If you landed here because you have some extra cranberry sauce left over from Thanksgiving, you'll be glad you did! These fresh cranberry yogurt parfaits couldn't be more delicious, with creamy vanilla Greek yogurt and a touch of granola.
Get this recipe in your inbox
Enter your email below and we’ll send it right to your inbox. Plus, you'll get our latest recipes emailed each week!
I've actually been wanting to create this recipe for months now, but first I had to wait for fresh cranberry season and a batch of homemade cranberry sauce to happen. 🙂 As you may or may not know, I'm a huge yogurt and fermented foods fan, so sometimes I find myself daydreaming about using these fabulous foods in upcoming recipes.
Did you know?
Besides being festive and full of color, cranberries are considered to be a prebiotic food since they contain compounds including oligosaccharides and proanthocyanidins which help feed beneficial bacteria in the gut like Lactobacillus plantarum. And, they're delicious! 🙂
If you like this recipe, and want a basic parfait recipe you can use all year round, definitely check out this fruit and yogurt parfait. Or, you can explore more recipes with yogurt and even make your own yogurt!
Jump to:
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Takes just 5 minutes to make!
- Great way to use up leftover cranberry sauce
- Delicious, refreshing breakfast treat
- Wholesome snack with protein
- Easy to meal prep in separate jars
🌿 Ingredients
You'll only need three simple ingredients for this recipe. If you're looking to use up some leftover cranberry sauce, hopefully you'll already have that one on hand. You can also make your own homemade Greek yogurt and granola, or simply buy store-bought to save time.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
The prep for these cranberry parfait cups is so, so easy and takes just a few minutes. First, simply divide the ingredients between two glass jars, spooning in a layer of yogurt first, followed by cranberry sauce and granola. Then, repeat with a second layer of the same in each jar, and you're done!
Pro tip: If you're making these parfaits in advance, wait to add the granola until just before serving so that it doesn't get soggy (you can skip the inner layer of granola and just sprinkle it on top.)
📋 Substitutions
This cranberry parfait is gluten free as written; just make sure to use certified gluten free oats in the case of a gluten allergy or sensitivity. Feel free to use any of the following food substitutions to customize to your dietary preferences.
- Vanilla Greek yogurt - substitute regular whole milk vanilla yogurt or vanilla skyr (an Icelandic yogurt) instead; you could also substitute whipped Greek yogurt for an extra special treat
- Vegan/dairy free - substitute a plant based vanilla yogurt like coconut yogurt; some are thicker than others, so experiment to find one that's not too watery
- No added sugar - since most store bought vanilla yogurt has some added sugar, feel free to use plain yogurt or Greek yogurt and sweeten it with a little honey, agave syrup or nothing at all
🔪 Equipment
You'll need the following equipment to make this recipe:
- glass working jars (or any other small jars)
🍱 Storage
Yogurt parfaits will stay fresh for up to four days in the fridge in airtight or lidded containers; they don't stand up well to freezing.
🎉 Top tip
This cranberry parfait recipe makes such a light, refreshing breakfast or snack after the holidays. It takes just minutes to make but if you'd like to assemble them in advance, wait until just before you eat to add the granola so that it doesn't get soggy in the meantime.
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
Any variety of vanilla Greek yogurt works well for a cranberry yogurt parfait. The sweetness of the yogurt will complement the tartness of the cranberry sauce. Depending on how sweet your cranberry sauce is, you could also use plain Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt tends to work best for parfaits due to its thicker consistency, but you could also use regular yogurt. Use a plant-based yogurt to make this recipe vegan.
Yes. If you're meal prepping in advance, don't add the granola yet and instead keep it in a separate container. That way, it won't get soggy and you can sprinkle it on top just before you enjoy your parfait.
Yes, could certainly use store-bought cranberry sauce and particularly a whole berry cranberry sauce variety rather than jellied cranberry sauce. (The jellied sauce lacks the whole fruit texture that makes this recipe so wholesome.)
🍳 Recipe
Cranberry Yogurt Parfait
Equipment
- 2 working jars or other small jars
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt for vegan/dairy-free (or make homemade yogurt)
- ½ cup cranberry sauce
- ½ cup granola any kind, or use homemade granola (see notes)
Instructions
- Assemble: Dividing the ingredients between two glass jars, spoon in a layer of yogurt, cranberry sauce and granola, and then repeat with a second layer of the same.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Leave a Reply