Why You’ll Love This Coconut Yogurt Parfait

• It’s a textural dream. You get the cool creaminess of the yogurt, the satisfying crunch of the granola, and the soft, jammy burst of the berries all in one spoonful. It’s never, ever boring.
• It’s endlessly customizable. Not a fan of berries? Use mango! Want more protein? Stir some collagen into the yogurt. This recipe is a fantastic template that you can make your own, depending on what’s in your pantry or what you’re craving that day.
• It feels decadent but is actually quite wholesome. We’re using natural sweeteners and healthy fats, so it’s a breakfast or snack that will keep your energy levels steady without a major sugar crash later. It’s a feel-good kind of meal.
• The make-ahead factor is a game-changer. You can have a week’s worth of breakfasts ready to grab from the fridge in just about 30 minutes of prep. Honestly, future-you will be so grateful on a hectic Wednesday morning.

Ingredients & Tools

• 500 g (about 2 cups) thick, plain coconut yogurt
• 200 g (2 cups) old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
• 100 g (1 cup) raw nuts, like almonds or pecans, roughly chopped
• 60 ml (1/4 cup) maple syrup or agave nectar
• 60 ml (1/4 cup) melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 300 g (2 cups) mixed fresh or frozen berries (like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• Zest of 1/2 an orange or lemon (optional, but lovely)

Tools: A medium baking sheet, parchment paper, a small saucepan, mixing bowls, and your favorite glasses or jars for serving.

The quality of your coconut yogurt really makes a difference here—look for one with a rich, creamy texture and no added gums or sweeteners. For the granola, the melted coconut oil is key for getting those perfect, crispy clusters. And don’t skip the chia seeds in the compote; they act as a natural thickener, giving it a lovely jam-like consistency.

Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes (for granola & compote) | Total Time: 45 minutes

Before You Start: Tips & Ingredient Notes

• Yogurt consistency is everything. If your coconut yogurt is a bit thin, you can strain it through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve for about 30 minutes. This will give you an extra-thick, almost Greek-yogurt style base that holds the layers beautifully.
• Don’t stir the granola too much. The secret to getting those big, crunchy clusters is to press the granola mixture down onto the baking sheet before it goes in the oven and then to resist stirring it while it bakes. Just rotate the pan halfway through.
• Frozen berries work perfectly. In fact, I often prefer them for the compote because they break down more easily and release their juices, creating a saucier texture without needing to add much extra liquid.
• Taste as you go! Sweetness levels can vary so much depending on your yogurt and fruit. After you make the compote, give it a taste. You might want to add another drizzle of maple syrup if your berries are particularly tart.

How to Make Coconut Yogurt Parfait

Serving Suggestions

Complementary Dishes

• A simple green smoothie — The freshness of a spinach-and-banana smoothie complements the richness of the parfait without overpowering it, making for a perfectly balanced breakfast spread.
• Scrambled tofu with turmeric — For a savory-and-sweet brunch situation, the earthy flavors of savory tofu scramble are a fantastic contrast to the sweet, creamy parfait.
• Avocado toast on sourdough — Keep it simple with smashed avocado, red pepper flakes, and a squeeze of lime. The creamy fat of the avocado pairs wonderfully with the fruity notes of the parfait.

Drinks

• Iced coffee or cold brew — The bitterness of the coffee cuts through the sweetness of the parfait beautifully, especially on a warm morning.
• Earl Grey tea with a splash of oat milk — The bergamot flavor in the tea has a lovely citrusy aroma that echoes the zest in the compote, creating a really harmonious pairing.
• A sparkling water with lime — Sometimes you just need something clean and bubbly to cleanse the palate between bites of the rich yogurt and granola.

Something Sweet

• Dark chocolate squares with sea salt — A few pieces of high-quality dark chocolate (70% or higher) provide a sophisticated, bittersweet finish that doesn’t feel too heavy.
• A small almond flour cookie — The nuttiness of an almond-based cookie continues the theme from the granola and feels like a natural extension of the meal.
• Fresh mango slices — If you’re serving this for dessert, fresh, ripe mango adds another layer of tropical sweetness that feels light and refreshing.

Top Mistakes to Avoid

• Mistake: Using warm components. If you assemble the parfait with granola or compote that’s still warm, it will make the yogurt runny and the granola soggy almost instantly. Patience is key—let everything cool completely!
• Mistake: Over-sweetening the yogurt. It’s tempting to mix sweetener right into the entire batch of yogurt, but hold off! The compote and granola already bring sweetness. It’s better to layer them and then adjust at the end if you need to.
• Mistake: Burning the granola. Nuts and maple syrup can go from golden to burnt surprisingly fast. Set a timer and check on it towards the end of the baking time. Remember, it continues to crisp up as it cools on the pan.
• Mistake: Making the compote too watery. If you’re using frozen berries, there’s no need to add water. They release plenty of liquid on their own. Let the chia seeds do their thickening work after you take it off the heat.

Expert Tips

• Tip: Add a pinch of salt to the compote. Just a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt stirred into the finished compote will make the berry flavor pop in a way you wouldn’t believe. It balances the sweetness perfectly.
• Tip: Toast your nuts first. For an even deeper, nuttier flavor in your granola, spread the raw nuts on a separate pan and toast them for 5-7 minutes at the same oven temperature before mixing them with the oats.
• Tip: Create a flavor-infused yogurt. Before layering, you can stir a teaspoon of vanilla extract or a tablespoon of lemon juice directly into the coconut yogurt. It adds a subtle background note that makes the parfait taste even more special.
• Tip: Use a piping bag for neat layers. If you’re really going for a stunning visual, spoon the yogurt into a piping bag (or even a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off). You can pipe perfectly even, clean layers against the side of the glass.

FAQs

Can I use regular dairy yogurt instead of coconut yogurt?
Absolutely! This recipe is very flexible. Plain Greek yogurt will give you a tangier, protein-packed version. The method remains exactly the same. Just be aware that dairy yogurt is often thicker, so you might not need to strain it beforehand. The key is to use a yogurt you enjoy the taste of, as it’s the main component of the parfait.

How far in advance can I assemble the parfaits?
If you don’t mind a softer granola, you can assemble them the night before and keep them covered in the fridge. The moisture from the yogurt and compote will slowly soften the granola, which some people actually prefer. For maximum crunch, I’d recommend assembling no more than an hour before serving. The separate components, however, will keep beautifully for days.

My compote is too thin. How can I thicken it?
No worries, this happens! The easiest fix is to put it back on the heat and let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce the liquid. If it’s still too runny, mix another half teaspoon of chia seeds with a tablespoon of water, let it sit for a minute to form a gel, then stir that into the warm compote. It will thicken up as it cools.

Can I make this nut-free?
Of course. Simply omit the nuts from the granola recipe. You can add sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a similar crunch, or just increase the amount of oats slightly. The granola will still be deliciously crispy and sweet, just without the nutty flavor.

Is there a way to reduce the sugar content?
Yes, you have a few options. You can reduce the maple syrup in the granola by half—the coconut oil will still help it crisp up. For the compote, rely on the natural sweetness of very ripe berries and perhaps add a drop of vanilla extract instead of more sweetener. You can also choose a completely unsweetened coconut yogurt to have full control over the sugar level.