Yogurt Parfait Recipes for Spring

It’s day - does anyone remember what day it is? - of quarantine, and hopefully, we’ve all found ourselves getting into a rhythm as we spend our days at home. For those of you channeling your quarantined energy into cooking, baking, and trying new recipes, we’re on the same page! In times like these, a little treat is always appreciated, even though it’s hard to get to the grocery store now. What’s more, with shelves seemingly running on empty most of the time, it can be difficult to find the ingredients for our favorite recipes. Remember to utilize grocery delivery + pickup to limit exposure to others. If you go to the store, remember to wear a mask and keep distance from others.

However, just because we’re in quarantine doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat ourselves every once in a while. Enter yogurt parfaits: they’re easy, delicious, and don’t require a ton of ingredients. Here are some super simple parfait recipes that we love, plus our favorite yogurt and granola recommendations to match.

Strawberry Parfait

All you need for this yummy recipe is plain or strawberry yogurt, granola, and fresh strawberries. Layer the bottom of your cup with yogurt, top with granola, and slice fresh strawberries on top. Voilà — it’s like summer in a cup.

This recipe pairs nicely with Cascadian Farms’ organic strawberry granola. As for the parfait base, Wallaby makes excellent plain Greek yogurt, which is packed with protein and gut-healthy microbes. If you prefer a non-dairy option, we love Lavva’s sugar-free, plant-based strawberry yogurt.

Apple Pie Parfait

Nothing says comfort food like the classic taste of apple pie. But if you’re in the mood for something a little lighter, look no further. For this recipe, you’ll need plain or vanilla yogurt, a Fuji or Pink Lady apple, cinnamon, and chopped nuts of choice (pecans or walnuts tend to fare best here).

To start, cut your apple into little pieces and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover, then microwave on high for about 1-2 minutes, or until the apple is soft. From there, pile it onto your yogurt, add granola, and top with nuts. Go ahead and sprinkle a little more cinnamon on top for garnish!

We like this organic vanilla yogurt that’s made with no added sugars. Purely Elizabeth’s organic, probiotic maple pecan granola is an excellent topping choice.

Tropical Coconut Parfait

Until we can go back to jet-setting on tropical vacations, this will have to do! Generously layer a few spoonfuls coconut yogurt into your container, then add granola and top with fruit of your choice. We think mango and raspberries pair excellently with coconut. Sakara gluten-free superfood granola, which is made with coconut flakes, goji berries, and almonds, is also a great choice for this parfait. Paradise is a state of mind, after all.

Classic Vanilla Parfait

You can’t go wrong with a classic vanilla parfait. Using your vanilla yogurt of choice as a base, sprinkle generously with a layer of Purely Elizabeth vanilla almond butter granola. You can add blueberries, bananas, strawberries, and any other fruit you enjoy. If you’d like it sweeter, this recipe works great with a little drizzle of honey on top.

These recipes, of course, can all be modified to your own taste; go ahead and get creative with them!

Cecilia Seiter

Cecilia is a freelance writer and contributor to Slow North. She writes largely about sustainability, especially as it applies to beauty, wellness, and the future of technology. She is a graduate of the journalism department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and is based in Los Angeles, CA.