5-Minute Greek Yogurt Parfait

You won’t believe how much these Greek yogurt parfaits taste like a decadent treat! Make them ahead for breakfast if you like, or enjoy them as a guilt-free snack. Everyone from the kids to the grownups will love the layers of creamy Greek yogurt, crunchy granola, fresh fruit and honey.

The best part? You’ll need just 4 simple ingredients, and they’ll take you literally 5 minutes to make!

Why I love this recipe

I took my first bite of something like this parfait with yogurt, fruit and honey when I lived in Greece. It’s very common to see it on café menus there, and a popular choice not just for breakfast but also as a snack any time of day.

What I remember most is how unexpectedly delicious it was! There it’s usually made simply with dried fruits, honey and nuts. I loved the contrast of flavors and textures between the amazingly creamy and tangy yogurt, chewy dried fruit, crunchy nuts and sweet sweet honey.

I’ve used granola in my fancy layered-up version, but feel free to switch to nuts and dried fruit if you prefer.

In short, this is what I love, and I think you will too:

• Impossibly quick and easy. Yes, I said 5 minutes. Faster than cooking up a bowl of oatmeal, right?
• Tastes like a treat. Dessert without any guilt in just 5 minutes? Count me in!
• Make it your way. You can use whatever fresh, dried or even canned fruit and crunchy things you happen to have at home already.
• Nice and nutritious. With all the good things thrown in there, this makes a perfect treat of an easy breakfast for yourself, or a virtuous afternoon snack for your kids.

About the ingredients

Greek yogurt: One thing I never compromise on. I always choose a Greek yogurt brand that contains just milk and yogurt cultures, such as Chobani or FAGE. ‘Greek style’ yogurts just don’t cut it – they are never as thick or creamy.

I find that the blue 0% fat Chobani yogurt is just as thick and creamy as the full fat version. However, I suggest trying a few different brands and fat percentages to find your favorite!

Fresh fruit: Just use what you have or what happens to be in season where you live. As you can see, I used chopped strawberries and kiwi fruit in my photographs. All kinds of berries are great, but you can even just throw in chopped apples or pears if that’s what you have.

Frozen berries or other frozen fruit is fine, and works especially well if you’re making the yogurt parfaits ahead!

Granola: My favorite granola to use is any low sugar brand with plenty of chewy dried fruits, seeds and perhaps nuts (if no one is allergic). Costco has some great ones!

No granola in the house? No worries, just use any nuts, seeds and dried fruit you have in your pantry. Crumbled granola bars can also work in a pinch, as can your favorite breakfast cereal.

If you’d like to try your hand at homemade granola, you can try either my low sugar granola recipe, or for a real treat this dark chocolate granola.

Honey: The intense sweetness of the honey contrasts perfectly with the sour yogurt. You can drizzle over a little… or a lot! If you don’t have any honey, maple syrup works too.

How to make Greek yogurt parfaits

It couldn’t be easier to make a parfait with Greek yogurt!

Start by spooning around half of the yogurt into the bottom of each glass.

Sprinkle over half of the chopped fruit and granola, and drizzle over half of the honey.

Add the rest of the yogurt on top, followed by the rest of the fruit, granola and honey.

Make them your own

• You can use literally any chopped fruit, fresh, frozen or canned. Try strawberries or blueberries and banana, apple and blackberries, peach or nectarine and raspberries, mango and pineapple, or pear and plum.
• Add a handful of unsalted nuts to each layer and/or a spoonful of peanut or almond butter (almond butter and banana, anyone?).
• Instead of granola, add seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chai seeds, or hemp seeds.
• Add chopped raisins, cranberries, apricots or dates.
• Add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the granola.
• Turn them into dessert! How about a ‘build your own yogurt parfait’ bar? Set out different yogurts and toppings and let everyone choose their favorites! This 5-minute raspberry puree is sure to be a hit!