Chilled Yogurt Parfait with Fruit, Granola, and Jam

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 parfaits (about 1 cup each)
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes

Quick Ingredients

• 2 cups (480 g) plain Greek yogurt (whole milk or 2%)
• 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups mixed fresh berries, chopped if large
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional, for fruit)
• 1/2 cup (120 g) berry jam or preserves
• 2–3 tsp warm water (to loosen jam)
• 2 cups (about 180 g) crunchy granola
• Optional garnishes: extra berries, chopped nuts, mint

Do This

• 1. In a bowl, whisk yogurt with honey and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
• 2. Rinse and dry berries; chop larger pieces. Toss with lemon juice if using.
• 3. In a small bowl, stir jam with warm water until pourable but still thick.
• 4. Spoon a layer of yogurt into 4 clear glasses or jars.
• 5. Add small spoonfuls of jam over yogurt and gently swirl with a toothpick or knife.
• 6. Add a layer of fruit, then a layer of granola. Repeat layers to fill the glasses.
• 7. Top with extra berries and granola. Serve immediately or chill up to 30 minutes.

---

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in minutes with no cooking at all, but feels like a cafe-style treat.
• Perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, fruity, and sweet in every spoonful.
• Easy to customize with your favorite fruits, granola, and jams.
• Works as a light breakfast, snack, or dessert that feels refreshing and satisfying.

Grocery List

• Produce: Mixed fresh berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), optional fresh mint, optional lemon.
• Dairy: Plain Greek yogurt (whole milk or 2%).
• Pantry: Honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, berry jam or preserves, granola (any style you like), optional nuts or seeds.

Full Ingredients

For the Yogurt Base

• 2 cups (480 g) plain Greek yogurt, whole milk or 2% for best creaminess
• 3 tbsp (45 ml) honey or maple syrup, to taste
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• Pinch of fine sea salt (optional, enhances flavor)

For the Fruit Layer

• 2 cups mixed fresh berries, rinsed and patted dry
  • For example: 1 cup strawberries (hulled and diced) + 1/2 cup blueberries + 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional, brightens flavor)
• 1–2 tsp granulated sugar or honey (optional, only if fruit is very tart)

For the Jam Swirl

• 1/2 cup (120 g) berry jam or preserves (strawberry, raspberry, or mixed berry)
• 2–3 tsp warm water, as needed to thin the jam slightly

For the Crunchy Layer

• 2 cups (about 180 g) granola of your choice
  • Honey-nut or vanilla-almond granola works especially well
• 2 tbsp chopped nuts or seeds (optional, such as almonds, pecans, or pumpkin seeds)

To Assemble and Garnish

• 4 small clear glasses, jars, or dessert cups (8–10 oz capacity)
• Extra berries for topping (optional)
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep Your Fruit

Rinse all the berries under cool running water and gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. If using strawberries, remove the green tops and dice them into small bite-sized pieces, about 1/2-inch. Leave blueberries and raspberries whole unless they are very large, in which case you can halve them.

Place the prepared berries in a medium bowl. If you like a brighter, slightly tangy fruit layer, drizzle the berries with 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Taste a berry; if the fruit is on the tart side, sprinkle with 1–2 teaspoons of sugar or honey and gently toss to coat. Set aside while you prepare the yogurt and jam. The fruit will release a little juice, which adds great flavor to the parfait.

Step 2: Make the Creamy Yogurt Base

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of Greek yogurt, 3 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a small pinch of fine sea salt if using. Whisk or stir with a spoon until the mixture is very smooth, creamy, and lightly sweetened. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding another teaspoon of honey or maple syrup if needed.

The yogurt should be thick enough to hold distinct layers but soft enough to spoon easily. If it seems too thick (some Greek yogurts are very firm), you can whisk in 1–2 tablespoons of cold water or milk to loosen it slightly.

Step 3: Loosen the Jam for Swirling

In a small bowl, add 1/2 cup of berry jam or preserves. Stir in 2 teaspoons of warm water and mix until the jam becomes a bit more fluid and spoonable, but still thick enough to create visible streaks when layered. If the jam is still very stiff, add up to 1 more teaspoon of warm water, a few drops at a time, until you reach a thick, pourable consistency.

