Make Ahead Yogurt Granola Parfait Recipe
Make Ahead Yogurt Granola Parfait for Breakfast – Mason Jar Yogurt Parfait Hack + Microwave Granola!
This make ahead yogurt granola parfait is the ultimate quick and easy meal prep breakfast that lets you enjoy CRUNCHY granola every time! No more soggy granola on top of your mason jar yogurt parfait – once you learn my nifty storage hack… The very BEST way to take a breakfast yogurt parfait on the go!
Super simple, totally customizable, and a nutritious breakfast option with a healthy balance of nutrients. Satiating fat and protein from the yogurt, plus healthy carbs from the fruit and granola!
This make ahead yogurt granola parfait recipe works with any granola or even cereal. But, for a quick homemade granola option, I’m also sharing a MICROWAVE granola recipe that you can have ready in under 3 minutes! Made with rolled oats, nut butter, and maple syrup, it’s a clean vegan granola to pair with an oh-so-easy mason jar yogurt parfait for breakfast.
Customizing this Make Ahead Yogurt Granola Parfait Recipe
I’ve outlined specific ingredients and amounts for the yogurt parfait and microwave granola below, but these are just guidelines. Really, there’s no need to follow this make ahead yogurt granola parfait recipe too strictly!
The beauty of any breakfast parfait is that it’s versatile and completely customizable. Use whichever ingredients suit YOUR tastes and lifestyle!
I’ll share my own mason jar yogurt parfait preferences and offer some recommendations, but there are so many ways to make this your own:
Which Yogurt Is Best to Make Parfait?
We’re not talkin’ about a traditional French parfait here, but a DIY breakfast parfait. For the purposes of this make ahead yogurt granola parfait recipe, use whichever yogurt YOU like! (Spoiler alert: This will be the common theme in terms of which ingredients to use.)
Dairy yogurts of all kinds will work—whether they’re whole milk, low fat, or fat free. Or, you can use any non dairy yogurt you like instead, like coconut milk yogurt, almond milk yogurt, soy milk yogurt, etc.
Which yogurt do you enjoy eating? Which suits your nutritional needs and lifestyle choices?
Personally, I prefer to use a plain whole milk yogurt, Greek yogurt, or coconut milk yogurt for a dairy free option. I generally want a yogurt that’s higher in protein and/or fat, so my breakfast parfait fuels my morning and actually satisfies my hunger!
Sweetener & Flavorings
Of course, if you prefer sweetened or flavored yogurts, go with what suits you. But, my recommendation is to choose a plain, unsweetened variety of yogurt. That way, you start with the cleanest option and can sweeten and/or flavor it yourself. Read your labels—watch out for sneaky sugars and additives!
By opting for a plain unsweetened yogurt, you can sweeten it however you choose. Personally, I like to use just a tad of honey or maple syrup since they’re unrefined options and they mix in well. Or, you could also use a natural low carb sweetener like stevia or monk fruit. Use what suits you!
In terms of customizing your mason jar yogurt parfait with flavorings, there are tons of cool yogurt combinations to explore. For me, adding flavorings to the yogurt isn’t so important since my fruit, granola, and toppings will bring plenty of flavor all their own!
Fruit – Fresh OR Frozen
Again, there’s no right or wrong fruit to use in your mason jar yogurt parfait. Whichever fruits you like eating with yogurt, go for it!
Personally, I LOVE fresh berries like blueberries and raspberries. They’re perfectly sweet, just a bit tart, and loaded with antioxidants! Plus, using berries like these for a make ahead yogurt granola parfait is ideal since they’re whole and their juices won’t run.
Now, if you enjoy a yogurt parfait with a bit of that natural fruit juice and flavor swirled into it, sliced fruits and juicy fruits are great choices! Sliced strawberries, mango, banana, even pineapple—whatever you like.
BONUS make ahead parfait tip: if you’ve got frozen fruits lying around, go ahead and use them! You can actually thaw frozen fruit slightly and then add it straight into your breakfast parfait. The result is an EXTRA juicy, fruity treat that gets even tastier as those fruits continue to thaw and release their juices!
