Bored of eating cereal for breakfast? This maple parfait is ready in under 10 minutes and tastes like dessert.
Layer it up with granola, yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup for a sweet and satisfying start to your day.
This is one of my favourite breakfast recipes to enjoy on a busy weekday morning.
Recipe Highlights
- Servings: 2 parfaits.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes, no cooking required.
- Effort Required: Minimal. It's basically just assembly.
- Special Equipment: A dessert glass or bowl.
- Ingredient Complexity: Simple, everyday ingredients.
- Dietary Notes: Contains dairy. Swap the yogurt for a dairy-free alternative.
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Cook's Notes
This maple parfait is my go-to breakfast when I want something that feels a little more special than cereal, but takes just as little effort.
It reminds me of dessert, which, honestly, I enjoy first thing in the morning.
It's especially good in the summer with fresh berries, but you can switch it up year-round. In the winter months, I like to use fresh citrus segments instead.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The best part about granola parfaits is that you can top them with almost anything. Play around with your favourite sweeteners, nuts, fruits, and seeds to find the flavour combinations you like most.
- Yogurt: Use whatever yogurt you like. I find that Skyr or Greek yogurt works especially well because they're very thick and creamy. Substitute with a dairy-free yogurt, if needed.
- Granola: Homemade or store-bought both work here. If you want to make your own, try my homemade maple granola recipe for extra maple flavour.
- Berries: I like a combination of raspberries and blueberries. Fresh berries are great in the summer, but frozen fruit is a good substitute. You can also use any other fruits you prefer.
- Maple Syrup: Adds sweetness and helps balance out any tartness from the fruit. Look for "pure maple syrup", not pancake syrup. If you don't like maple syrup, you could try honey or agave syrup instead.
This recipe has not been tested with all possible substitutions or variations. Making changes may alter the taste, texture, or overall outcome. If you try a different ingredient, please share in the comments!
See the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and recipe instructions.
Variations
Here are a few fun ways to switch it up throughout the year:
- Winter Citrus: Make a fun parfait version of my Greek yogurt bowl with citrus by swapping the berries for fresh orange segments and adding granola to the pecans.
- Chocolate: Add a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs on top.
- Honey: Swap the maple syrup for honey to make a version of my granola parfait with honey.
Tips for Success
- Use a clear dessert glass if you want to see the pretty layers of this parfait.
- Use a thick yogurt like Greek or Skyr so the layers hold up the other ingredients.
- Add the granola just before eating so it stays crunchy. If you let it sit, it will get soggy.
- If your fruit is very tart, the maple syrup will help balance everything out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just thaw the fruit before using. Frozen berries work especially well.
No, regular plain yogurt works too. It will just be a bit thinner, and the layers won't hold as neatly, but it will still taste great.
You can layer the yogurt and fruit ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. Then add the granola and maple syrup on top right before eating, so the granola stays crunchy.
This is my favourite kind of breakfast; quick, easy, and it feels like a treat.
If you make it, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments!
Recipe Card
Maple Parfait with Granola
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Ingredients
- 1 cup yogurt
- ⅔ cup granola
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup raspberries
- 4 teaspoons maple syrup, or more if desired
Equipment
- 2 Dessert Glasses, or bowls
Instructions
- Spoon some of the yogurt into a small dessert glasses (or a bowls), and top with some of the granola.
- Add some berries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Continue layering the ingredients until you've used them all.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Balkan-style or Greek yogurt works best because they're thick and creamy. A dairy-free yogurt will work fine too.
- Honey or agave syrup can replace the maple syrup.
- Any fruit works in place of the berries: pears, clementines, dried apricots, or whatever you've got. Frozen fruit works too, just thaw it before using.
- Prep the yogurt and fruit in advance and keep them in separate containers in the fridge. Add the granola right before eating so it doesn't go soggy.
Please read the full blog post for all of my tips, variations, and recommendations for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on specific ingredients and brands used. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Private Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Let us know how it turned out in the comments!This blog post was originally published in November 2015. It has since been updated with an improved recipe and new photographs.
About Shareba
Shareba Abdul is a recipe developer and food photographer with a Culinary Arts certificate from George Brown College and 15+ years of experience creating and testing recipes for home cooks. All recipes are tested in her home kitchen. Learn more →
Shelby @Fitasamamabear says
Yogurt parfaits are such a nice breakfast switch up! They're great to make for busy mornings.
Shareba says
Thanks Shelby!
Teresa says
This is a great alternative to store-bought cereals. Having fruit in the morning is always a good idea and a parfait is an elegant start to the day.
Lily @Gastro Senses says
This looks amazing! I am obsessed with all kinds of parfaits, but never tried Balkan-style yogurt. Where do I find it?
Mel @ The Refreshanista says
This looks like such a tasty, healthy breakfast! I like that you used maple syrup, yum 🙂