When you’re hosting a breakfast or brunch, there’s no easier, more Instagrammable way to feed the crowd than by setting up a DIY Yogurt Parfait Bar. I’ve assembled my best tricks and tips to help you set out a spread that’ll impress your guests, no matter the season.

Best of all, this super versatile breakfast idea requires exactly zero cooking — I told you it was easy!

Overhead shot of a DIY yogurt bar laid out for breakfast complete with fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts, granola, and chia seeds.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Breakfast Idea

I don’t know about you, but breakfast seems to be the most difficult meal of the day. We’re all hustling and bustling to get ready to run out the door, so the ordinarily therapeutic act of cooking becomes a burden rather than a bright spot.

Lately, I’ve been setting out a yogurt bar in the mornings and letting everyone make their own parfaits, and amigos? It’s totally life-changing! The kids get to have fun building their perfect bowls, and I can rest assured that they are getting plenty of nourishment to tide them over till lunch.

Aside from being super easy, I LOVE the breakfast bar method because it is:

  • Completely Customizable. Whether you’re feeding a group of 4 or a group of 20, the effort is roughly the same. You can also customize your toppings based on a theme (e.g. red, white, and blue for 4th of July), or based on what is in season. And since everyone is building their own ideal breakfast bowl, they get to customize it depending on their own preferences.
  • Wholesome & Nutritious. Fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and protein-rich yogurt all make an appearance for this yogurt bar setup, so all your bases are covered.
  • Super Low-Lift. There’s literally zero cooking involved, so the only things you need to do are to decant your store-bought items into pretty bowls and wash and cut your fruit. This is especially appealing during the summer months when the thought of making the kitchen hot is a nightmare.
big blue serving bowl of yogurt on a wooden cutting board with an assortment of sliced fresh fruits for a DIY yogurt bar.

Ingredients & Substitutions

The great thing about setting up a yogurt parfait bar is that there are no hard and fast rules. Here are all the things I like to offer when I’m decking out a fancy breakfast spread:

  • Fresh Fruits – I like to reach for an assortment of colors, textures, and flavors. Pick whichever fruits speak to you!
  • Yogurt – I suggest offering at least two types of yogurt: plain Greek yogurt, and the flavored yogurt of your choice. I usually reach for vanilla because it pairs with everything, but fruit-flavored is also a great choice!
  • Granola – There are literally dozens of options for granola on the grocery store shelves these days, so choose whatever suits your needs. Consider if you’ll need gluten-free, grain-free, or nut-free options based on your guest list.
  • Nuts & Seeds – Aside from adding crunch, nuts and seeds are nutritional powerhouses. I suggest reaching for roasted nuts for the best flavor. Try a selection of walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, macadamia nuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, or pepitas.
  • Dried Fruit – Fill out your assortment with some chewy dried fruits for a fun textural twist. They’re also a great way to add out-of-season options to your spread. Raisins and coconut flakes are two of my favorites.
  • Sweeteners – Honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, date syrup, and/or pomegranate molasses will all do the trick. You can even put out jam or fruit preserves for DIY fruit-on-bottom yogurt vibes!
  • Sweets – This isn’t necessary, but you might want the option. Mini chocolate chips, colorful sprinkles, crumbled graham crackers, and lightly sweetened whipped cream are all popular choices.
overhead shot of a serving platter with individual bowls of different types of fresh and dried fruit, nuts, and granola for making DIY yogurt parfaits.

How To Set Up A DIY Yogurt Parfait Bar

Step 1: Plate Yogurt. Place yogurt in a large serving bowl.

Step 2: Prep. Wash and slice or chop fruits as needed.

Step 3: Get Artsy. Arrange the fruit on a big platter or divider tray. Arrange granola mix and additional toppings in bowls or divider tray.

Step 4: Arrange. Make sure empty bowls are at the front of your workstation followed by yogurt and the various toppings. Set napkins and cutlery at the end so your guests don’t have to juggle too many things while they’re building their yogurt parfaits.

raspberries and blueberries in one sectioned bowl of a serving platter for making a yogurt parfait bowl.

Expert Tips

  • Make signs. Label your ingredients as needed (e.g. plain yogurt vs vanilla yogurt) to help your guests make good decisions.
  • Know your group. Food allergies and preferences are always good to know in advance. If you have a vegan in attendance, you might want to offer a dairy-free yogurt option. If you have a celiac, you’ll want to stick to gluten-free granola.
  • Shop in season. In-season fruits not only taste better, but they’re often much cheaper. And don’t forget to check your farmer’s market! The prices are usually comparable to grocery stores, the quality is typically superior, AND you get to support your local economy.
  • Keep it food safe. When you’re setting up your yogurt buffet, consider placing the serving dishes in slightly larger containers of ice water to maintain a healthy temperature for the yogurt.
  • Shoot for the rainbow. Abundance is beautiful, especially when there are lots of colors involved. Here’s a quick breakdown of potential fruits by color to help you plan according to your theme:
    • Red – Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apples, blood oranges, cranberries, currants, red grapes, pomegranate arils, grapefruit, watermelon.
    • Orange – Oranges, tangerines, musk melons, apricots, persimmons, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, papayas.
    • Yellow – Gooseberries, golden kiwi, yellow figs, yellow apples, bananas, yellow watermelon, pineapple.
    • Green – Apples, grapes, kiwi, honeydew, pears.
    • Blue – Blackberries, blueberries, black currants.
    • Violet – Grapes, plums, figs, pluots.
halved papaya on a cutting board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can yogurt sit out?

