Fruit Parfait made with Pudding and/or Yogurt, chopped Berries of choice, topped off with a Crunchy Granola mix for a sweet treat. Make them with Yogurt and a bit of Honey or Macerated Berries for Yogurt Parfaits, or use Pudding for Pudding Parfaits. You can even do a combination of Pudding & Yogurt for a Pudding & Yogurt Parfait. For this recipe, macerated Berries are used with a Snack Pack Vanilla Pudding & Crunchy Granola mix. Quick and simply satisfying.

Fruit Parfait Ingredients

An American Fruit Parfait is made up of a Creamy Pudding and/or Yogurt with choice of Fruits and a crunchy Granola Mix. It can include certain Liqueurs, Honey or Syrups and Whipped Cream.

The ingredients are layered in a Parfait glass that holds about 1 cup of liquid or a tad bit more. Use either these single serving Parfait glasses or plastic see through take away cups at local restaurants or the grocery store in the Deli section. Which are great for Parfait on the go.

Fruit

Wash and dry the whole Berries. Coarsely chop fruits like Strawberries or Blackberries if large. Blueberries or Raspberries can be left whole, or the Raspberries chopped if they are large. Bananas can be sliced or diced. The objective is to be able to have a few pieces of Fruit with each spoonful.

Macerated Fruit

In the strictest sense, macerating means to allow the fruits to marinate in some flavored liquid. Sugar is sprinkled over the Fruits which draws out moisture and eventually causes the Fruits to sit in their own liquids, in effect yielding macerated fruits.

While you can add in Fresh Fruit as is, macerating the fruit is so much better. You get softened, sweeter fruit with that syrup. It’s especially good with thicker mediums like Yogurt, because the extra syrup helps to thin out the thicker yogurt.

Sprinkle the fruit with Sugar to add sweetness and allow the Sugar to work, breaking the Fruit down and releasing the Juices, which will create a Syrupy Fruit that can be used in the Parfaits. The amounts of sugar varies depending on how sweet you like it. In general, use about 1 Tbl of White Sugar for every 1/2 C of chopped Fruit.

Leave out at room temp for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate for an overnight rest for softer and more syrupy fruits. The longer the Berries sit, the softer they become. Soft Fruits like Blackberries or Raspberries will soften even quicker than harder fruits like Strawberries. Depending on how firm or soft you prefer the Fruits, let them sit for the amount of time accordingly.

Frozen Fruit

Prepackaged Frozen Fruit or Berries that are washed and then frozen can be used. Just take the Fruit out of the Freezer and thaw.

To freeze Fresh Berries, wash well and dry in a strainer. Empty them out on a baking sheet in an even layer and place into the freezer. Once fully frozen, empty the berries into a freezer bag.

Nuts

A bit of chopped or crushed nuts is very nice for some crunch. You can go with one specific kind, like Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts or a mix of Nuts. Granola mixes usually contain some nuts, but you can certainly add more.

Granola Mix

A Granola mix is great to top everything off and adds some crunch. A Homemade version of Granola Mix can be made up in a pan over medium heat with Brown Sugar, Oats and mixed crushed nuts. For quick & easy, opt for Harvest Crunch or similar Granola mixes.

Honey

Honey adds that sweetness that is especially needed if only using plain yogurt. It’s not really needed for flavored yogurts or pudding. Other substitution include the Sugared Fruits which also create a Sweet liquid or the use of Sweet Liqueurs or Fruit Syrups.

Fruit Yogurt Parfait

A Fruit Yogurt Parfait uses Yogurt as the medium to carry everything else. You can use a Thick Plain Greek Yogurt, to which you will want to add some form of Sugar and possibly a bit of cream or whipping cream to thin out, especially with very thick yogurt or use of Regular Vanilla or other flavored Yogurts. Which are much thinner in consistency and sweeter. Macerated Fruits with their liquids will also contribute to thinning out the Yogurt.

Whipped Cream Greek Yogurt

Combine equal amounts of Thick Greek Yogurt & Whipping Cream and mix. Optionally add in Vanilla and some Honey or Sugar for a sweeter taste, or use Macerated Fruit.

Fruit Pudding Parfait

A Fruit Pudding Parfait uses Vanilla Pudding or other flavors as the medium to carry everything else. You can make the Pudding from scratch, but these Snack Packs are pretty cheap and ready to go. One Tub is divided in half for layering the Parfait and is good for one serving.

Fruit Pudding & Yogurt Parfait

This combines both kinds of Parfaits and adds an extra layer of similar creaminess to the overall parfait. The Greek Yogurt delivers a high tangy note and is thick. With Sweet Vanilla Pudding, offering up a sweeter creamy mouthfeel. Combine both the Yogurt & Pudding in equal amounts (50g each for a single serving) and whisk until smooth.

Parfait Ratios

The Parfait ratios may vary, depending on if you like more pudding or more fruit in a Parfait. I find the below ratios ideal for a single serving, and fills a Parfait glass and the Belly pretty nicely.

• 1 Snack pack Pudding or about 100 g of Pudding or Yogurt
• Anywhere from 75-100g of Fruit, or about 1/2 C plus
• 30g of Granola mix or about 1/4 C

Parfait Takeaway cups

The next time you order a cold Drink from Tim Hortons or McDonalds, save the clear serving cups. Although these clear takeaway cups are larger and can fit a hefty double serving.

These can be washed and reused over and over again, not only for Fruit Parfait, but for many other Cold & Refreshing Drinks and treats.

Fruit Parfait with Chia Seeds

Chia Seeds are an excellent addition to Fruit Parfaits, not for anything flavor wise, they go practically unnoticed. But functional wise, this superfood does an amazing job at reducing blood sugar levels. When added to Parfaits, they are very effective in reducing the blood glucose spike. Not only that, but they contribute omega 3 which helps protect against heart attack as well as a whole host of other health benefits.

This is a key thing to remember when consuming Sugar. Sugar in nature always comes prepackaged with lots of fiber. It’s this fiber that slows down the absorption rate of Sugar, resulting in a much healthier and controlled release of sugar.

Fruit Parfait Ideas

Some Ideas are listed below and combine different types of Fruits, Yogurt and/or Pudding.