No-bake healthy Christmas cake recipes

We’re down to the last days of preparation before Christmas! Not done shopping for your Noche Buena menu yet? “Pinoy MD” reminds us that we shouldn’t let our busy schedules keep us from enjoying healthy and delicious meals during the holidays. If you don’t have time to bake, refrigerator cakes are a quick and easy alternative!  These cakes a made by simply mixing together ingredients in a flat dish or tupperware, and placing them in the refrigerator for a few hours. Here are some healthy “ref cake” recipes you can make in between trips to the mall, or even a couple of hours before your Christmas party: Watermelon Shortcake Ingredients: 1 bar cream cheese 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 cups whipped cream 10 to 15 pieces graham crackers 1/2 cup watermelon, sliced Procedure: Using an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and mix well. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the whipped cream for two minutes. In a rectangular pan or plastic container, pour the cream cheese mixture. Add a layer of crackers on top. Alternate layers of cream cheese and crackers until the container is full. Put the whipped cream and then the sliced watermelon on top. Chill for two hours before serving. Refrigerated Pineapple Cheesecake Ingredients: 1 bar cream cheese 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 cups whipped cream 10 to 15 pieces graham crackers 1 cup pineapples, sliced Procedure: Follow the same procedure for making the watermelon shortcake, but replace the watermelon slices with pineapple. Chill and serve! Refrigerated Cheesecake Ingredients: 1 ½ cup of graham cracker crumbs 3 tablespoons sugar 1/2 cup melted butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 bar cream cheese 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 cups  whipped cream 1 cup sliced mangoes Procedure: To make the crust, mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add the melted butter and mix well. Put the mixture into a container and flatten using a spatula or the back of a spoon. In a mixer, put the whipped cream, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and mangoes. Mix for two minutes and pour on top of the crust. Chill for a few hours and serve. Banapple Lady Fingers Ingredients: 1 bar cream cheese 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 cups whipped cream 15 to 20 broas or “lady fingers” 1 cup apples, sliced 1 cup bananas, sliced Procedure: To make the filling, beat the cream cheese in a mixer for two to three minutes. Then, add the powdered sugar and whipped cream.  To make the crust, place a layer of broas at the bottom of a pan or plastic container. Using a spatula, spread the cream cheese and whipped cream mixture on top. Add a third layer of apple and banana slices on top. Finish off with a final layer of cream cheese. Chill for two hours before serving. Tip: To save time, you may use ready-to-serve whipped cream in tetra packs. With only 15 calories per serving, whipped cream is a healthy alternative to all purpose cream. —Rica Fernandez/PF, GMA News