Fruit and Yogurt Parfait with Granola (Better Than McDonald’s)
This fruit and yogurt parfait is inspired by the classic McDonald’s favorite but dressed up for home with layers of creamy vanilla yogurt, fresh berries, crunchy granola, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cherry on top. It’s quick enough for busy mornings yet pretty enough to serve at brunch or as a light dessert. The best part is how easy it is to customize with seasonal fruit, different granolas, nuts, and toppings, making it a recipe you’ll come back to again and again throughout the year.
We are sharing our parfait recipe at our son’s request. We make this often for them, and they’ve asked us to put it on the website, lol. So here it is. It is “the best parfait they’ve ever had”.
It’s inspired by McDonald’s fruit and yogurt parfait, which we have stopped by the restaurant and drive-through countless times over the years.
Now that it’s been discontinued, we happily make our own at home, using our vintage-style parfait cups, or a tall, sturdy glass that isn’t fragile.
We love that you can customize the parfaits and change them up with popular flavor combinations whenever you like.
It makes these restaurant-style parfaits perfect for breakfast, brunch and dessert. Easy to whip up in about five minutes, they are sure to please and will be requested again and again.
Content in this Post
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What Is a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait?
- Ingredients Used in Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- Ingredients
- Ingredient Notes
- Recommended Equipment
- How to Make a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- More Easy Breakfast Recipes & Ideas
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in about 5-10 minutes
- Inspired by the classic McDonald’s parfait
- Beautiful enough for entertaining
- Perfect for breakfast or dessert
- Easy to customize
- Great for brunch
- Kid-friendly
- No cooking required
What Is a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait?
A fruit and yogurt parfait is made by layering creamy yogurt, fresh fruit, and crunchy granola in a glass or jar.
While it’s often enjoyed as a breakfast or snack, adding whipped cream and an extra garnish transforms it into an elegant, restaurant-style dessert.
It was a popular McDonald’s item for some time, but has since been discontinued. But don’t worry, when you learn how easy these are to make at home, you won’t have any need to purchase them.
Ingredients Used in Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients
- Vanilla Greek yogurt (or regular vanilla yogurt)
- Any combination of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and bananas
- Granola
- Whipped cream
- Fresh or Maraschino cherry
- Fresh mint (optional)
Ingredient Notes
Yogurt
Greek yogurt creates a thicker, creamier parfait with extra protein. Our kids love IOGO Vanilla Yogurt, in a bag, which is really easy to pour out into the parfait cups.
Fruit
Fresh berries are classic, but almost any seasonal fruit works beautifully.
Granola
Choose your favorite crunchy granola for texture and flavor. We like Quaker Oat Harvest Crunch Granola Cereal that we purchase at Costco.
Whipped Cream
Optional, but it gives the parfait a fun diner or restaurant dessert feel. It’s especially easy when you use a whipped cream spray can. Top with a cherry for a festive treat!
Recommended Equipment
You can make these in parfait glasses, or in any sturdy cup, preferably transparent so you can see the layers. There are even travel cups you can purchase that make on-the-go morning breakfasts a cinch.
We like a whipped cream spray can such as Kirkland’s brand from Costco, for convenience. But, you can make your parfaits and sundaes even more restaurant-style with a professional whipped cream dispenser.
How to Make a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
- Spoon a layer of yogurt into the glass.
- Add fresh fruit.
- Sprinkle with granola.
- Repeat the layers.
- Finish with whipped cream.
- Garnish with a cherry and fresh mint if desired.
Tips for the Best Parfaits
- Assemble just before serving for the crunchiest granola.
- Use chilled glasses for an extra-refreshing dessert.
- Layer ingredients neatly so the colorful fruit shows through the glass.
- Save a few berries for the top garnish.
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STEP 1 — Add Yogurt and Blueberries
Put a few spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt at the bottom of each parfait cup. Put the fresh or frozen (thawed) blueberries on top of the yogurt.
STEP 2 — Add Chopped Bananas
Add in the chopped bananas.
STEP 3 — Cover With More Yogurt
Then, add the remaining vanilla yogurt.
STEP 4 — Sprinkle on Granola
Top with Granola. We like Harvest Crunch Quaker Oat cereal granola, but you can use other types.
