Life’s A Beach Parfaits

I didn’t know when I would share these but when I went to make them to photograph the girls and I got talking and it became clear. Now is the perfect time for Life’s A Beach Parfaits, just in time for Mother’s Day and for so many reasons!

I don’t think any mom, or any of us to be honest, thought this is what life would look like right now. Mother’s Day traditions and plans aren’t going to go as planned and honestly that is why I thought the name that I jokingly had for these parfaits was perfect, Life’s A Beach Parfaits.

The good news is these parfaits are so simple that the kids could easily make these for me with no help! Little kids could make them for mama with very minimal help and would have lots of fun. No heat or baking, sharp knifes, and there is a good chance you have everything you need in your kitchen.

Sitting at home right now things are so different and things bring back memories. We have foods in the house we might not normally, we’ve found a few things hidden in the freezer I forgot about. A few things sparked and a dessert my aunt use to make me kept popping into my head. She was also my godmother and she’d make the dessert for Christmas and make an extra pan that I’d “accidentally” forget to put out growing up just so I could enjoy it the next day for breakfast and for days after anytime of day. After she passed shortly after I was married my uncle would make it for me and bring it to Christmas. I can’t remember what it was called but it was Nilla Wafer crumbs topped with a mixture of Cool Whip/ whipped cream, crushed pineapple, and mandarin oranges, topped with more crumbs and maraschino cherries. Like an icebox cake, but not really cake.

Having canned pineapple, and mandarin oranges which I didn’t use, and Coco Whip I had bought for the holidays and forgot and than the girls requesting Nilla Wafers got me thinking. I decided to tweak things and make little parfaits. The girls didn’t really remember the dessert. S was small when my aunt passed away and my uncle only made it for a few years and A was little when he made it so I didn’t really expect them to remember. They did love these Life’s A Beach Parfaits so it brought a big smile to my face!

So while I might not be going to the spa with the girls, having lunch with the family, and whatever else was planned this year I will still be with my kids and that’s all that matters. Maybe breakfast in bed like years passed, or they’ll make a dessert, maybe we’ll plant my herb wall if we don’t get it planted this week, or maybe I’ll get to sleep in!

If you’re looking for a simple, or last minute, idea using what you likely have in your house look no further. Here’s what you’ll need to make 4, enough for mom and more, Life’s A Beach Parfaits.

One 20oz can of crushed pineapple. If you don’t have crushed pineapple you can quickly pulse another canned pineapple, fresh, or frozen using a food processor or blender.

One 8oz tub whipped topping, Cool Whip, Coco Whip, or another premade whipped cream can be used, or 2.5-3 cups homemade whipped cream using heavy cream or canned coconut milk.

A cup and a half crushed vanilla wafer cookies. Nilla Wafers, animal crackers, Golden Oreos, or even graham crackers can be used.

That’s it!

But there are a few additional options. If you have maraschino cherries add one on top! If you like coconut you can fold in 1/4c sweetened flaked coconut.
For another flavor option you can also add mandarin oranges. Small can drained and pulsed or a knife run through to break into smaller pieces.

It only takes 15 minutes or so to make them, longer if kids are making them or helping, and can be enjoyed right away or made up to a day a head of time. All you have to do is drain a can of pineapple, fold it in your whipped topping, and layer with crushed vanilla wafers. You can use a food processor to make the crumbs or put cookies in a plastic Ziploc and let kids smash them. The cookie crumbs can be fine like beach sand or a little course, either way mom won’t mind.

To all the mama’s out there I hope you have an amazing Mother’s Day! Life’s A Beach and I know many of us wish we were relaxing on a beach right now, or at least able to stroll through the aisles of Target with Starbucks in hand like the good old days.

Today is Monday, aka Meatless Monday. With many people home right now I hope you consider linking up Deborah and me below or sharing what you you’re making for Meatless Monday or just drop what’s happening in your kitchen below.

Like it, PIN it for later!