This is an easy and delicious cherry parfait that is high in calories and can help you stop unintended weight loss and/or promote weight gain. This recipes offers lots of opportunities for variations to switch up the flavors.
High Calorie Ingredients
The primary sources of calories in this parfait is the Greek yogurt, granola, chia seeds, and honey. Be sure to read the nutrition facts label on the yogurt and granola to try to select options with the most calories.
Greek yogurt is high in protein which is important for muscle health and you gain weight. Be sure to select whole fat Greek yogurt options to get the most calories for weight gain. Avoid terms like “fat free”, “low fat”, and “light”.
Similarly, read the nutrition labels on granola to select high calorie versions. Granola products which contain nuts, like almonds, are going to be higher in calories. Nuts contain heart healthy monounsaturated fats.
Chia seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fats are also high in heart healthy calories.
Honey is a natural sweetener which adds an extra boost of calories and sweetness.
Recipe Variations
I love that this recipe is so versatile. While the recipe as listed is delicious and jam packed with good nutrition, you might get bored if you follow the same recipe every time you eat it. You can easily switch up any of the ingredients in this parfait.
Yogurt variations:
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Vanilla Greek Yogurt
- Fruit Flavored Greek Yogurt
- Whole Fat Yogurts
My favorite yogurt is Greek Gods vanilla honey. It is high in calories, has amazing flavor, and is a perfect fit for a parfait.
Granola variations:
- Plain granola
- Vanilla granola
- Granola with nuts
- Granola with seeds
- Or, granola with dried fruit
I tend to like a granola with a lot of stuff in it- flavor, nuts, and fruit. For example, Bob’s Red Mill Cranberry Almond Granola*. (*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Seed and Nut variations:
- Flax seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Hazelnuts
Sweetener variations:
- Honey
- Honey comb
- Agave
- Brown sugar
- Raw sugar
Fruit variations:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Baked apples
- Baked pears
- Bananas
The only limit on these parfait variations is your imagination! Theses are just a few ideas to get you started!
Parfait containers
Parfaits are often served in fancy tall, glass containers. Mostly so you can see all of the ingredients and it just looks fun.
You can serve your parfait in a tall glass or canning jar. However, if you don’t have these handy, it’s OK. It’s just a container! It’s going to taste just as delicious, regardless of how you serve it.
You can serve your parfait in a bowl, coffee mug, regular glass, or anything that works for you.
Cherry Parfait
OK, let’s get to the recipe! Follow the instructions below for our delicious cherry parfait. Enjoy and remember that getting extra calories doesn’t have to be boring!
Here are some other recipes you may be interested in:
Cherry Parfait
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp Chia seed
- 3 Tbsp Granola
- 2 Tbsp Almonds
- 1/2 cup Cherries
- 1 Tbsp Honey
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to your desired dish in this order: yogurt, chia seeds, granola, almonds, cherries, honey.
- Repeat previous step once more to add a second layer.
- Serve immediately.