How to Make Parfaits

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 4, 2021

Parfaits are typically made of several layers of a few basic ingredients, like yogurt, fruit, and granola. But they can also be used to create tasty desserts by switching out some of the more breakfast-oriented ingredients for items like pudding and crumbled graham crackers or cookies. Whether you decide to make a parfait for a quick and easy breakfast-on-the-go, or whip up a batch of no-bake cheesecake parfaits for dessert at a party, these easy recipes will quickly become a part of your baking repertoire.

Ingredients

Fruit and Granola Parfait

1 cup (240 mL) of plain yogurt
3/4 cup (75 grams) of assorted berries
1/2 cup (60 grams) of granola
1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey (optional)

Makes 1 serving

No-Bake Cheesecake Parfait

6 graham crackers
3 tablespoons (44 mL) of melted, unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of cinnamon
8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese
1 package of cheesecake pudding mix
1.5 cups (350 mL) of milk
1-2 cups (100-200 grams) of sliced strawberries
1 cup (100 grams) of blueberries

Makes 6 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making a Classic Fruit and Granola Parfait

1
Rinse the berries and discard any that are mushy or rotten. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries are all great options for your parfait. Use what you have available at home, or compile an assortment to equal 3/4 cup (75 grams). Rinse them gently under water and lay them out on paper towels or a clean dishtowel to dry.
- You can also easily use frozen berries for your parfait—simply take them out of the freezer about 1 hour before you want to use them so they have time to defrost.
- You could use other types of fruits, too—sliced bananas or peaches would taste good, as would diced apples topped with a little cinnamon.^{[1]
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2
Fill the bottom of a wide-rimmed jar with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of yogurt. Carefully spoon half of the yogurt into the bottom of a wide-mouthed jar to create the first layer of your parfait. Be careful to not get any on the sides of the jar to perfect that classic parfait look.
- You can use any kind of yogurt that you want for your parfait. Plain yogurt will have less sugar and will be sweetened nicely by the fruit, but you could also use flavored yogurt depending on your preferences.
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3
Measure out half of the fruit on top of the first layer of yogurt. Place a little more than a 1/4 cup (38 grams) of the berries in your jar. Spread them out so there is an even layer on top of the yogurt.
- If there are any juices from the berries, like if you used frozen ones that have defrosted, include the juice in the parfait, too—it’ll help flavor and sweeten it.
4
Create the third layer with 1/4 cup (30 grams) of the granola. Scoop out half of the granola and gently place it into the jar, on top of the fruit. It’s okay if it starts to mix with the fruit and get a little soggy.
- If you’re making the parfait ahead of time and don’t like soggy granola, omit this step and wait until you’re ready to eat to add the granola to the top of the completed parfait.^{[2]
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- If you don’t like store-bought granola, try your hand at making your own granola at home.
5
Repeat the layering with the rest of the yogurt, fruit, and granola. Create layers 4, 5, and 6 by adding the rest of the ingredients, one at a time, to your parfait.
- If you are going to save your parfait for the next day, put a lid on it and store it in the fridge.
6
Drizzle honey overtop of the parfait for an extra touch of sweetness. Use about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) or less of honey if you want your parfait to be a little more sweet. The honey pairs well with yogurt, fruit, and granola.
- You can sometimes find flavored honey at the store, like orange blossom or lavender-infused ones. These could add a different flavor-element to your parfait.
7
Mix together the different components as you eat to enjoy your parfait. As you eat, stir the parfait so all the ingredients mix together, or simply take bites made up of different layers of the parfait. This makes a great meal to take on the go, as all you need is the parfait and a spoon.
- If you are eating on the go, don’t forget to bring your empty parfait container and spoon back in the house to wash them out later.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Mixing up a No-Bake Cheesecake Parfait

1
Combine the graham crackers, melted butter, and cinnamon. Use 6 graham crackers, 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of melted, unsalted butter, and 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of cinnamon. If you have a food processor, simply add all these ingredients to it and blend them until they’re completely incorporated. If you don’t have a food processor, you can put everything into a resealable plastic bag, then crush everything up with a rolling pin.^{[3]
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- There are a lot of different graham crackers you can get at the store—try cinnamon or chocolate ones for something different.
- This mixture creates the crumble layer of your dessert parfait.
2
Rinse the fruit and slice the strawberries to prep them for the parfait. You’ll need about 2 cups (200 grams) of strawberries and 1 cup (100 grams) of blueberries. Run them under water to rinse off any dirt, then cut the green tops off of the strawberries. Slice the strawberries lengthwise to get about 4 or 5 slices per piece of fruit.^{[4]
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- The slices create a nice presentation, but you could also chop the strawberries into smaller pieces if you prefer.
3
Soften the cream cheese by mixing it with a hand mixer. Put 8 ounces (230 g) of cream cheese into a mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to beat it on low for 30 to 60 seconds. Stop once the cream cheese is clump-free and has a smooth consistency.^{[5]
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- Use low-fat cream cheese for a lower-calorie dessert.
- Use the low setting on the hand mixer to prevent the cream cheese from flying out of the bowl.
4
Add the milk to the cream cheese gradually. Use 1.5 cups (350 mL) of milk, and add it to the cream cheese ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) at a time until it has all been incorporated. Mix the ingredients together on low to keep them from splattering out of the mixing bowl.^{[6]
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- You can use any kind of milk for this recipe. If you’re dairy-free, try out soy, coconut, or almond milk.
5
Blend the pudding mix into the cream cheese and milk mixture. Empty the package of instant cheesecake pudding mix into the mixing bowl. Turn the hand mixer on low and combine everything for 1 to 2 minutes until everything is combined.^{[7]
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- There are low-sugar cheesecake pudding mixtures that you could also use if you prefer.
6
Layer graham cracker, pudding, and fruit in 6 glasses or jars. Create as many layers as you prefer. You could make layers of granola, blueberries, pudding, strawberries, pudding, and granola for a pleasing visual, or create your own layering effect.^{[8]
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- Use a measuring cup to ensure you’re using equal amounts of pudding in each glass.
- For a nice ending visual, try topping each parfait with 3 stacked strawberry slices and 1 blueberry.
7
Serve the parfaits with spoons and enjoy! These are great dessert parfaits to serve at a dinner or party. You can make them early the day of the gathering and store them covered in a fridge. You can also make them the night before, but the presentation might not look as nice once everything has settled.^{[9]
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- If there are any leftovers, save them overnight and use them the next day for a decadent treat or breakfast.