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There’s something incredibly satisfying about a recipe that feels both like a treat and a genuinely good start to your day. These Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait Jars are exactly that—a little project that brings a cozy, dessert-like joy to your breakfast or snack time, but without any of the fuss. Imagine layers of sweet, tender cinnamon-spiced apples, creamy yogurt, and a delightful crunch from granola and nuts, all built right inside a jar. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing that makes you look forward to the morning. You can make them the night before, which is a lifesaver on busy days, or assemble them fresh if you prefer a more distinct texture. They’re endlessly adaptable, too. The aroma of apples simmering with cinnamon is pure comfort, and the final look—those beautiful, visible layers—is just as rewarding as the taste. It’s a simple pleasure, really, but one that feels a little bit special every single time.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait Jars

Perfect for meal prep. You can assemble these jars up to two days ahead, making your mornings effortlessly smooth and delicious.
Endlessly customizable. Not a fan of walnuts? Use pecans. Prefer a different fruit? The spiced apple base is just a starting point for your creativity.
The texture is everything. You get this wonderful play between the warm, soft apples, the cool, creamy yogurt, and the satisfying crunch from the toppings.
It feels like a dessert for breakfast. Honestly, the combination of cinnamon-sugar apples and rich yogurt is so indulgent-tasting, yet it’s made from wholesome, simple ingredients.

Ingredients & Tools

2 medium apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and diced
1 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
1 cup granola of your choice
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Tools: A small saucepan, 2 medium-sized jars (around 16 oz each), a mixing spoon, and a sharp knife for chopping.

The quality of your yogurt really makes a difference here—a good, thick Greek yogurt provides a lovely tang and creamy base that holds up the layers beautifully. And don’t skip the pinch of salt; it might seem small, but it makes the apple flavor pop.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 380 kcal
Protein: 18 g
Fat: 16 g
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Fiber: 6 g

Serves: 2 | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 8 minutes | Total Time: 23 minutes

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

Apple variety matters. Using a mix, like one tart Granny Smith and one sweeter Honeycrisp, gives you a more complex and interesting flavor profile in your cooked apples.
Let the apples cool completely. If you layer warm apples with the cold yogurt, you’ll end up with a runny, separated mess. Patience is key for perfect layers.
Go for thick yogurt. A runny yogurt will cause the layers to bleed into each other. Full-fat or 2% Greek yogurt provides the best structure and richest taste.
Toast those nuts. Just a quick toast in a dry pan for a few minutes until fragrant elevates their flavor and adds an incredible extra layer of nutty crunch.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait Jars

Step 1: Start by preparing your spiced apples. Melt the butter or coconut oil in your small saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s shimmering, add your diced apples. You’ll hear a gentle sizzle—that’s exactly what you want. Stir them around to coat them in the fat, and let them cook for about 2 minutes until they just start to soften.

Step 2: Now, it’s time for the flavor. Sprinkle the cinnamon and that all-important pinch of salt over the apples. The aroma that will fill your kitchen is honestly the best part of this process. Stir continuously for another minute to toast the spices slightly, which unlocks their full, warm potential.

Step 3: Next, add the maple syrup and vanilla extract. Stir everything together until the apples are beautifully glazed and the syrup has formed a light sauce with the melted butter. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 4-5 minutes, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape. You don’t want apple mush!

Step 4: This is a crucial step for texture. Remove the apple mixture from the heat and spread it out on a plate or baking sheet to cool down completely. Rushing this will ruin your layers, so I sometimes even pop the plate in the fridge for 10 minutes to speed it up.

Step 5: While the apples cool, get your jars and other components ready. Place your granola and toasted nuts in separate small bowls for easy assembly. Give your yogurt a quick stir in its container to make it smooth and easy to dollop.

Step 6: Let’s build the parfaits! Start with a layer of the cooled cinnamon apples at the very bottom of each jar. Press it down gently. Then, add a thick, generous layer of Greek yogurt, spreading it evenly to create a clean white stripe.

Step 7: Now for the crunch. Sprinkle a layer of granola over the yogurt, followed by a scattering of your toasted nuts. The trick is to press the granola down lightly so it doesn’t all fall to the sides when you eat it.

Step 8: Repeat the layers! Add another portion of the spiced apples, another creamy yogurt layer, and finish with a final flourish of granola and nuts on top. This double-decker approach ensures you get a bit of everything in every single spoonful.

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

A soft-boiled egg — The rich, runny yolk provides a savory counterpoint that balances the sweet and spiced notes of the parfait perfectly.
Whole-wheat toast with almond butter — This adds a different, toastier nut flavor and some extra staying power, making your breakfast even more substantial.
A small side of breakfast sausage — For a true sweet-and-salty experience, a little bit of savory sausage on the side is an unexpectedly delicious pairing.

Drinks

Hot black coffee — The bitterness of the coffee cuts through the creamy sweetness of the yogurt and apples, creating a classic and utterly satisfying combination.
Chai tea latte — The spices in a chai latte echo the cinnamon in the parfait, wrapping you in a cozy, aromatic blanket of flavor.
Cold oat milk — Its mild, slightly sweet creaminess is a wonderful, neutral palate cleanser between bites of the flavorful parfait.

