Here’s a deliciously easy breakfast and brunch idea: the Yogurt Parfait! This layered cup looks fancy but takes minutes to make.
Looking for an easy breakfast or brunch idea? Try this Berry & Yogurt Parfait! Layer Greek yogurt, berries and peanut butter granola in a glass, and looks loads fancier than it actually is. We’ve been making these for years, but here’s our latest favorite spin. It’s like an elevated spin on the MacDonald’s version that tastes more pure and real (and less sugary). Try this Greek yogurt parfait for a fancy brunch, or a quick make-ahead breakfast!
Ingredients in this yogurt parfait
This yogurt parfait is quick and easy to layer up: ideal for simple breakfasts. But it looks so stunning, it’s great for brunches too! Here’s what you’ll need for the ingredients:
- Peanut Butter Granola, Crispy Homemade Granola, or other purchased granola (as high quality as you can find)
- Greek yogurt or plain yogurt
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Frozen strawberries
- Fresh berries: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc
Why use frozen berries?
Why use frozen strawberries here? Can you use all fresh berries, or all frozen berries? Here’s what to know:
- Frozen berries help to make a sauce. Defrosting the frozen berries makes a nice fruity sauce to mix with maple syrup to flavor the berries. Again, it’s got a vibe of that McDonald’s fruit and yogurt parfait.
- Frozen are also cheaper. It’s a little cheaper than buying 2 cups of fresh berries.
- But you can use all fresh berries or all frozen! Whatever works for you! You can also make a fruit compote with frozen berries: see below.
Greek yogurt vs plain yogurt
Our favorite yogurt to use in general is Greek yogurt, but you can use plain yogurt too! Here are a few notes on making a Greek yogurt parfait:
- Greek yogurt is thick and creamy, with a delicious tang. The flavor really is superior to plain yogurt.
- Greek yogurt has lots of health benefits: it’s high in protein and can aid in gut health.
- Substitute plain yogurt if you like. Then follow the recipe below to add maple syrup and cinnamon to flavor it.
Variations on a yogurt parfait
You can use many different options for the fruit in this yogurt parfait! We love it with berries, but the sky’s the limit here. Here a few ideas for mixing it up:
- Use just one berry: all blueberry, blackberry, raspberry or strawberry
- Make a compote or sauce: like Raspberry Compote, Blueberry Compote, Strawberry Sauce, Strawberry Compote, Raspberry Sauce or Blueberry Sauce
- Go tropical with banana, mango or pineapple, and consider adding toasted coconut flakes
- Add fresh apples and a dusting of cinnamon
Granola to use
The granola in these yogurt parfaits is important. Because it’s such a simple recipe, it’s important to use the best quality granola you can find. If you purchase the granola, find a high quality, artisan-style granola. Or make it homemade! Here’s what to know:
- This Peanut Butter Granola is simple, with minimal ingredients and comes out lightly clumpy (yay!)
- This Homemade Granola is ultra crispy with amazing, irresistibly crunchy flavor.
- This Healthy Maple Pecan Granola is light and delicious, with a low calorie count.
Make ahead instructions for a yogurt parfait
Want to make yogurt parfaits as a make-ahead breakfast? It’s a great option for making ahead, but there’s one important thing to know:
- You can make yogurt parfaits ahead up to 4 days in advance.
- The granola becomes soggy after a few hours. If you’re making for make ahead breakfasts, layer the parfait without the granola. Then add it right before serving!
More easy breakfast recipes
Want to start the day on the right foot? Here are our top easy breakfast recipes:
- Try a tasty Healthy Breakfast Sandwich or Quick Breakfast Sandwich
- Opt for Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
- Go for easy Egg Muffins
- Bake up a pan of Healthy Banana Muffins or Magic Breakfast Cookies
This Greek yogurt parfait recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free.
Print
Yogurt Parfaits
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Here’s a deliciously easy breakfast and brunch idea: the Yogurt Parfait! This layered cup looks fancy but takes minutes to make.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Peanut Butter Granola, Crispy Homemade Granola, or purchased granola
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (or plain yogurt)
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries*
- 1 cup fresh berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or a mix
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix the Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and the vanilla.
- Defrost the strawberries in the microwave, keeping the juice that releases as they thaw (optional if using frozen). Stir together with the fresh berries, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, and 1 pinch cinnamon.
- In each glass, layer ½ cup yogurt, a sprinkle of berries and granola, ½ cup yogurt, and another sprinkle of berries and granola. Serve immediately. Make ahead instructions: You can also store for up to 4 days, but the granola becomes soggy. If you’re making for make ahead breakfasts, layer it without the granola and add it right before serving.
Notes
*Defrosting the frozen berries helps to make a juicy sauce for all of the berries. But substitute fresh strawberries if you like!
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Breakfast
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Yogurt parfait
Thanks for the wonderful Recipe. You literally made me fall in love with Yogurt.
I hope you would Share More.
Confused about granola amounts. Ingredients say to use 1/2 c granola(total). Instructions say to layer with 1/2 c yogurt x 2 for each glass!?! Which is correct?
Thanks for the note! There should be 2 sprinkles of granola per glass. Each glass has 1 cup yogurt, split into two parts, 2 handfuls berries and 2 sprinkles granola. We’ve updated the recipe for clarity. Thank you!
Made this for a gathering and everyone loved it! If using blueberry compote, do you layer it the same way as fresh blueberries or do you use compote on top layer only?
We layer it!