Easy Yogurt Parfait with Fruit and Granola

Make this quick and easy parfait with creamy yogurt, sweet fruit, and crunchy granola. Choose your favorite flavor combo, plus tips for boosting the protein!

I’m all about quick and easy breakfasts, especially on busy mornings, which means we usually have a stash of Banana Muffins in the freezer, Homemade Oatmeal Packets in the pantry, and Homemade Yogurt in the fridge. Homemade Granola is an easy-to-make staple in my house, too.

My kids love yogurt, and they love granola. Combining these two delicious foods sparked the idea for this yummy yogurt parfait recipe!

GREEK YOGURT PARFAITS

Making yogurt parfaits is a natural addition to our meal plan. I love them because they’re:

• Simple. You only need 3 ingredients for the simple parfait.
• Cost-effective. Whether you serve parfaits for breakfast or lunch, they’re a great frugal option!
• Healthy. It’s a brilliant way to fuel kids with real food, whole grains, and no added sugar.
• Versatile. You get to choose the fruit and granola flavors, which means plenty of opportunities to use what you have on hand and what you like best!
• Can be dairy-free. Simply use your favorite dairy-free yogurt.

We serve this yogurt parfait recipe for breakfast, lunch, or snack!

FRUIT AND YOGURT PARFAIT INGREDIENTS

I love yogurt parfaits because they are made with 3 simple ingredients.

• Yogurt. Any type of yogurt works here. We love homemade Greek yogurt. But you can use store-bought yogurt too. Plain Greek yogurt or vanilla Greek yogurt are delicious!
• Granola. Any type of granola will work, too. I included a simple peanut butter granola recipe below (which is the best granola IMO!) or try one of your favorite homemade granola flavors!
• Fresh fruit. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, peaches, mango…choose fruit that is in season. It will be the best for your budget! Mix up the flavors with different fruits!
• Honey (optional). Depending on your yogurt choice and your granola, you may want a drizzle of honey for a touch of sweetness.

Creamy yogurt, sweet fruit, and crunchy granola – what’s not to love?!

Full-fat homemade yogurt has many probiotics for gut health. I use this recipe for making my yogurt and then turn it into Greek yogurt using this method.

Buying fruit in season is better for your budget and gives you the best taste. We often buy a lot of fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries when the price is low and then freeze extras. (Follow this tutorial on how to freeze blueberries!)

I’ve also been known to make yogurt parfaits with jam instead of fresh fruit. A layer of Strawberry Jam sandwiched between yogurt and peanut butter granola tastes like a PB&J in a jar!

And let’s not forget about the granola. I LOVE GRANOLA! Cheap, easy to make, and so good! We love Cinnamon Granola, Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola, Strawberry Chocolate Clusters, and Cranberry Orange Granola.

HOW TO MAKE PARFAIT RECIPES

If you need to make granola first, start with the instructions in Step 1. If not, skip down to Step 3.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 275F. Combine peanut butter and honey in a large bowl. Add rolled oats, coconut oil, and salt and mix well. The granola will be clumpy. Feel free to make more clumps if you prefer granola with clusters.

Step 2: Place the granola onto a baking sheet and bake for 35 minutes, turning gently with a spatula halfway through. Allow the granola to cool thoroughly before storing it in an airtight container.

Step 3: Layer Greek yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit in a bowl or glass. Repeat the layers.

Step 4: Enjoy your fruit and yogurt parfait!

You can store the components separately in the refrigerator and layer your yogurt with granola and fruit just before serving with a spoon, or you can assemble several yogurt parfaits in jars and refrigerate them until you’re ready to eat them. They’ll be good for 3-4 days, but the granola may soften a bit.

VARIATIONS FOR YOGURT AND FRUIT PARFAITS

• Make a breakfast parfait to-go: Layer your ingredients in a mason jar. Top with a lid to carry it on the go. Don’t limit this option to breakfast though. It also works perfectly for school lunches!
• Use different kinds of granola: This Cinnamon Granola is a perfect starting point. You can create so many different types of granola by using a variety of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
• Use up leftover oatmeal: If you don’t have granola on hand, use up some leftover oatmeal as your grain layer.
• Add extra toppings to fruit parfaits: Sprinkle on toasted nuts or coconut flakes. Drizzle on warmed peanut butter or almond butter. Or even add diced apples and maple syrup!
• Make a Keto parfait: Use a low-carb yogurt and make a “grain-free granola” out of toasted nuts and coconut flakes.
• Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free yogurt.
• Turn it into a dessert parfait: Skip the ice cream parfaits and make a healthy dessert! Use vanilla yogurt and crushed graham crackers topped with fresh berries. Add a little Homemade Whipped Cream and mini chocolate chips to make it super fancy.

HOW TO BOOST THE PROTEIN IN YOGURT PARFAIT RECIPES

If you’re looking to boost the protein in your yogurt parfait recipes, try one or more of these options:

• Use Greek yogurt over plain yogurt – it has 6g of protein in ½ cup whereas plain yogurt has 4.3g
• Add a scoop of collagen or protein powder to the yogurt – collagen boosts your protein by 10g for 1 Tablespoon!
• Mix in some chia seeds or flax seeds with your granola (1 Tablespoon of chia seeds gives you 3g of protein)
• Sprinkle peanuts, almonds, or cashews on top of your parfait (2 Tablespoons of peanuts adds 8g of protein!)
• Stir peanut butter or almond butter into plain yogurt (1 Tablespoon of peanut butter will add 4g of protein)

FRESH FRUIT PARFAIT FAQS

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