If you are not going to set the yogurt in a larger container filled with ice water, you shouldn’t leave it out for more than 2 hours. If the temperature is quite hot (say, 90 degrees or so), cut that down to just 1 hour. That said, nesting your serving bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice water can help maintain food-safe temperatures for longer.

Can I freeze yogurt?

Yep! Fresh yogurt can be frozen for up to 2 months to extend its shelf life. You can also use it to make healthy popsicles if you have leftovers from your party! If you plan on defrosting the yogurt to eat, make sure to stir it vigorously to help it return to its original texture.

What are the best toppings for yogurt?

That all depends on who you’re talking to! I’d say any fresh or dried fruit, granola or cereal, nuts & seeds, fruit preserves, and sweeteners like honey or maple syrup are all good places to start.

woman assembling a DIY yogurt parfait from the offerings laid out on the yogurt bar table.

More Easy Brunch Recipes

Did you set up your own DIY Yogurt Parfait Bar using some of the tricks and tips you learned from this post? Let me know how it worked out by commenting below, or by tagging me in your social media posts so I can see your beautiful creations!

If you’d like more tasty recipe ideas, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. You can also get all of my newest content delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for my email newsletter.

overhead shot of a homemade yogurt parfait topped with melon, berries, kiwi, granola, pepitas, and chia seeds.

DIY Yogurt Parfait Bar

5 (1 rating)
When you're hosting a breakfast or brunch, there's no easier, more Instagrammable way to feed the crowd than by setting up a DIY Yogurt Parfait Bar. I've assembled my best tricks and tips to help you set out a spread that'll impress your guests, no matter the season.
Print Pin Rate
Yield: 1 – how many you want
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • variety of fresh fruits and berries
  • 1 tub flavored yogurt
  • 1 tub plain Greek yogurt
  • granola mix
  • chia seeds
  • variety of nuts, pecans and pepitas
  • raisins
  • honey

Instructions 

  • Place yogurt in a large bowl.
  • Wash and slice or chop fruits.
  • Arrange the fruit on a big platter or divider tray.
  • Arrange granola mix and additional toppings in bowls or divider tray.

Notes

  • The nutrition facts are based on a serving of 1/2 of each yogurt, 3 tbsps of granola, 1/2 of fruit (berries), 1/4 tsp chia seed and 1 tsp of nuts and 1/2 tsp honey.
Expert Tips:
  • Make signs. Label your ingredients as needed (e.g. plain yogurt vs vanilla yogurt) to help your guests make good decisions.
  • Know your group. Food allergies and preferences are always good to know in advance. If you have a vegan in attendance, you might want to offer a dairy-free yogurt option. If you have a celiac, you’ll want to stick to gluten-free granola.
  • Shop in season. In-season fruits not only taste better, but they’re often much cheaper. And don’t forget to check your farmer’s market! The prices are usually comparable to grocery stores, the quality is typically superior, AND you get to support your local economy.
  • Keep it food safe. When you’re setting up your yogurt buffet, consider placing the serving dishes in slightly larger containers of ice water to maintain a healthy temperature for the yogurt.
  • Shoot for the rainbow. Abundance is beautiful, especially when there are lots of colors involved. Here’s a quick breakdown of potential fruits by color to help you plan according to your theme:
    • Red – Strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apples, blood oranges, cranberries, currants, red grapes, pomegranate arils, grapefruit, watermelon.
    • Orange – Oranges, tangerines, musk melons, apricots, persimmons, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, papayas.
    • Yellow – Gooseberries, golden kiwi, yellow figs, yellow apples, bananas, yellow watermelon, pineapple.
    • Green – Apples, grapes, kiwi, honeydew, pears.
    • Blue – Blackberries, blueberries, black currants.
    • Violet – Grapes, plums, figs, pluots.
Serving: 1bowl, Calories: 476.45kcal, Carbohydrates: 73.3g, Protein: 21.27g, Fat: 12.51g, Saturated Fat: 2.09g, Cholesterol: 16.03mg, Sodium: 119.85mg, Potassium: 595.54mg, Fiber: 6.15g, Sugar: 41.9g, Vitamin C: 1.94mg, Calcium: 291.84mg, Iron: 2.11mg
Author: Yvette Marquez
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

 

Photography by Jenna Sparks 
Originally published: November 2018.