These Strawberry Mousse Parfaits are deliciously adorable mini desserts perfect for serving to a crowd!
A three day weekend is within reach and this couldn’t make me any happier. The unofficial start of summer is also in reach. And if you’re from New England or any other part of the country that had, ahem, a tough winter, you probably can’t even believe this is happening. Like, June is in two weeks y’all.
And if it snows in June or temperatures fall to 30 degrees, then…. well, it’s just not going to happen. Those days are behind us. Sigh. of. relief. This totally calls for some strawberries. (in hindsight, this totally calls for some sprinkles, too, so by all means, feel free to add sprinkles to this recipe. Like a lot of them).
I’ve been completely neglecting strawberries in my baking repertoire this spring. So, I put a change to that this week. I made these Strawberry Mousse Parfaits and am now in full on spring-mode.
Strawberry Mousse Parfaits Recipe
These mini desserts are kind of like strawberry shortcake. But with a light fully strawberry mousse. And a naturally sweet strawberry purée. And cake, duh. What more could you want in life?
Strawberry mousse parfaits require a few steps, including baking the sponge cake and making the strawberry mousse and purée. Then you'll cut little circles out of the sponge cake and layer them with the mousse and strawberries in little parfait glasses. I recommend using a 5 oz. glass like these ones (affiliate link).
Top off with a little sprig of mint and strawberry slice!
Aren't they cute??
And I just realized how perfect these mini strawberry parfaits would be for any 4th of July celebration. Or even Memorial Day. A layer of blueberry purée or just plain whole blueberries make them even more festive!
Plus, mini desserts tend to impress people quite a bit. I mean, how can you not love how absolutely adorable they are?
I picture a large tray on a backyard deck. The sun shining, let’s say 80 or so degrees (what? I like it hot), perhaps with a pool in the background. And party guests just grabbing parfaits as they head in from the pool or from playing bocce on the lawn (do people do this?), after sufficiently eating their weight in burgers and drinking shandys.
The little mini spoons are totally essential, too. These ones are super cute (affiliate link).
Clearly I want this weekend… And summer weather to be here very, very badly. My mind is working overtime.
Also, can’t you totally see how sprinkles on top of these would work?
Yes, I know I still have two days of work left before I can get to my three day weekend. And that makes me want to cry a little bit. And it also looks like it’s going to rain in Boston for part of the weekend. And I don’t have any backyard pool and bocci parties planned.
But I don’t even care because I have these strawberry mousse parfaits and three glorious days of weekend. No complaints here.
What will you be cooking or baking this three day weekend? (please tell me you have it off, otherwise I will be thoroughly depressed for you).
If you love these mini strawberry parfaits, you might also like my Strawberry Shortbread Cookies or my Strawberry Souffles. I'm also in love with these Strawberry S'mores Cupcakes from Love in My Oven!
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Mousse Parfaits
Ingredients
Sponge Cake
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 5 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp salt
Strawberry Mousse and Puree
- 24 large strawberries, hulled and sliced in half
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 packet gelatin
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
Instructions
Sponge Cake
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9-inch-baking pan, lined with parchment paper and buttered and sprinkled with flour.
- Sift together flour and cornstarch in a small bowl.
- In the bowl of stand mixer, beat egg yolks and ¾ cup sugar with whisk attachment for about 5 minutes, until thick and pale. Remove mixture to separate bowl and clean stand mixer bowl.
- In the stand mixer bowl, add egg whites and salt. Beat on medium speed until you get soft peaks. Turn mixer to low and add ¼ cup sugar, continuing to beat until whites are stiff, 1-2 minutes more.
- Carefully fold the egg whites into the egg yolks. Then fold the flour/cornmeal mixture into the eggs.
- Pour batter to cake pan, smoothing the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, until cake tester comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for a few minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.
- Once cake is cooled, use cookie of biscuit cutters to cut small circles that will fit in 5 oz. parfait glass. You will need 24 small rounds.
Strawberry Mousse and Purée
- Put strawberries in food processor and pulse until puréed with some small chunks remaining.
- Reserve about 1 ½ cup strawberries in a small bowl. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon sugar over reserved berries and stir. Set aside for about 30 minutes (you won't need these again until you assemble the parfaits). Continue to pulse remaining strawberries until no chunks remain.
- In a medium saucepan, sprinkle 1 packet gelatin over 1 cup cold water. Let sit for about 2 minutes. Heat mixture over low heat and stir until gelatin powder dissolves. Stir strawberries from food processor into mixture.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, whisk the heavy cream until it's firm. Fold the cream into the strawberry/gelatin mixture.
Parfait Assembly
- In 5 oz. parfait glasses, place a small circle of sponge cake. Spoon a small layer of strawberry purée over the top, followed by a larger layer of strawberry mousse, and another small layer of strawberry purée.
- Place another circle of cake over the top, followed by another dollop of strawberry mousse.
- Garnish with strawberry and mint leaves if desired and place parfaits in fridge for at least one hour before serving.
Joanne says
We made it!!! I honestly didn't know if we were going to. And strawberries are the perfect way to celebrate. These parfaits are totes adorbs!
Justine says
These are pretty!! I haven't eaten enough strawberries this year either....
Monica says
You're so right...mini desserts always impress and bring out the "oooh's". This looks so pretty!
Pam says
They look pretty and delicious!
Michelle Lahey says
My husband's birthday is on July 4th and he loves strawberry shortcake. I might make these for him, if I can get them to look as pretty as your's! Enjoy the long weekend!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Mini desserts are the best! It just means I can eat more 🙂 I've been eating so much strawberries - I'll gladly eat some more in these parfaits!
Laura Dembowski says
These are perfect for Memorial Day! Summer better stick around for awhile. I need sunshine and warmth, and air conditioning. I love some AC!
Tara says
Finished with school...check. Not doing anything productive this weekend...check. Eating as many strawberries as possible...triple check! There's like a strawberry overload in the Bay Area, they are so cheap now!
Asmita says
Absolutely gorgeous! Love these little cups!
Sharon says
These Strawberry Mousse Parfaits are even more delicious than they look! This I know first hand. The addition of blueberries would make them festive enough for Memorial day or the 4th of July but as is, they couldn’t be any more luscious or yummy!!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
It is a normal weekend for us and I think I will bake a bakewell tart! Love the look of these 🙂
Odetta says
So pretty!!
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
Love these! It's definitely strawberry season and these would sure be a great way to use them.
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
These parfaits look delicious! I'm so happy the weather has changed. We were out on the deck the this week and my daughter said, can you believe last week we had snow. Haha Hopefully, that is behind us. Enjoy your long weekend!
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Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Your little parfaits look way better than the weather here in Maine. Rain off and on for the entire holiday weekend. I like your idea of adding blueberries for a festive 4th of July.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
Yes, I have it off! Not only that NO outside plans. What a luxury. I love parfaits, because even if they are often simple they always looks so elegant. Plus with the longer spoons and the cool serving dishes, they are festive. I had strawberries over pound cake for lunch today. This is similar and I know it's delish! In the Pacific NW we had our regular spring and it was wonderful. But boy howdy for a lot of the country it has been a very LONG haul.
Megan says
These are adorable. I love mini desserts!
dina says
they look delicious and cute!
Little Kids says
Nice! I love strawberries!