Parfait literally means “perfect” in French. And I think it is a wholly appropriate name for this recipe. There is something so simple and yet so satisfying about fruit and layers of creamy yogurt topped with crunchy granola. And, dare I say, it is the perfect snack.
Especially when you pack it up in a wide-mouth pint Mason jar for easy transport. To keep your granola nice and crunchy, pack it in a leftover applesauce cup (you know those little plastic ones that kids eat?). Put the Mason jar lid on it upside down, and screw that bad boy right on top of your jar. Perfect, packable parfait.
I struggle to call this one a “recipe” because really, it is just assembly. I’m not going to give you exact ingredients, because to make a perfect parfait (redundant!), it should be entirely personal. Here, we used unsweetened coconut milk yogurt, blueberries, mango, strawberries, and some store-bought granola. You can craft your own favorite combo!
Use goat’s milk yogurt or cow yogurt or soy yogurt or skyr or kefir or whatever other random fermented product is on your health food store shelves. Use paleo granola (this one is my favorite right now). Use nuts and seeds. Mix in collagen peptides or protein powder or flax seeds or whatever else makes you happy. Have a sweet tooth? Add in some honey, maple syrup, or even, gasp, chocolate chips!
I will caution you that if you use pineapple, you’ll want to eat it within 24-36 hours—something about the chemical reaction between pineapple and yogurt tends to make the whole mess turn bitter after an extended stay in the fridge.
Berries are always a safe bet (and crazy good for you). I’ve also used frozen berries in this before—without defrosting—and they add a bit of a juice to the mixture, but it adds some nice flavor to the whole parfait when mixed together.
I use these parfaits a lot for breakfast on the go, but they are also great for an afternoon snack. They’re a healthier way to knock out your 3pm craving for something sweet. Pack one of these suckers and it’ll never even occur to you to hit the vending machine.
