“You know what everybody else likes? Parfaits! Have you ever met a person, you say ‘Lets get some parfait. They say hell no, I don’t like no parfait’? Parfaits are delicious!”  

Yesterday I had a friend over for lunch.  Since she’d never been to my home, I really wanted to do something special.  I planned out my menu…chicken salad on croissants with baby field greens and tomatoes.  Up until the last minute, I had not settled on a dessert.  For me dessert is one of those things that even if the meal isn’t that great, if you provide a good dessert, all is usually forgiven.  Since she loves coffee and chocolate, and I only had thirty minutes to spare and no time for tiramisu, I could whip up a parfait!

It was quick, easy, and best of all, she loved it!

Chocolate & Flavored Instant Coffee…Just add boiling water to make a flavorful sauce.

Fold cream cheese mixture into whipped cream.

Layer angel food cake cubes, sauce, then creamy filling, repeat layering…Top with grated chocolate

Mocha Parfait
Serves 4-6

1/2 angel food cake, cut into cubes or 2 pkgs lady fingers
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, divided
2 teaspoons instant flavored coffee
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 bar(8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl combine 3 ounces chocolate, instant coffee, and boiling water.  Stir to blend and allow to cool to room temperature before using.

In a bowl beat cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract until well blended.  In a separate bowl, with clean beaters, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form.  Fold cream cheese mixture into whipped cream.

Place a layer of angel food cake or lady fingers in a stemmed glass.  Top with 2-3 tablespoons of coffee/chocolate mixture.  Add a layer of whipped mixture.  Repeat process, ending with cream layer.  Use remaining chocolate to grate over each glass.  Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

~Instead of using stemmed glasses, the dessert can be made and a 9 x 9 inch dish.