Sweet, caramel-y, and oh so creamy, this Berries and Cream Parfait is not your average dessert dip! The whipped cream is a mix of heavy cream, sweet vanilla, and just a little bit of sour cream. The “caramel” topping is made with only one secret ingredient… brown sugar! Serve as a dip or layer with delicious fresh berries and enjoy as a full dessert that you could eat all day long! It’s seriously roll-your-eyes-back good.. Trust me, this parfait is extra special. Every bite is sweet, creamy, and bursting with fresh summer berries. It’s the perfect spring and summer dessert!

two glasses of berries and cream parfait with a jar of blueberries and a sparkler

About The Recipe

This parfait is a staple of my childhood summers. It was the one thing my mom always made when we had company over, especially during the holidays! It was the one thing absolutely everyone loved. Our friends and family would fight over who got to take the leftovers home!

The recipe has always been a closely guarded secret. Friends and family alike have tried to guess what’s in it, and nobody ever got it right! We’ve heard some interesting (and even funny!) theories of what could make this so darn good.

Everyone always overcomplicated the recipe. C’mon, guys.. don’t you know us at all? This recipe is only four super-simple pantry staple ingredients, because why make things more difficult when you definitely don’t need to!

two glasses of berry parfaits on a marble board with mint and a spoon

So, this is actually the very first time we are giving this recipe out.

It’s so good and super easy to make!

Ingredients

Heavy Cream – has a high fat content that makes the whipped cream in this dessert hold it’s perfect peaks.
Vanilla – is the perfect subtle undertone to enhance the flavor.
Sour Cream – gives it just a little bit of tang to balance out the sweet.
Dark Brown Sugar – is the secret ingredient that creates the caramel-y flavor in between the layers of cream.
Berries (your choice) – Any fresh berry will work beautifully.

a bowl of blueberries, a basket of strawberries, and three bowls with heavy cream, vanilla, and sour cream on a marble board

Instructions

Beat the heavy cream with the vanilla until stiff peaks form. Stir in the sour cream and set aside.

heavy cream and vanilla in a mixing bowl

In a large bowl, mix all the berries together. Set aside.

Spoon 1/2 cup of fresh berries into the bottom of each glass. Top the berries with 1/2 cup of the whipped cream mixture. Then, sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of dark brown sugar on top of the cream mixture. Repeat layers until you reach the top of the glass!

whipped cream on top of the berries in a glass

Once you’ve filled your glasses, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

How To Store

To store these, wrap the top of the glasses with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for about 2-3 days.

Variations

You can easily forgo layering the dessert with the berries and, instead, mix up the whipped cream and sprinkle the top with the dark brown sugar, making this a delicious fruit dip rather than an individual dessert.
We love using strawberries and blueberries for this recipe, but you can use any kind of fruit you like.
Serve with graham crackers to make the ultimate summer dessert!

a glass of berries and cream parfait with a mint sprig, a spoon, on a marble coaster

Expert Tips

Make sure the heavy cream is cold, or it won’t whip.
Don’t be tempted to substitute light brown sugar. The extra molasses in the dark brown sugar is what gives this dessert its caramel-y flavor.
While you can serve this dessert without the berries, the berries add an extra dimension of sweetness and flavor!
This recipe can be made in a larger container (such as a trifle dish) with or without the berries layered in it.

When you make this Berries and Cream Parfait recipe, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

4.75 from 4 votes