Mini Strawberry Parfaits - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Crust
1 1/2 cups ground graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
Parfait Filling
4 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
1/2 tablespoon vanilla or 1/2 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 (8 ounce) container whipped topping

Preparation

Crust:
In a large bowl combine all 3 ingredients and mix until the dough comes together when pinched between fingers.
Filling:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine chopped strawberries and 1 Tbsp sugar. Mix well until coated. Set aside.
Combine cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until your mixture is light and creamy. Fold in whipped topping.
Add 2 Tbsp graham cracker mixture to the bottom of each cup.
Press down on mixture with your fingers to create a crust.
Add the cream cheese filling, dividing evenly between the 16 servings (reserve a little to dollop on top of each cup if desired).
Spoon strawberries over each serving, dividing evenly.
Top with additional whipped topping.