Strawberry parfait is a simple no bake treat made with layers of sweet fresh strawberries, creamy cheesecake yogurt and crunchy granola. These quick, easy and healthy strawberry parfait cups come together in about 10 minutes and are just as perfect for breakfast as they are for dessert.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I love using fresh strawberries for dessert or breakfast recipes on the blog. My Macerated Strawberries, Strawberry Whipped Cream, Strawberry Tiramisu, Strawberry Mousse, No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake and Strawberry Tres Leches are just a few of my favorite strawberry recipes. I am so excited to add this bright, fresh and creamy strawberry yogurt parfait recipe to the blog. I know you’ll love this recipe because:
- Super simple to make. Make these wonderfully easy layered strawberry parfait cups in about 10 minutes. Then allow the creamy fruit parfait to set in the fridge for at a bit to set up and enjoy.
- The perfect make ahead dessert or breakfast treat. Make these breakfast parfait cups in the morning to enjoy for dessert later that day or the night before to enjoy in the morning.
- The easiest healthy dessert, breakfast or dessert for breakfast idea. All you need to make this strawberry yogurt parfait is a handful of simple ingredients and a little time in the fridge.
Ingredients
This strawberry parfait recipe needs only a handful of ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge. Here’s what you will need to make this creamy breakfast or dessert.
Gather strawberries, yogurt, cream cheese, honey, vanilla extract and granola.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make this easy strawberry fruit parfait if you need them.
- Strawberries: Use fresh, ripe and sweet strawberries. Taste the strawberries to ensure they are sweet. If needed, add a little more sugar to taste. Feel free to use any fresh, in season berries in place of the strawberries.
- Yogurt: Full fat yogurt is the preferred yogurt for these parfait cups. Feel free to use your preferred yogurt.
- Cream Cheese: The addition of cream cheese gives the yogurt layer a slight tanginess and lots of creamy texture. Use mascarpone in place of the cream cheese or simply replace all the cream cheese with an equal amount of yogurt.
- Honey: I love the flavor of honey with fresh strawberries. Feel free to sweeten the yogurt filling with sugar or maple syrup or simply leave the entire parfait unsweetened.
- Granola: Use your favorite granola. Another option would be to use seeds or crushed cookies such as graham crackers or even cubes of cake to make a shortcake parfait.
Variations
- Vegan or Dairy Free Strawberry Parfaits: Replace the yogurt and cream cheese with dairy free versions. To make these breakfast parfaits vegan, make sure to use maple syrup instead of honey. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait: For a more dessert like strawberry parfait make these changes: Swap the yogurt for 8 oz. room temperature cream cheese (for a total of 16 oz. cream cheese) and sweeten the cream cheese filling with ¼ - ½ cup sweetened condensed milk or sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Cream the ingredients together until smooth and well combined. Swap the granola with 1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers mixed with ¼ cup melted butter.
How To Make
Learn how to make strawberry parfait in a few easy steps.
- Place the clean, hulled and sliced strawberries into a bowl. Mix the strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Allow the berries to macerate for about 5 minutes while you prepare the creamy yogurt filling. In a large mixing bowl mix the cream cheese and yogurt until smooth and well combined. Add the honey and vanilla extract to the combined yogurt and cream cheese. Mix the cream cheese, yogurt, honey and vanilla extract together until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.
- Assemble the strawberry yogurt parfait in this order - cream cheese yogurt, strawberries, granola. Repeat layering the yogurt, macerated berries and granola one more time or until the serving cup is filled. Make sure to end the layering with the strawberries on top. Add a bit more granola on top of the berries if you like.
3. Transfer the prepared strawberry fruit parfait cups to the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. These strawberry breakfast parfaits can stay covered in the fridge for up to 1 day before serving. Right before serving, drizzle a bit of honey on top of the berries if you like and enjoy.
How To Make Ahead and Store
- Make Ahead: This easy fruit parfait can be made up to 1 day before serving. Just make sure to keep the cups covered with plastic wrap or in a container with a lid.
- Store: Make sure the cups are completely covered with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 1 - 2 days after making. These strawberry cups taste best up to 1 day after assembling them.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use sweet, ripe strawberries. These strawberry parfait cups are made using only a few simple ingredients, with strawberries being the main flavor. Make sure the strawberries are in season (when possible), are red, ripe and taste delicious. Good strawberries go a long way to making this the best strawberry parfait.
- Choose clear cups. One of the delightful things about these parfait dessert cups is how pretty the layers look. Make sure to choose a clear serving cup to serve them.
- Choose smaller serving cups. I found a 8 oz. glass cups or serving bowls to the perfect size for these strawberry mousse parfaits.
- Use a piping bag or cookie scoops. Using a piping bag or cookie scoop allows the layers to be even and easily controlled.
- Allow for the full amount of chilling time. These parfait cups need a bit of time to chill in the fridge. After assembling the layered berry and cheesecake cups, allow for at least 30 minutes and up to one day for the cups to chill and for the filling to properly set.
FAQs
A classic parfait is made using layers of fresh berries, yogurt and granola. Variations can include nuts, cubes of cake, or cream as layer in the parfait.
Yes, fruit based parfaits can be considered healthy especially when they’re made with minimal added sweeteners such as honey, fresh fruit and plain yogurt.
Full fat greek yogurt is considered the best for making parfaits. Fat keeps you fuller for longer and the thicker consistency of greek yogurt creates more defined and beautiful layers.
This easy and fresh strawberry dessert can last about 2 days when stored in the fridge.
Other Parfait Recipes to Try
If you try this Strawberry Parfait recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M
Strawberry Parfait Recipe
Equipment
- 4 small servings glasses or cups
- 1 whisk or spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries clean, hulled and sliced
- 2 - 3 tablespoons (25 - 38 g) granulated sugar, optional
- 1 - 2 teaspoons lemon juice, optional
- 8 oz. (226 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup yogurt
- ¼ cup (60 ml) honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup granola
Instructions
- Place the clean, hulled and sliced strawberries into a bowl. Mix the strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Allow the berries to macerate for about 5 minutes while you prepare the creamy yogurt filling.2 cups fresh strawberries, 2 - 3 tablespoons (25 - 38 g) granulated sugar, optional, 1 - 2 teaspoons lemon juice, optional
- In a large mixing bowl mix the cream cheese and yogurt until smooth and well combined. Add the honey and vanilla extract to the combined yogurt and cream cheese. Mix the cream cheese, yogurt, honey and vanilla extract together until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.8 oz. (226 g) cream cheese, room temperature, 1 cup yogurt , 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , ¼ cup (60 ml) honey or maple syrup
- Assemble the strawberry yogurt parfait in this order: cream cheese yogurt, strawberries, granola.Repeat layering the yogurt, strawberries and granola one more time or until the serving cup is filled to your preference. Make sure to end the layering with the strawberries on top. Add a bit more granola on top of the berries if you like.1 cup granola
- Transfer the prepared strawberry fruit parfait cups to the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. These strawberry parfaits can stay covered in the fridge for up to 1 day before serving. Right before serving, drizzle a bit of honey on top of the berries if you like and enjoy.
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