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These lovely Mixed Berry Quinoa Parfaits feature layers of cheesecake-flavored Greek yogurt and fresh berries along with the nutty quinoa for a satisfying sweet treat! They are hearty enough for a breakfast that can fuel a busy day, but they also make a delightful gluten free snack or dessert.
Why You’ll Love These Quinoa Parfaits
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: No-bake
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
I tend to go through periods of eating the same things over and over. When I was in a phase of Strawberry Quinoa Chicken Salad and Bacon Ranch Quinoa Chicken Salad, I would make big batches of quinoa and keep it in the fridge. One problem – my kids wouldn’t eat quinoa. That’s when I thought about adding it to something sweet, and these berry quinoa parfaits were born.
I mashed up some super ripe bananas and mixed it with light cream cheese and plain Greek yogurt to make a naturally sweet banana cheesecake-flavored yogurt. Then I layered it into these lovely, summery parfaits with loads of berries. My boys totally devour them, and you will too. Here’s why:
- Great flavor and texture. Instead of granola, like you might normally add to a yogurt parfait, I went with some of the cooked quinoa and it adds a lovely chew and nutty flavor that’s a nice change. This also makes them gluten free without having to buy or make special gluten free granola.
- So satisfying. The quinoa adds whole grains and protein, so when combined with the fruit and yogurt you have a filling and wholesome breakfast or dessert.
- Versatile ways to serve. You can make two large parfaits for a meal-size serving or four little snack-size cups. Double or triple the recipe to have grab-and-go containers in the fridge for busy mornings when you are running out the door getting the kids to school, but you want to make sure they are fueled till lunchtime. Or set out bowls of the yogurt mixture, fruit, and quinoa, and let everyone make their own.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick rundown of the ingredients to make these berry quinoa parfaits so you can see what you’ll need and any substitutions. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full quantities and detailed instructions.
- Plain Greek yogurt. You can use nonfat, low-fat, or whole milk yogurt, depending on your preference.
- Cream cheese. Let it soften to room temperature so it blends smoothly. I use light cream cheese but regular is fine too. Fat-free is not recommended.
- Banana. You’ll want it very ripe so it mashes well to blend with the yogurt and naturally sweetens the parfaits.
- Sweetener. If you find your banana doesn’t sweeten the yogurt mixture as much as you like, you can add honey stevia, or another sweetener, to taste, if needed.
- Quinoa. Cooked and cooled. Follow the package directions or check out my article on how to cook quinoa for five different methods and storage instructions.
- Berries. I like to use a mixture of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries for a nice red, white, and blue combination, but you cna use any berries you like. Save some for garnish, if you like.
Tips for Success
- Just use water. When I am making quinoa for savory recipes like quinoa bites, I will often cook the quinoa in chicken broth. You definitely don’t want that flavor when making sweet parfaits.
- Adjust the sweetness. If you use an overripe banana, it should sweeten up that yogurt enough, but you can always add a squeeze of honey or another sweetener to adjust to your tastes,
- Try other fruit. You can also make blueberry peach quinoa parfaits in the summer, or transition to fall by adding chopped apples or pears, and maybe even some dried cranberries.
- Add more layers. A sprinkle of nuts would add some great crunch to the parfaits, but you can also add sliced bananas, chia seeds, or even a bit of dark chocolate to make it a little more decadent.
- Grab some jars. You can make your parfaits in glasses or small bowls, but if you are going to store them in the fridge, some small jars are a great option so you can just seal them with their lids.
Proper Storage
The quinoa parfaits need to be kept refrigerated. If covered and kept cold, they can be kept for several days, making them great for meal prep.
More Breakfast Parfaits
Mixed Berry Quinoa Parfaits
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature (regular or light)
- 1 very ripe banana mashed
- honey, stevia, or another sweetener, to taste, if needed
- ½ cup cooked and cooled quinoa, prepared as per package instructions
- 1 cup berries, chopped if they are large (any combination of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, or other berries of your choice.
- additional berries for garnish if desired
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, cream cheese, and mashed banana with a whisk or hand mixer until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add additional sweetener to taste, if needed.
- Layer about two Tablespoons of the cooked quinoa in the bottom of your bowls, jars, or containers.
- Top each with about a quarter of the berries and a quarter of the cheesecake mixture. If you are making two larger parfaits, repeat the layers. If you are making four smaller parfaits, just do a single layer.
- Garnish with additional berries, if desired.
the look SO good Brianne
Thanks Heather, they are yummy!
These look so yummy!! Perfect for breakfast on the go.
Looks amazing. Could be eaten for dessert or breakfast 🙂
Definitely! We did both!
How delicious are these parfaits! Never would have thought to use quinoa before.. love the idea!
Quinoa is actually a great change of pace.