Something Sweet

A warm, flaky croissant — Tearing off a buttery piece of croissant and then taking a bite of the parfait feels incredibly decadent and European-cafe-inspired.
Dark chocolate-covered almonds — Just one or two of these on the side offer a sophisticated, bittersweet finish that complements the parfait without overpowering it.
A drizzle of extra maple syrup — For those with a serious sweet tooth, a little extra drizzle right over the top layer just before eating makes it feel like a true dessert.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

Using warm apples. I’ve messed this up before, too. The heat will make the yogurt thin and watery, destroying your beautiful layered effect and texture.
Overcooking the apples. You want tender pieces, not apple sauce. Cook them just until a fork can pierce them easily, so they still provide some structure in the jar.
Using a watery yogurt. Regular yogurt or a thin Greek yogurt won’t hold the granola layer well, causing everything to sink and become a homogenous mixture.
Assembling too far in advance. If you add the granola more than a few hours before eating, it will lose its crunch and become unpleasantly soggy from the yogurt.

Expert Tips

Tip: Add a teaspoon of chia seeds to your yogurt and let it sit for 5 minutes before assembling. It thickens the yogurt even more and adds a bonus boost of fiber.
Tip: For a dairy-free version, use a thick coconut or almond-based yogurt. Just be sure to check the consistency—it needs to be scoopable, not pourable.
Tip: If you love extra texture, mix a tablespoon of flax seeds or hemp hearts into your granola layer. It adds a lovely, subtle nuttiness and extra nutritional punch.
Tip: For a beautiful presentation, use a narrow spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the yogurt layers against the side of the glass jar. This makes the layers look pristine and professional.

FAQs

Can I make these parfaits the night before?
Absolutely, and it’s a fantastic time-saver! The key is to do a partial assembly. Layer the cooled apples and the yogurt in the jar the night before. Then, in the morning, simply top it with the granola and nuts. This keeps the crunchy elements perfectly crisp. If you assemble the entire thing, the granola will soften and lose its signature texture, which is a bit of a disappointment first thing in the morning.

What’s the best type of apple to use?
You really want an apple that holds its shape when cooked. Tart varieties like Granny Smith provide a nice contrast to the sweet yogurt, while firmer sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady also work wonderfully. I often use one of each for a more complex flavor. Avoid very soft apples like Red Delicious, as they tend to turn to mush too quickly in the pan.

My yogurt is a bit runny. What can I do?
No worries, this is a common issue! You can strain it yourself. Line a fine-mesh sieve with a coffee filter or cheesecloth, place it over a bowl, and spoon the yogurt in. Let it drain in the fridge for an hour or two. You’ll be amazed at how much thicker it gets. Alternatively, you can stir in a tablespoon of almond flour or oat flour to help absorb the excess moisture.

Can I use frozen apples?
You can, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking method. Frozen apples will release a lot more water. Thaw them first and drain off the excess liquid. Then, proceed with the recipe, but you might need to cook them a minute or two longer to evaporate the extra moisture and achieve that nice, glazed consistency instead of a watery sauce.

How long do the assembled parfaits last in the fridge?
Without the crunchy toppings, they’ll keep beautifully for up to 2 days. The flavors actually meld and improve. Once you add the granola and nuts, it’s best to eat them within a few hours to maintain the ideal texture contrast. So, for the best experience, store the components separately and assemble just before you’re ready to dig in.

Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait Jars

Cost Level $

Category Healthy Holiday Desserts

Difficulty Medium

Cuisine American, dessert

Servings 2

Total Time 23 minutes

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Make delicious Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Parfait Jars for an easy, make-ahead breakfast. Layers of spiced apples, yogurt & granola. Get the simple recipe now!

Ingredients

For the spiced apples:

2 medium apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, peeled and diced)
1 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
A pinch salt

For the assembly:

2 cups plain Greek yogurt
1 cup granola (of your choice)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

01
Start by preparing your spiced apples. Melt the butter or coconut oil in your small saucepan over medium heat. Once it's shimmering, add your diced apples. You’ll hear a gentle sizzle—that’s exactly what you want. Stir them around to coat them in the fat, and let them cook for about 2 minutes until they just start to soften.
02
Now, it’s time for the flavor. Sprinkle the cinnamon and that all-important pinch of salt over the apples. The aroma that will fill your kitchen is honestly the best part of this process. Stir continuously for another minute to toast the spices slightly, which unlocks their full, warm potential.
03
Next, add the maple syrup and vanilla extract. Stir everything together until the apples are beautifully glazed and the syrup has formed a light sauce with the melted butter. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 4-5 minutes, until the apples are tender but still hold their shape. You don’t want apple mush!
04
This is a crucial step for texture. Remove the apple mixture from the heat and spread it out on a plate or baking sheet to cool down completely. Rushing this will ruin your layers, so I sometimes even pop the plate in the fridge for 10 minutes to speed it up.
05
While the apples cool, get your jars and other components ready. Place your granola and toasted nuts in separate small bowls for easy assembly. Give your yogurt a quick stir in its container to make it smooth and easy to dollop.
06
Let’s build the parfaits! Start with a layer of the cooled cinnamon apples at the very bottom of each jar. Press it down gently. Then, add a thick, generous layer of Greek yogurt, spreading it evenly to create a clean white stripe.
07
Now for the crunch. Sprinkle a layer of granola over the yogurt, followed by a scattering of your toasted nuts. The trick is to press the granola down lightly so it doesn’t all fall to the sides when you eat it.
08
Repeat the layers! Add another portion of the spiced apples, another creamy yogurt layer, and finish with a final flourish of granola and nuts on top. This double-decker approach ensures you get a bit of everything in every single spoonful.