This yogurt parfait dessert is the dessert recipe you've been looking for this summer! It takes only 4 ingredients and 10 minutes of work, is on lighter side, and is way more delicious than it sounds - I promise. If you like granola parfaits, you will love this! 😉
If you've ever been to Seattle and tried Ellenos Yogurt (which, by the way, is also available at Whole Foods) - this recipe tastes a lot like Ellenos Yogurt!
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WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THIS RECIPE
I was first introduced to this recipe when I was in my early teens. My cousin prepared a dessert called "yogurt delight" for a dinner, and I just wasn't excited about it. A dessert with yogurt didn't sound too 'delightful' to me. I was coerced to try it anyway, and... I was pleasantly surprised. So much so that I immediately got the recipe and my friends had "yogurt delight" for dessert for several weeks in our Sunday meet-ups.
So, if you are skeptical like I was, here's what I will tell you to convince you to try this recipe:
- It is extremely low effort - just 4 ingredients and hardly any work. If it takes you more than 15 minutes to make this, something is certainly wrong
- It tastes like cheesecake - okay, maybe that's a bit of stretch, but this DOES hit the same spot as cheesecake. Think about it: a cold, creamy, slightly tangy and slightly sweet filling layered with crushed vanilla biscuits. There are an awful lots of similarities between this and cheesecake!
- It's on the lighter side - as far as desserts are concerned, this is certainly not as indulgent as others. It has a lower amount of sugar and yogurt is one of the main ingredients, in all its protein and probiotic glory
- It is perfect for hosting - this is a no-fuss recipe that doesn't even require precision. Adjust the flavor to your liking, scale up or down easily, and then serve however you want. It can be layered in one larger serving dish, or individual dessert cups; whatever suits you
- It is extremely versatile - you can use this recipe as the base and jazz it up in so many ways! You can use flavored yogurt, add any fresh chopped fruit you like, or add some jelly, or add nuts for some added texture
INGREDIENTS
Here's what you need for this recipe (quantities are in the recipe card below):
- Yogurt: Use any full fat yogurt of your liking. I use plain yogurt, but greek yogurt will be great, too. And, if you must, you can also use low fat yogurt
- Heavy cream: The cream balances the yogurt and adds to the texture of this parfait
- Sugar: A small amount balances the tanginess of the yogurt
- Vanilla biscuits: Growing up in Pakistan, I always used Sooper Biscuits! But you can use any kind of vanilla biscuits that you like. Nilla wafers are amazing in this.
Optionally, you can add a dash of vanilla to make this vanilla favored.
METHOD
This is truly the simplest recipe ever. Here's a quick video tutorial:
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- Mix the yogurt, cream and sugar, and whisk for 2-3 minutes until it looks fluffy and thick.
- Crush the biscuits
- Layer the 2 together in the serving dish / cups of your choice
That's it!
VARIATIONS
There are many ways you can spruce up this recipe! Here are some ideas:
- Use flavored yogurt! Strawberry, Blueberry, Lemon - you name it
- Add chopped fruit like mango or berries
- Replace the crushed biscuits with cake to turn this into more of a trifle
- Add jelly!
- Add nuts to give more texture
- Replace the biscuits with granola for an actual parfait
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Of course, it tastes like yogurt. So if you hate yogurt, this might not be your cup of tea. BUT, I will tell you yogurt is NOT the primary flavor. To me, this tastes a bit like cheesecake. Slightly sweet, slightly tangy, very creamy, and with amazing texture and flavor from the crushed biscuits.
This depends on your yogurt. I've made it with yogurt which stayed great for 3-4 days in the fridge, but also with yogurt that started releasing water on day 2. Ideally, I recommend consuming this within 1-2 days because ultimately yogurt does separate and release water.
Keep it covered in the fridge.
4 INGREDIENTS YOGURT PARFAIT RECIPE
- Total Time: 2+ hours with cooling
- Yield: 3-4 servings
Description
This is an incredibly easy dessert for this summer - it's like yogurt parfait had a baby with cheesecake.
Ingredients
- 200g full fat yogurt of choice (¾ cup), chilled
- 240g heavy cream (1 cup), chilled
- 55g granulated sugar (¼ cup)
- 100g crushed vanilla biscuits, like Nilla wafers (1 cup)
- Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
Instructions
- Mix the yogurt, cream and sugar (as well as vanilla if adding) in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to whisk for 2-3 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes thick and fluffy (soft peak stage). Taste and adjust the amount of sugar if needed
- Crush the biscuits in another bowl
- Now take the serving dishes of your choice. You can use ~3 individual dessert cups or 1 small serving dish for this recipe
- First add a layer of the yogurt mixture. Then add a layer of the crushed biscuits, and repeat until the ingredients are used up. This recipe uses a generous amount of biscuits as they add beautiful flavor and texture
- Refrigerate for at least 4-5 hours, and preferably overnight. Decorate with chopped fruit of your choice, serve & enjoy!
Notes
- You can easily scale this recipe up or down
- This dessert is best consumed within a day as the yogurt does start to become watery with time
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Munazzah khatri says
Yummiest cheat to cheesecake, wouldn’t stop eating plus it was so easy. Actually all your recipes are extremely easy and any non baker can bake easily and satisfy their cravings. Wish you all the success ❤️
Zoha says
Aww, thank you so much Munazzah! I am so glad you like this!
Sadia says
I was fasting and this recipe intimidated me
I tried it and was waiting to taste it after iftar
And WOW!!!! I couldn’t stop after having the first taste soooo yum not too much sweet exact combination of salty and sweet
Zoha says
Aww, I am so glad you made it! Thank you so much!
Rohma Zubair says
With just four simple ingredients and a mere 10 minutes of effort, this dessert effortlessly combines healthiness and indulgence. What truly sets this dessert apart is its ability to be a healthier option that doesn't compromise on taste. It's the perfect guilt-free indulgence for hot summer days or anytime you crave something sweet but wholesome.
Zoha says
So true! This is definitely a healthier dessert to enjoy in the summer months, and so easy for hosting. Thank you for trying the recipe ❤️
Natasha Hoffman says
Such an easy recipe, but so delicious. Definitely worth a 5 star rating ?.
Will make it again.
Zoha says
Thank you Natasha! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Beth says
This was so easy to make and very delicious!!! My husband actually thought I made cheesecake and he didn't even notice the taste of yogurt, which he refuses to eat.