STEP 5 — Garnish Parfait
Shake the whipped cream can vigorously for 5-10 seconds. Then turn the can upside-down and dispense a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each parfait. Top with a fresh cherry with the stem.
Easy Flavor Variations
Think Like a Restaurant and customize your parfaits by popular flavor combinations. You can even go with seasonal trends like pumpkin spice, gingerbread and peppermint for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
🍓 Classic Berry
Strawberries, blueberries, vanilla yogurt.
🍑 Peach Crisp
Fresh peaches, cinnamon granola, toasted pecans.
🍎 Apple Cinnamon
Apples, cinnamon granola, caramel drizzle.
🥥 Tropical
Mango, pineapple, toasted coconut.
🍫 Chocolate Berry
Chocolate granola, strawberries, chocolate drizzle.
🍋 Lemon Berry
Lemon yogurt, blueberries, raspberries.
Turkish-Inspired
- Vanilla or honey yogurt
- Pistachios
- Chopped dates
- Honey drizzle or hot honey if you want some spice!
- A light sprinkle of cinnamon
- (Optional: a tiny pinch of ground cardamom)
This variation ties in beautifully with Doner Kebab Shop Night or Turkish-inspired breakfast menus.
More Experience Night Variations
🍽️ Make It Match Your Menu
- Turkish Night: Pistachios, dates, honey, cardamom
- Swedish Brunch: Lingonberry preserves and vanilla granola
- Greek Taverna: Greek yogurt, honey, walnuts
- Moroccan Night: Orange segments, pistachios, cinnamon
- Tropical Vacation: Mango, pineapple, toasted coconut
- French Café Brunch: Mixed berries with a drizzle of raspberry sauce
What to Serve with Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
These delicious parfaits are perfect alongside:
- Breakfast sandwiches (farmer’s wrap, Bagel BELT, etc.)
- Omelets
- Roasted potatoes
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- Crepes
- Brunch boards
- Fresh fruit salad
- Coffee drinks
And we love to do a Turkish-inspired parfait to go along with our Doner Kebab Shop Night at Home menu. And, it also pairs well with our Doner Kebab Shop Inspired Breakfast and Brunch menu.
So whether you’d like to enjoy this as a dessert or as a breakfast item, you really can’t go wrong!
Storage Tips
Assemble just before serving for the best texture.
If meal prepping, store the granola separately and add it just before eating. These parfait travel cups are great for taking them with you on busy mornings. Assemble ahead of time and keep parfaits stored in the fridge until ready to go.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes & Ideas
- Swedish Crepes or mini crepes
- Breakfast Board
- French Café Brunch
- Omelet Bar
- Breakfast Skillet
- Homemade Granola
- Berry Smoothie
- Fresh Fruit Salad
More Easy Restaurant-Style Desserts
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Fondue
- Greek Honey Lemon Cake
- Brownie Overboard
- 5 Minute Ice Cream Cake
- Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- S’mores Ice Cream Cake
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I make parfaits ahead of time?
Can I use frozen fruit?
What yogurt works best?
Is this a breakfast or a dessert?
Can I make it healthier?
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Fruit and Yogurt Parfait with Granola (Better Than McDonald’s)
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Vanilla Yogurt, you can use your favorite vanilla yogurt, but we find IOGO brand vanilla yogurt in the bag, is easy to pour, and makes this process quick.
- ½ Cup Blueberries, fresh or frozen (thawed)
- ½ Cup Banana, sliced or diced
- ½ Cup Granola, we like Quaker Oat Harvest Crunch Granola Cereal
- 6 Tablespoons Whipped Cream, from a whipped cream spray can, for garnish, optional
- 2 Cherries, fresh, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Put a few spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt at the bottom of each parfait cup. Put the blueberries on top of the yogurt.
- Add in the chopped bananas.
- Then, add the remaining vanilla yogurt.
- Top with granola.
- Shake the whipped cream can vigorously for 5-10 seconds. Then turn the can upside-down and dispense a generous dollop of whipped cream on top of each parfait. Top with a fresh cherry with the stem.
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Nutrition
Note
This recipe is provided for informational purposes only. The above nutritional values are estimates and should only be used as a guide. Please use proper food safety practices, always use a food thermometer to ensure safe cooking temperature, and consult a professional if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.
