Parfait

A layered dessert: in France a rich frozen cream molded and sliced, and in the United States a tall glass of layered cream, fruit and crunch.

Parfait: A tall glass parfait with neat layers of white yogurt, smooth red berry jam and golden granola, plain on top
  • Frozen desserts and sweet beverages
  • France

The French parfait is made from egg yolks whipped with hot sugar syrup, folded with whipped cream and flavoring, and frozen in a mold. It stays soft and smooth without churning and is cut into slices, similar to a semifreddo.

The American parfait is served in a tall, narrow glass with layers of ice cream or yogurt, fruit, sauce and granola or crushed cookies, often topped with whipped cream. The name means perfect in French.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Ice cream/shakes/sundae (course notes), Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur (course notes)