Yogurt Parfaits

Published July 24, 2022. Updated June 14, 2024

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Homemade Yogurt Parfaits – Layered with a fresh blueberry compote, rich and creamy Greek yogurt, and crisp cinnamon granola. A simple breakfast recipe that makes for a delicious weekend breakfast, a tempting midday snack, or an impressive brunch dessert display.

Yogurt Parfaits layered with plain Greek yogurt, blueberry sauce and granola.

Refreshing Blueberry Yogurt Parfaits

These simple yogurt parfaits are the perfect way to start any day. They are fresh and fruity, sweet and tangy, and you’ll love the hints of spice in the granola.

And who can resist all that pretty layering?

There’s a nice blend of textural contrast in them between the juicy sauce and blueberries, the thick and creamy yogurt, and the crisp granola. It’s a highlight of a parfait.

Try them soon while sweet summer blueberries are in season!

Ingredients needed to make a homemade yogurt parfait.

Greek Yogurt Parfait Recipe Ingredients

  • 2 2/3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
  • 1 Tbsp water
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar, can adjust to taste
  • 2 2/3 cups low fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cups cinnamon granola (break up larger clusters before measuring)

Yogurt Parfaits Possible Substitutes and Variations

  • Make them healthy parfaits by replacing the sugar with stevia (check package labels for conversion, each brand is a bit different).
  • Try another fruit in place of blueberries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, banana, or peaches. But I always recommend fresh berries for breakfast parfaits!
  • You can also use a flavored yogurt (we often do vanilla greek yogurt) just reduce the sugar or honey added to the recipe slightly. Another option is to flavor the plain type of yogurt with a teaspoon of coconut extract. Finally, you could mix together greek yogurt with vanilla yogurt.
  • Make them dairy free. Simply use a dairy free yogurt in place of regular yogurt.
  • Substitute another flavor or texture of crunchy granola if preferred. I just like the cinnamon and blueberry combo.
  • You can also add other crunch fillers to the parfait such as finely shredded granola, chia seeds or chopped nuts (I like slivered almonds or walnuts).
  • Replace sugar with another sweetener of choice such as a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Topping with chocolate chips, peanut butter, and peanuts almost makes it a dessert!

Collage of six photos showing steps of preparing fruit compote and layering a yogurt parfait with yogurt, fruit compote and granola.

How to Make a Yogurt Parfait

  1. Make fruit compote: Bring 2 cups blueberries, the sugar, and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Cook stirring frequently until berries have burst and the compote has thickened, about 5 – 8 minutes. There should be 1 cup of the blueberry compote.
  3. Chill compote through: Pour mixture into a bowl and chill in fridge until cooled. Wait to assemble parfaits until you are almost ready to serve them so the granola stays crisp.
  4. Layer yogurt parfaits: Among 12 oz. cups or a mason jar layer 1/3 cup yogurt, 2 Tbsp blueberry compote, 2 Tbsp granola, and 1 Tbsp blueberries.
  5. Repeat layering process once more. Serve.Five glasses filled with yogurt parfaits.

Can yogurt parfaits be made in advance?

  • For best results I recommend serving shortly after assembling. Otherwise the granola ends up stale and soggy because the moisture in the compote and yogurt will soften it.
  • You can however make the compote a few days in advance. If needed you can thin it out with a little fruit juice or water, as it sits the natural pectins will thicken it.
  • If you really need to make in advance for a brunch or something, then what I’d suggest is only doing 4 layers (rather than 8). Do a layer of yogurt, fruit compote, fresh blueberries then finish with the granola over the top.

Helpful Tips for the Best Parfaits

  • You could use frozen fruit for the compote but you’ll want to stick with fresh fruit if you choose to layer fruit into the parfait. If it’s winter and you are having a hard time sourcing good quality fresh fruit you could just skip the fresh fruit layer.
  • Store-bought or homemade granola works great here.
  • Use a rich and creamy yogurt for best flavor. I recommend low fat or full fat (not fat free). Fage is my favorite here.
  • For better layering don’t forget to crumble up larger clumps of granola for more even layers.

Yogurt parfait scooped into showing layers.

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Yogurt Parfaits layered with plain Greek yogurt, blueberry sauce and granola.
5 from 1 vote

Yogurt Parfaits

Layered with a fresh blueberry compote, rich and creamy Greek yogurt, and crisp cinnamon granola. A simple recipe that makes for a delicious weekend breakfast, a tempting midday snack, or impressive brunch display.
Servings: 4
Prep20 minutes
Chill1 hour
Ready in: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 2/3 cups fresh blueberries, divided
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar, can adjust to taste
  • 1 Tbsp water
  • 2 2/3 cups low fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cups cinnamon granola store-bought or homemade (break up larger clusters before measuring)

Instructions

  • Bring 2 cups blueberries, the sugar and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  • Cook stirring frequently until berries have burst and the compote has thickened, about 5 - 8 minutes. There should be 1 cup of the blueberry compote.
  • Pour mixture into a bowl and chill in refrigerator until cooled. Wait to assemble parfaits until you are almost ready to serve them so the granola stays crisp.
  • To assemble yogurt parfaits: among four (12 oz.) cups layer 1/3 cup yogurt, 2 Tbsp blueberry compote, 2 Tbsp granola, and 1 Tbsp blueberries.
  • Repeat layering process once more. Serve.
Nutrition Facts
Yogurt Parfaits
Amount Per Serving
Calories 358 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 9mg3%
Sodium 73mg3%
Potassium 190mg5%
Carbohydrates 52g17%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 34g38%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 137IU3%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 208mg21%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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5 Comments

  • Kristin

    The simple blueberry topping is the best. I didn’t have as many blueberries as the recipe called for so I reduced the amount of sugar. Our kids loved this. I have made granola and used store bought. The homemade tastes fresher. More flavorful. However in a pinch the store bought works well with this too. We also considered strawberry topping with a brand of organic yogurt we like flavored banilla (banana-vanilla). With the coconut granola recipe it is excellent.

      • Lindsey Garcia

        Question for you: can these be stored in mason jars and for how long should these be good? They look delicious!!

        • Jaclyn

          Jaclyn Bell

          They could be kept in the fridge for a few days in mason jars, though you’d want to wait to add the granola so it doesn’t get soggy. Just keep in mind the coloring may bleed into the yogurt but it may make them even prettier :)