season long – just follow it with a hot cuppa coffee in winter 🙂 So yum!
Girl Heart Food
You may be right, Shashi 😉 Sounds like a plan to m! Thanks, my friend!
Marissa
These desserts in a jar are adorable and I love all of the tangy, creamy, fruity flavors in one lovely stack! Also love that it’s sized for two!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Marissa! Have a wonderful week 🙂
Mimi
These are so pretty. They’d be great with a lot of company. Last time I did, I made something similar – layered, but with granola – perfect. I’ve also made something similar in a trifle bowl. Love the layers!
Girl Heart Food
Granola sounds like a lovely addition! Thanks Mimi 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
This dessert is such a great use for your homemade lemon curd! I’ve also been enjoying the Newfoundland weather this summer, and eating my weight in fruit and berries! Love that you incorporated so many berries and cherries into this one! Happy Friday Dawn! Have a fabulous weekend!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Leanne! I hear ya! Have a wonderful week 🙂
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale
This is such a pretty dessert Dawn. I just love desserts in a jar. I think they are so fun. This one looks light and luscious. It looks perfect for entertaining! I will have to make this lovely little sweet confection for my girls night in!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Katie!! Me too…super easy and great for making ahead. Hope you love it 🙂
Milena
These are just so cute! Perfect presentation and screaming summer. Hopefully it will linger longer than usual:)
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Milena 🙂 Happy weekend!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
This is just such a perfect Summer dessert! And you can’t beat no-bake 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Jennifer! So true 🙂
sue | the view from great island
I saw the Halloween stuff the other day too ~ sheesh! I’m all for keeping the berrylicious vibe going a bit longer…these look fabulous!
Girl Heart Food
I know, right?! Thanks so much Sue 🙂
Gabi
It’s hard to resist such a yummy fruit dessert. The perfect inspiration for all those berries in my garden. Thank you Dawn:) Ok, will have to leave out cherries but anyway I’m sure it will taste amazing.
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Gabi! Just put extra berries on top 😉
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Oh Yum!!! There’s nothing better than eating all the delicious fresh fruit right now! I love that you’ve made a super simple, super delicious no bake dessert! It’s too hot to bake anything right now – but we still crave something a little sweet! 🙂
Girl Heart Food
Right?! Thank you Kathy! Hope you get a chance to try this one out 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I love how easy these are Dawn. And I love that it’s a recipe for just two! Sometimes when I have more around, I have a bit of trouble resisting another! Delicious! Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Haha – I completely understand 😉 Thank you Mary Ann!
David @ Spiced
We’ve been having one of the hottest summers here in upstate New York that I can remember…and the thought of this no bake dessert sounds pretty awesome! I love simple desserts like this, and it’s so colorful, too. Plus, lemon curd makes everything better! Hope you have a great weekend ahead, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
I totally agree! Thanks David 🙂 You too!
Jessica Levinson
Those layers look so delicious! I love no bake desserts for the summer!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jessica 🙂 Me too!
Julia
Haha. It drives me crazy when people start talking about fall and Halloween in the beginning of August! It’s still a summer month, right? Still plenty of time to enjoy easy desserts like this one 🙂
Girl Heart Food
I know! Just enjoy the moment now, right? Thanks Julia – still lots of summer left for sure 😉
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Girl, the craft store by my house had fall stuff up at the beginning of July. I about had a heart attack when I walked in. Don’t stores know that time moves fast enough without them helping it along? That said, I’m sort of getting excited to eat pumpkin. I’m in love with desserts in jars and I want to try this! The only problem is desserts for two always end up being desserts for one when I’m around. I need to learn self control. 🙂
Sara
What a perfect dessert for a summer evening! I think I would add both berries and cherries to this!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites
This sounds amazing and so easy! I especially love the cream cheese and lemon curd – SO good!
[email protected]
Wow! That is pretty! Has summer written all over it! And that’s great because I’m not ready to let all this sunshine go yet, either! Have a great weekend, my friend! XOXO