Yogurt parfaits with your own homemade granola and fresh fruit should be, if anything, healthful. Right? No need to add heavy creams or more fat to a dish that takes away fresh, good ingredient goodness. This is what I’m making at home: Homemade granola with honeyed-yogurt berry parfaits featuring kiwi berries!
I‘s mid-March, a week away from a season change on the calendar and still technically winter. The craziness is that the weather this weekend has reached high 80’s to low 90’s. Scary Santa Ana winds and wearing shorts with short sleeves makes it feel like Southern California has fast-forwarded to late August and September months. What happened to beautiful Spring?
Let’s talk parfaits…
Yogurt parfaits can be so versatile with the ingredients used. From the granola to the fruit or other types of complimentary ingredients like fruits, jams, marmalades, ready-to-eat cereals, chocolate or other candy chips, it’s a treat fit for anytime of the day. Keeping it on the lighter side with healthful ingredients takes the guilt out of enjoying such a tasty and fulfilling dish.
Healthy: Homemade Granola, Honeyed-Yogurt Berry Parfaits feat. Kiwi Berries
I like to have a good and healthy balance or ratio of the yogurt with the other ingredients. All to often I come across yogurt parfaits that just don’t have enough yogurt – it’s all “layered ingredients” and hardly any yogurt! Also, I’ve learned that making this elegant breakfast-type dish in too small a dish causes more work to eat it than the pure enjoyment of it. Serve it in a dish that’s easy to maneuver around and scoop up the tasty layered ingredients with the spoon. Otherwise, most of the filling will spill out of the dish when you’re trying to scoop out a bite!
Parfaits can be served casually rustic for everyday enjoyment or lean towards a little more elegance when entertaining. When presenting to guests for dessert or brunch/breakfast, select not only complimentary flavor ingredients but also for visual appeal in colors and textures.
Tips: Layering a parfait for presentation and to avoid soggy granola
Besides the aforementioned greatness and versatility of yogurt parfaits, they can be made ahead and enjoyed as if you just put them together IF, and only IF, it’s layered in a way to keep any textured/crunchy ingredients from becoming soggy.
Healthy: Homemade Granola, Honeyed-Yogurt Berry Parfaits feat. Kiwi Berries
For this homemade granola, honeyed-yogurt berry parfaits with kiwi berries I’ve swirled in about a tablespoon of honey per 8 ounces (1 cup) of nonfat, plain Greek yogurt. Stir in the honey to completely blend or swirl it in for more a more subtle pronounced taste of the honey. I’m using strawberries and blackberries, topped with kiwi berries.
The amount of granola, berries and yogurt needed for your parfaits will depend on the size dishes and how many servings you are preparing. The parfait glasses
Mix it up and use your favorite fruits or jams, etc. Other flavors of yogurt would work well too.
Healthy: Homemade Granola, Honeyed-Yogurt Berry Parfaits feat. Kiwi Berries
I’ve baked up a modified version of a granola recipe previously shared on TC using golden raisins with pecans. Wanting the focus to be on the brightly colored berries and for the eye not to stop at bits of dark raisins, the golden raisins are a subtle visual presence but still a healthful presence with the rest of the ingredients for this tasty dish.
A special thank you to Melissa’s Produce for generously sharing a sampling of the tasty and beautiful kiwi berries/baby kiwis to feature and share with readers on Teenie Cakes.
DEElicious! Empty parfait glass
- Chewy Honey-Nut & Fruit Granola Bars
- Maple, Honey Nuts & Fruit Granola
- Pumpkin Pecan Granola recipe
- Pumpkin Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits with Pumpkin Pecan Granola recipe
- Honey, Pecan and Cranberry Granola recipe
- Honeyed Greek Yogurt with Fresh Summer Berries & Homemade Granola Parfaits recipe
. Read more here.
Note: This is an inspiration of the ratio of ingredients for the pictured parfaits. Your yield and portions will vary.
-
- 1 recipe for this granola, substitute golden raisins for the dried cranberries
-
- Assorted fresh berries or fruit, cut up in uniform size for easy spooning
- Nonfat, plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey per 8 ounces (1 cup) of yogurt
- Combine granola ingredients and bake according to directions. Allow fresh baked granola to completely cool before layering in parfaits.
- Mix or swirl in honey with yogurt. Either completely combine or leave swirls of honey.
- Layer parfait ingredients starting with granola on the bottom, followed by layers of fruit, yogurt, fruit, granola and topped with bits of fresh fruit.
- Serve when assembled or refrigerate until ready to serve (preferably served that day). © Images & content: Cristina A-Moore for TeenieCakes.com.
- Cut larger berries or fruit, like strawberries, so that they are easy to scoop up when eating.
- Make ahead and layer parfait ingredients so that the textured elements are not in contact with ingredients that will make them quickly soften.
- Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint leaves.
- When in season, use stone fruits in place or with berries
- Substitute honey with agave.
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto says
Woah have never heard of kiwi berries before. They look simply adorable and this whole dish is perfect!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
These are so gorgeous! Fresh and wholesome, these are the perfect way to satisfy a sweet craving. Such terrific photos, too!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
These look good enough for dessert…and perfect for the kiddos to make mom for Mother’s Day!
Healing Tomato says
Those parfaits look absolutely heavenly! I love the use of kiwi. It is coming back in season and I am looking for all kinds of recipes for it.
Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa says
Oh your parfaits are simply to die for. Those pics are amazing!!
Shannon @ Dinner from the Heart says
These look divine! I’m a huge homemade granola fan and love to try different granola recipes. I will definitely be trying this one. And the finished picture – perfect. I might have swirled my finger into the glass to get the last of the yogurt out. 😉
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I love a good parfait! This one is gorgeous and packed with goodness!
Sylvie | Gourmande in the Kitchen says
A lovely presentation like this really dresses up the classic combination of yogurt, berries and granola and makes it special.
Cristina says
Thanks so much, Sylvie – can be elegant or rustic, right? 🙂
Christina says
Goodness, these parfaits are absolutely gorgeous, Cristina! I adore things that look fabulous, taste wonderful and are so healthy and these fit the bill for both breakfast and dessert! Love, love, love! And I remember those mini Kiwis from Melissa’s! Will have to pick some up for my kiwi-loving daughter! Thanks! Great post!
Cristina says
I remember your mentioning your daughter loves kiwis…she’s going to LUV these kiwi berries, Christina. 🙂
Connie | URBAN BAKES says
WOW this looks amazingly perfect. It sure does have the right amount of yogurt to granola and fruit. PS: your photos are on point, love it!
Cristina says
A good ratio of granola/fruits to yogurt, right? Yes, needs a good balance – thanks, Connie!
fabiola@notjustbaked says
Parfaits are just the prettiest!
The Food Hunter says
stunning!!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What pretty parfaits, a scrumptious breakfast!
Cristina says
Healthful, light and just in time for the change of season. 🙂 Thanks, Laura!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
I could have parfaits like this everyday and not only for breakfast. Looks so beautiful.
Girl, we are neighbors:). The weather is weird, so so hot. I am craving for some simple spring weather.
Cristina says
Thank you and guess what…spring is here, Ash! 🙂