Set a small spoon aside specifically for the jam so you can keep the layers neat and avoid mixing the jam into the yogurt too much as you assemble.

Step 4: Organize Your Layering Station

Set out your 4 glasses, jars, or dessert cups on the counter. Place the bowl of sweetened yogurt, the bowl of prepared fruit, the bowl of loosened jam, and the granola (plus any chopped nuts or seeds) within easy reach. This little “assembly line” makes layering quick and tidy.

If presentation is important, use clear glasses or jars so the colorful layers are visible from the side. A small spoon or offset spatula can help you nudge layers into place for clean lines.

Step 5: Build the First Layers

Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of the yogurt mixture into the bottom of each glass, smoothing it slightly so it forms an even base layer. Next, add 1–2 teaspoons of the jam on top of the yogurt in each glass. Use the tip of a butter knife, toothpick, or skewer to gently swirl the jam into the top of the yogurt layer, creating marbled streaks without fully blending them.

Follow with a generous spoonful (about 2 tablespoons) of mixed berries over the jam-swirled yogurt. Then sprinkle 2–3 tablespoons of granola (and a pinch of nuts or seeds, if using) on top of the fruit.

Step 6: Repeat Layers and Finish the Tops

Repeat the layering process: add another 2–3 tablespoons of yogurt over the granola in each glass, followed by a small spoonful of jam and a gentle swirl. Top with more berries and a final sprinkle of granola for crunch. Aim to fill each glass to just below the rim, leaving enough space that toppings do not spill over.

For an attractive finish, save a few of the prettiest berries for the very top and arrange them slightly off-center. Add an extra drizzle of jam or honey if you like things sweeter, and tuck in a small sprig of mint for color.

Step 7: Chill Briefly or Serve Right Away

If you enjoy maximum crunch, serve the parfaits immediately after assembling. The granola will be crisp, and the yogurt will be cool and silky. If you prefer the flavors to meld a bit more and the parfait to be extra chilled, cover each glass loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes before serving.

Serve with long-handled spoons so everyone can dig all the way down to the bottom layers and get a little bit of yogurt, jam, fruit, and granola in each bite.

Pro Tips

• Keep the granola crunchy: For make-ahead parfaits, add the granola in a thick top layer only and wait to stir it in until just before eating. This keeps it from getting soggy.
• Choose thick yogurt: Full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt gives the most luxurious texture and stands up well in layers without running.
• Layer neatly: Use small spoons and gently tap the glass on the counter to settle each layer. Swirl the jam lightly so it creates ribbons instead of blending into the yogurt.
• Use what is in season: Swap in peaches, cherries, or mango when berries are not available, and choose a matching jam flavor for the swirl.
• Go small for parties: Assemble the parfaits in small juice glasses or mini jars for buffet-style desserts or brunch spreads.

Variations

• Tropical Parfait: Use diced mango, pineapple, and kiwi in place of berries. Swap the berry jam for passion fruit, mango, or apricot preserves, and use coconut or macadamia granola.
• Chocolate-Berry Dessert Parfait: Stir 1–2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and a little extra honey into the yogurt. Use dark chocolate granola and top with shaved dark chocolate or cocoa nibs along with the berries.
• High-Protein Breakfast Parfait: Use nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt and stir in 1–2 tablespoons of vanilla protein powder. Add extra nuts, seeds, and a sprinkle of chia or flax for more staying power.

Storage & Make-Ahead

For the best texture, assemble the parfaits within a few hours of serving. Fully layered parfaits with granola mixed throughout are best eaten within 4–6 hours, as the granola slowly softens in the yogurt. If you need to prepare them farther in advance (up to 24 hours), assemble the yogurt, jam, and fruit layers, cover and refrigerate, and keep the granola in an airtight container at room temperature. Just before serving, add the granola and any fresh garnish. Leftover assembled parfaits can be refrigerated for up to 2 days; the taste is still excellent, though the granola will be soft and more like a crumble.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values for one of 4 parfaits made as written: about 320 calories; 10 g fat; 50 g carbohydrates; 12 g protein; 4 g fiber; 28 g sugars. Actual nutrition will vary depending on the specific yogurt, granola, and jam you use.