These Mascarpone Espresso and Amaretti Parfaits are an elegant no-bake dessert with layers of creamy mascarpone, espresso flavor, and crunchy amaretti cookies. Perfect for dinner parties, summer entertaining or when you want a quick make-ahead dessert.

Elegant dinner party mascarpone parfait in martini glass.

This dessert reminds me of a favorite vanilla layer cake with rich coffee flavored buttercream icing that my mother would make for special occasions. I still crave that cake to this day.

Though this mascarpone parfait has a texture more similar to a creamy cheesecake and looks more like a trifle in its layers, it's a quick and easy way to satisfy those cravings.

Coffee flavoured parfaits in martini glasses.

This no-bake dessert made with mascarpone cheese is a perfect option for those summer days when it's just too hot to turn the oven on. It's also a great choice when you're using the oven to cook a big holiday feast and can't use it to bake a dessert.

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How to Make this Mascarpone Dessert
Ingredients Overview
Steps Overview
Serving Suggestions
Storage Instructions
More Delicious Sweet Treats
Mascarpone Espresso and Amaretti Parfaits Recipe

How to Make this Mascarpone Dessert

These Mascarpone Espresso and Amaretti Parfaits are really delicious and so easy to make. Though you'll most likely need to plan ahead to shop for the ingredients, there aren't that many in this recipe. And best of all, this dessert can be prepared very quickly.

Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe. The amounts needed are listed in the recipe card below.

Ingredients Overview

Instant espresso
Mascarpone cheese
Heavy cream
Pure vanilla extract
Icing sugar
Amaretti cookies
Dark chocolate

Steps Overview

Start by dissolving one tablespoon of instant espresso in two tablespoons of boiled water, refrigerate to cool quickly.
Place amaretti cookies in a sturdy zip-top bag and crush the amaretti cookies, leaving some larger pieces. Set aside.
Grate the dark chocolate with a grater and set aside.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, whip the mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, coffee and vanilla until soft peaks begin to form and then slowly add the icing sugar. Whip mixture until stiff peaks form.
Spoon half of the mascarpone cream evenly among the glasses. Sprinkle half the crushed amaretti cookies over the mascarpone cream and repeat layers once more. Top each serving with a sprinkling of grated chocolate.
Chill the parfaits in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

Tip: Though there is no cake layer in this dessert, the crushed amaretti cookies make a great substitute. Over time, they absorb moisture from the mascarpone and cream and soften. Since I like to keep some crunch, I leave a few bigger amaretti cookie bits in the layers and usually make the parfaits no more than two to three hours ahead of serving.

Close-up of a spoonful of mascarpone espresso and amaretti parfait.

Serving Suggestions

These parfaits are ideal when you need an easy dessert for dinner parties or a chilled summer treat. Though I used martini glasses to serve this dessert in, you can also prepare mini parfaits in small glasses or mason jars. Since this recipe is no-bake and make-ahead, it's a stress-free option for entertaining.

Storage Instructions

Cover any leftovers and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

You may also want to take a look at this healthy Coffee Smoothie or these No-Bake Maple Espresso Bites, they're perfect for when you need a boost of energy!

Enjoy!

More Delicious Sweet Treats

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