My parfait bar is a fun way to celebrate when entertaining your children or grandchildren. Everyone gets a chance to show their creativity as well as making their own treat.
A parfait bar would also be great to serve at a party. It is quick and easy to set up and can be done with ingredients you have in your kitchen.
All you need are some small, disposable, plastic containers. Make sure to use clear ones so they can see their great creations.
I used these 9 oz square parfait glasses that I found at a local craft store. I have also found similar ones at the Dollar Store and Wal-Mart.
I set up different stations with colorful options I found in my kitchen.
First, you need ingredients for a crust:
- Vanilla wafers
- Crumbled cookies (when I bake cookies, sometimes I put a few in a freezer bag to have on hand for things like this)
- Crumbled ready- made graham cracker pie crust
- Pound cake cut in small pieces
Then you will need a filling:
- Instant pudding in favorite flavors (I used vanilla on this day but would also go with chocolate, banana, coconut cream, butterscotch and lemon)
- Mascarpone cheese filling ( 8oz container mascarpone cheese, 1 cup confectioner sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla. Beat together with mixer until smooth)
- Frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Fresh fruits
- Chocolate hazelnut spread (warmed enough to spread easily)
Toppings and Garnishes:
- Nuts
- Small candies
- Variety of baking chips
- Mini candies
- Melted white chocolate baking discs
- Toffee Bits
To create the parfait in the 9 oz tumbler, start with 1 Tablespoon of crust, press down with fingertips. Add 2 Tablespoons of the filling, then about 2 Tablespoons of fruit if using any. Repeat another layer and top with more fruit and garnishes.
Each person can create their own parfaits with the ingredients and the amounts they wish. They will all look different and there is no right or wrong way to make them. The only problem that we had was putting too much pudding in and running the cups over!
Some of the creations we came up with were:
Strawberry-Mascarpone-Hazelnut Parfait (inspired by my 2014 Pillsbury Bake-off recipe) http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/strawberry-mascarpone-hazelnut-chocolate-tart/80433b9b-92d4-4e91-985c-ca11c2b0e7ca?src=SH
Banana Pudding Parfait with Toffee Bits
Mascarpone-Mixed Fruit with graham cracker crust
Fresh fruit-vanilla pudding-graham cracker crust
A few years ago, I presented a workshop on healthy snacks to students at the WV State PTA Convention and one of the food stations that I did was a parfait bar. I used yogurt and healthier ingredients. They were delicious and the children loved them.
Here is a link to the workshop. Healthy Snacks Workshop.
Have fun with a parfait bar and let the creativity show.
Clever, unique, and super fun idea!
Thanks Teri, you are so sweet.
Hi, I am visiting via the Grand Social. And oh my, what fun ideas for the grandkids visits! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you very much. I have loved the visiting other blogs I was not aware of. Will visit yours again.
Such a fun idea! My kids will love it!
Thank you. One of my neighbors told me today that she has to do it each week now with her children since they were in on one of the times I did it with my grandchildren.
What a great idea and I love all the options you have given. The banana parfait might be my favourite but then again they all look delicious. Thanks for sharing with us at Over the Moon.
Thank you. I love banana pudding so this was one of my favorite’s also.
Oh how pretty. Our grands are too old and our greatgrands are too young. I miss playing with the grands so much. Of course these are great for anyone. I will use this idea.
Thank you Peggy. One of my adult neighbors told me that the girls in her office have been hooked on making the yogurt parfaits almost every afternoon!! haha..I guess it is better than visiting the vending machine.
This would be good for a kids birthday party – instead of cake or cup cakes. It could be part of the entertainment.
Great idea, really!
Oh, yes I could see Little Man loving this idea!!
Thank you, the kids I have done it with really did have fun.
What a cool idea! These all look so yummy =) Found your blog through wake up wednesday.
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Thank you so much. I just visited your blog today and it is so beautiful. You are so sweet. I am trying to get around and read at least 10 blogs a day…there are so many wonderful writers out there and all of the blogs just amaze me. Glad to meet you.
What a great idea! Amara’s best friend that moved to Texas will be coming in July and I think the girls would have a blast with this! We were going to frost cookies but this would be different and tasty!!
Oh yes! That will be fun for Amara to see her friend again. You will probably be shocked how grown up they will seem this time when they are together. I really think they would have fun with this too.
This is such a cute idea. My kids would love this!
Thank you. We did all enjoy it. Hope your kids like it too.
This is wonderful! It lets the kids be in control of something they eat – instead of the usual waiting to have it placed in front of them! Wonderful idea for a variety of ages, too. I will use this when I have a house full of cousins ranking from 1 year to 7….only the little guy will need help loading his bowl!