Apple Crisp Breakfast Parfait (Clean)

Eating a big breakfast in the morning has never been my thing. Putting away a lot of food early in the morning makes me feel yucky. And of course all the health experts say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, my breakfast is unapologetically coffee and a veggie shake later in the morning. Occasionally, I’ll have a whole wheat English muffin, but mostly I don’t care to eat in the morning before 11. However, if I know I am going to have a long day working at a show then I do pack some breakfast for extra energy and this Apple Crisp Breakfast Parfait is a good choice. It’s a nutritious and clean recipe that I feel good about eating and doesn’t feel heavy.

One of my favorite things about this parfait is that is celebrates my favorite time of year- Autumn! There is nothing like eating fresh, local apples when they come in season, so of course I like to incorporate them into our meals. This clean eating and make-ahead treat is very reminiscent of apple crisp which happens to be one of my favorite desserts. However, it is an apple crisp to feel good about eating because it uses healthy, clean ingredients. It is perfect for breakfast on the go or a mid-morning snack. It is up to you whether to leave the apple skin on or not. However, it should be noted that apple skin has a lot of fiber as well as antioxidant-loaded polyphenols, so I recommend leaving the skin on for its health benefits.

The base of this recipe is Greek yogurt which has more protein and less sugar than plain yogurt. Both kinds of yogurt are good for you and each has their strong point, but I chose the higher protein Greek yogurt for a filling meal. Added to this recipe is cinnamon granola that is extremely easy to make and can be used for other things as well. Additionally, these parfaits have apples sautéed in raw honey which is delicious! This breakfast parfait is a delicious fall choice when apples are coming into season and moms need nutritious, healthy, and easy meals for the back to school routine. Additionally, this parfait a good choice because of its convenience. The granola and sautéed apples can be made ahead of time for the week and the parfaits assembled the night before.

Apple Crisp Breakfast Parfait

Ingredients Needed:

Plain Greek yogurt

Uncooked oatmeal

Raw honey

Apples of your choice

Cinnamon

Coconut oil

Sea salt

Make Granola:

3 cups uncooked oatmeal

1/4 cup raw honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tsp cinnamon

A few dashes of sea salt

Warm honey and coconut oil. Add cinnamon and a tiny bit of salt (I twist my salt grinder about 4-5 times here). Pour mixture over oats and combine well. Spread granola mixture on baking sheet and toast in a 300-degree oven until browned (not dark brown) about 35-40 minutes. Cool and store in container.

Apple Topping:

3- 4 apples

1/2 cup raw honey

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 apples washed, cored, and thinly sliced. Also, use what apples you like. Honeycrisp is one of our favorites, but any sweet-tart apple will work! Sauté sliced apples in 1/2 cup raw honey and cinnamon in a frying pan over medium-low heat until apples are translucent and soft. Remove from heat. Don’t drain the yummy juices- you want these for your parfait! Store apples and juices in container until ready to use.

Assemble Parfait:

Sweeten Greek yogurt with a little raw honey. I use about 1 tbsp. honey per cup of yogurt but use your best judgment. In a jar, layer a couple of tbsps. of granola. On top of this add about 1/2 cup of yogurt. Top this with more granola and apples with sauce. Add more yogurt and finish with granola and apples and sauce.

Notes:

This recipe makes a few parfaits but is easily doubled depending on how many you want to make. It is very forgiving, so tweak it to suit your tastes. Enjoy!

Here’s another breakfast parfait for you:

Ruby Red Breakfast Parfait