Warm Cherry & Greek Yogurt Parfait

Good morning!  Or rather it is when I have an awesome breakfast like this Warm Cherry & Greek Yogurt Parfait!  Sweet Bing Cherries sautéed in a little coconut oil with a touch of honey,  poured into a bowl of Greek yogurt then topped with toasted almonds for a bit of crunch. A delicious way to start the day!

I like my food hot, especially at breakfast.  A warm breakfast and a piping hot coffee are like fire in my soul to start my day. 

This warm Cherry Greek Yogurt Parfait is absolutely delicious and full of nothing but goodness.  Bing cherries, a touch of honey and toasted almond slivers for some crunch.

Or if you aren’t a cherry fan like my daughter, who makes hacking sounds with even the mention of them, good news!  You can make this recipe with any fruit pretty much.  I have done this with strawberries, blueberries, and apples so far. 

When making these with apples I like to add a touch of cinnamon.  Tastes like apple pie filling!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Greek Yogurt – I like to use plain Greek Yogurt without any added sugar but you can use any yogurt you prefer. Skyr or Kefir are also great options.

• Cherries – Bing cherries or sweet cherries are my favorite to use and I like to use the frozen variety. Frozen fruit has a little more moisture content in them from freezing so they tend to add a little more juice to the pan that I can pour over my yogurt. Any berry will do or even apples.

• Honey – just a touch adds some extra sweetness to the berries as well as creates a subtle syrup out of the fruit pan juices. Maple syrup is also a great alternative.

• Toasted slivered almonds – add a great crunch to the top of the parfait. Any nut will do or even granola is a great choice.

How to Make a Warm Cherry Greek Yogurt Parfait

Start by toasting the slivered almonds in a small pan for about 3 minutes over medium heat. Give them a toss every now and or stir them up to make sure they don’t over-brown on one side.

While the picture below shows just enough for one serving you can toast a few servings and once completely cooled store them in a resealable bag or in a jar with a tight-fitting lid to use for another time.

Don’t store them in the fridge or the almonds will soften from the moisture.

Add the cherries along with the honey to the pan after removing the almonds and let soften for about 5 minutes. Give the cherries a stir to ensure that they cook evenly and to incorporate the honey into the juice that the cherries will release as they soften.

Once the cherries are softened, squish them up or break them into half. Doing so will release more cherry juice into the pan and make them easier to eat.

Remove the cherries from the heat and set aside.

To assemble, add a third of the Greek yogurt to a tall glass or jar. Add half of the cherries on top of the yogurt. Alternate with another layer of Greek yogurt and the remaining cherries and juice. Top with the toasted almonds and enjoy!

Can this Yoghurt parfait be served Cold?

Sure can! I personally like it warm but if you want to make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge to enjoy later great. Just be sure not to add the nuts or granola until you are ready to eat the fruit yogurt parfait or the crunchiness will be lost.

What exactly is a parfait?

A traditional parfait in the French use of the term is a frozen custard-like dessert made of layers of fruit syrup with the addition of alcohol at times.

So since eating ice cream or custards for breakfast may be delicious they are not exactly the healthiest treat or way to start the day. This Greek Yogurt Parfait is a twist on a traditional parfait swapping out custard cream and replacing it with yogurt. A much healthier and equally satisfying option.

Is a Greek Yogurt Parfait a Breakfast or Snack?

Both! This fruit yogurt parfait makes a great breakfast or snack. Healthy carbohydrates, protein, and fat are all rolled into a delicious breakfast yogurt parfait cup or an easily portable snack… just don’t forget the cooler bag if taking it out for the day.

And if you are short on time, skip the layering and just throw it all in a bowl and dig in!

How To Store a Breakfast Yogurt Parfait

What is great about this recipe is that you can make one in a few minutes or a few and store them for the first few days of the week in your meal prep regime.

Just fill a small jar and seal it tightly and store the fruit yogurt parfait in the fridge for up to 3 days.

But…. be sure not to add the crunchy bits until just before you dig in or the crunch will be lost!

What is the Difference Between Greek Yogurt and Regular Yogurt?

• Greek yogurt has been strained 3 times removing a large amount of the water from it making it thicker and richer in flavor.
• Because there is less water Greek yogurt is more concentrated which means each bite contains more protein.  One cup of non-fat Greek yogurt contains 23 g of protein vs. regular yogurt contains 14 g of protein.
• Plain Greek yogurt is also lower in carbohydrates than regular yogurt.  A cup of Greek yogurt typically contains 8 g vs. regular yogurt at 19 g of carbohydrates.
• The higher protein content of Greek yogurt helps you feel full for longer periods of time.
• Greek yogurt is also a great choice for smoothies or added to fruit bowls to add a kick of protein for a balanced filling snack
• The thicker texture also makes Greek yogurt a great lower-fat substitute for sour cream that can be used on potatoes, tacos, nachos or to make mashed potatoes and give a rich flavor with no added fat.

More Healthy Breakfast and Snack Ideas

• Gloriously Green Smoothie Bowl
• Almond Mocha Bliss Bites
• Pretty In Pink Overnight Chia Pudding
• Whole Wheat Pumpkin Banana Muffins
• High Protein Edible Cookie Dough