How to make a delicious strawberry parfait with just 5 ingredients and in under 10 minutes. This yogurt parfait recipe is packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins and can be served as a light and fruity breakfast, brunch, snack, or even summer dessert!
Simple Strawberry Yogurt Parfait with Granola
Any dish that can double up as both a dessert and breakfast is a win in my books- especially when fruit is involved. I’ve already shared recipes for strawberry oatmeal bars, banana blueberry bread, blueberry muffins, blueberry sheet pan pancakes, and apple cinnamon pancakes. Now it’s the turn of this simple breakfast strawberry parfait recipe, which also makes for a great strawberry dessert in a jar!
While the base recipe is perfect as a light breakfast or snack, several optional add-ons make for a more decadent strawberry dessert (like booze and chocolate!). However, even the base version is delicious AND packed with nutrition. That includes being high fiber, containing protein, optionally low-fat, and containing lots of juicy, fresh fruit!
Best of all, it takes practically minutes to put together. If strawberries aren’t in season, swap them out for another fruit, and you’ll be enjoying fruit parfait recipes year-round.
The Ingredients
- Yogurt: Use the dairy-free yogurt of your choice (coconut, almond, soy) or cashew cream. It’s best to use a thicker yogurt. For a super-rich and creamy strawberry parfait, you could combine the yogurt with some vegan cream cheese (for a strawberry cheesecake in a jar) or whipped coconut cream. You can also use vanilla yogurt for extra flavor (or add vanilla extract).
- Strawberries: Use fresh strawberries. You can also combine these with other fruits (see below).
- Granola: You can use any granola or muesli you like- mine was homemade nut-free granola; use gluten-free or keto if preferred.
- Strawberry compote: I used homemade strawberry compote. Alternatively, you can use strawberry jam.
- Powdered Sugar: For a sugar-free option, use powdered Erythritol, as I did. Adjust the amount to personal taste.
Optional Add-ins
The simplicity of a strawberry parfait means that there are tons of wiggle room for experimentation. Here are some of my favorite options:
- Herbs: These work well as a garnish, but also for extra flavor. I particularly like mint or basil with strawberries.
- Other fruit: It’s easy to swap out (or mix) the fruit you use. Blueberries, raspberries, soft melons, cherries, mango, kiwi, pineapple, peach–there are many ways to enjoy a fruit parfait.
- Zest: Strawberries and orange zest (or lemon zest) pairs very well. Add a little into your compote or yogurt for an extra level of subtle flavor.
- Crumbled cookies: If you want to serve the parfaits as more of a dessert, feel free to substitute the granola/muesli for crumbled cookies of your choice; Oreos, amaretti, even these simple wafer biscuits, etc.
- Nuts: For extra healthy fats, you can add a sprinkle of lightly toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc.). As a bonus, using crumbled biscuits makes this dessert like a cheesecake in a jar.
- Chia pudding: For a more nutritious parfait, you can add a layer of chia pudding at the bottom of the mason jar (vanilla works very well for strawberry parfait).
- Alcohol: For an adult version of this dessert in a jar, you could even introduce a splash of alcohol to mix into the creamy yogurt/cashew cream mixture (or the berries if you choose to macerate them). I particularly like a splash of vegan amaretto or Cointreau, but bourbon and champagne also pair well with strawberries.
- Chocolate: Top the dessert with just a few dairy-free chocolate shavings: dark, or white chocolate.
How to Make a Strawberry Parfait
Please read the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, measurements, complete recipe method, and nutritional information.
- First, combine the dairy-free yogurt (or cashew cream) and powdered sugar in a bowl and stir to combine.
- Add a couple of spoonfuls of granola to 2-3 glasses/ mason jars (depending on the size) then add a layer of sliced strawberries.
- Next, add a couple of spoonfuls of the yogurt, then a layer of the compote.
Adjust the amounts based on whether you’re making 2-3 jars.
- Repeat this once more, then decorate the parfaits with halved strawberries.
- Enjoy the parfaits immediately, or chill in the fridge for 30 minutes first.
Don’t leave it too long, as the granola will become soft over time and ‘soggy.’
How to Make Ahead and Store
If you want to make a parfait ahead, you can either prepare or store the elements separately in the fridge, until you’re ready to serve (1-2 days in advance). Alternatively, prepare the parfait, but save the granola from being added until just before serving. If doing the latter, the strawberry granola parfait can be prepared and stored 2 days in advance.
Recipe Notes and FAQs
- Experiment with fruit: Once you get the basic gist of this fruit parfait formula, you can experiment with other fruits easily for dozens of ways to enjoy this dessert in a jar.
- Wash the fruit: Make sure to wash the berries well before slicing them, whether or not you’re using organic fruit.
- For macerated strawberries: If you want an even simpler strawberry parfait, you can omit the strawberry compote/jam and use macerated strawberries. Double the amount of fresh strawberries, slice them up and combine with 1 tbsp sugar. Then leave to rest for at least 30 minutes, and the sugar will help the strawberries release their excess liquid and create a kind of syrupy juice. Optionally add a little lemon/orange zest and juice and/or vanilla to the macerated strawberry mixture.
- Are yogurt parfaits healthy? The answer really depends on what you include in your fruit parfait. They CAN contain a lot of sugar, however, when making this homemade strawberry parfait recipe, you can control the amount of added sugar. For a healthy layered dessert, use refined sugar-free granola and compote, unsweetened yogurt, and Erythritol as a sweetener.
- Can I use frozen fruit? Yes, however, this works better with berries you’ll keep whole as it’s hard to chop the strawberries when frozen. As they thaw, they will create more juice, which thins the yogurt.
More Vegan Fruit & Strawberry Dessert Recipes
- Chocolate strawberry cheesecake (no-bake)
- Strawberry mousse
- Strawberry sheet cake with custard
- Coconut strawberry cheesecake
- Blueberry cheesecake pie
- Lemon cheesecake bars
If you try this simple strawberry parfait recipe, I’d love a comment and ★★★★★ recipe rating below. Also, please don’t forget to tag me in re-creations on Instagram or Facebook with @elavegan and #elavegan – I love seeing them.
Strawberry Parfait
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup (320 g) dairy-free yogurt or cashew cream
- 1 1/2 cup (250 g) fresh strawberries sliced
- 1 1/2 cup (140 g) granola
- 1/2 cup (100 g) strawberry compote or use 1/4 cup of jam
- 3 tbsp (20 g) icing sugar or powdered Erythritol
Instructions
- You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.In a bowl, mix the dairy-free yogurt (or cashew cream) with the icing sugar (or Erythritol) and stir to combine.
- Add a few tablespoons of granola to 2-3 glasses/jars (depending on size), then a layer of sliced strawberries. Next, add a few tablespoons of the yogurt, then a layer of strawberry compote.
- Repeat this step one more time and decorate the parfait with halved strawberries.
- Enjoy immediately, or chill the jars in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Notes
- Sweetener: I added 20 grams of powdered Erythritol, but you can use your favorite sweetener and add more to taste.
- Yogurt: Any yogurt is fine (e.g. almond, soy, coconut, etc.). I recommend using a thick yogurt. You could also mix the yogurt with vegan cream cheese or vegan whipped cream for a very rich and creamy parfait.
- Flavor: You can add a little vanilla extract to the yogurt or use vanilla yogurt. See more optional add-ins in the blog post.
- For a healthier dessert, use refined sugar-free granola and strawberry compote, unsweetened yogurt, and Erythritol as a sweetener.
Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically
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