Mason Jar Yogurt Parfait Storage Hack
Now for the ultimate mason jar storage prep hack: your very own 2-in-1 make ahead yogurt granola parfait container! All you need is a wide mouth mason jar and an empty, clean, single-serving applesauce cup. (Of course, feel free to store this breakfast parfait however you like and are able, this is just one nifty hack I like to use.)
Have you ever seen the oh-so-delicious but not-so-healthy yogurt options (liker YoCrunch) at the grocery store—with the yogurt in a cup on the bottom, and a separate storage compartment on top for the toppings? We’re making our own DIY version of that for this make ahead parfait!
To start, add your yogurt of choice into a shallow, wide-mouth mason jar. Add any sweetener or flavorings that you like and mix well to combine. Next, add your fruit of choice on top. Finally, into that empty applesauce cup, add the granola of your choosing.
Here’s where the mason jar yogurt hack gets a bit technical. Take the flat, circular piece of your mason jar lid and place the shiny side on top of your applesauce/granola cup like a lid. Then, flip the covered cup over and place on top of your mason jar yogurt parfait. All that’s left to do is screw the outer band of the lid onto the mason jar to seal, and voila!
How to Make Microwave Granola in Under 3 Minutes
Again, you can use this make ahead yogurt granola parfait with any granola that you like—store-bought or homemade granola. But, if you’re looking for a super simple homemade granola recipe that doesn’t require the oven, and can be ready in less than 3 minutes, give this microwave granola a try!
To start, add some nut butter of choice into a bowl with a bit of maple syrup, water, and a pinch of salt. Mix well to combine, and feel free to microwave it for 10-20 seconds to help all of the ingredients integrate a bit if needed. Once it’s nice and smooth, add rolled oats into the nut butter mixture, tossing well to coat.
All that’s left to do now is microwave until perfectly crispy! Personally, I first cook my microwave granola for 90 seconds, then give it stir, and then return it to the microwave for another 60 seconds. When it’s golden brown and crisp, it’s done! Simply allow it to cool for a few minutes before adding into your yogurt parfait or storing.
Quick and Easy Vegetarian Breakfasts! | 5 Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Make Ahead Yogurt Granola Parfait Recipe
Ingredients
Yogurt Parfait
- 1 cup plain yogurt, whole milk, low fat, or non dairy
- 2 tsp honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh berries, or fruit of choice
- ½ cup granola of choice
Microwave Granola
- ⅔ cup rolled oats
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp nut butter of choice
- 2 Tbsp water
- pinch of salt
Instructions
To prepare make ahead yogurt parfait:
- Add yogurt to a wide-mouth mason jar (or airtight container of choice). Sweeten to taste with honey or maple syrup, mixing to combine.
- Top with fresh berries or fruit of choice.
- Add microwave granola or granola of choice into an empty, clean applesauce container.
- Cover container with flat circular piece of mason jar lid, flip, and place lid onto mason jar. Seal with outer band of mason jar lid.
- If not using a wide-mouth mason jar or if you don’t have an applesauce container, add granola on top last or store separately to prevent from getting soggy.
To make microwave granola:
- In a bowl, mix together nut butter, maple syrup, water, and salt. (If needed, microwave 10-20 seconds to melt nut butter and help mixture integrate.)
- Add oats and toss to combine.
- Microwave 90 seconds. Mix. Microwave an additional 60 seconds, until golden brown and crisp.
- Allow to sit and cool for 2-3 minutes before serving or storing.
2 Comments on “Make Ahead Yogurt Granola Parfait Recipe”
After some experimentation, we found that layering your fruit between the yogurt and granola keeps the granola from getting soggy. And isn’t that the whole point? That CRUNCH! Nothing worse than nabbing a parfait on the go only to have the granola be pure mush! We made these and kept them in the fridge fro up to 3 or 4 days, depending on the ripeness of whatever fruit you choose. Change it up and try a layer of jam or preserves if fresh fruit is unavailable!
Awesome great tip!