Elevating Yogurt by Bridget

Yogurt is one of those staples we almost always have in our fridge. Breakfast? Yogurt. Snack? Yogurt. Quick lunch? Yogurt. You get the idea.

 
 

With all that yogurt, it’s fun to jazz it up a bit. Plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt since it’s so thick, it makes a great base for mix-ins) is a blank canvas; the possibilities are endless.

 
 

Cherry Pie Yogurt

Greek yogurt + frozen cherries + vanilla bean paste + graham cracker crumbs

 
 

Place about 1/2 cup of frozen cherries in a bowl. Microwave on defrost or 30% power until softened but still a bit frozen. (This is my preference; you can always thaw them all the way.) Meanwhile, stir together 1 cup yogurt with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste. Add the cherries with any juice in the bowl to the yogurt. Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs.

Feel free to substitute frozen blueberries or peaches here.

 
 

Citrus Yogurt and Granola Parfaits

Greek yogurt + orange zest + orange juice + granola + raspberries

 
 

Stir together 1 cup yogurt with the zest of one orange and 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice. (If you like your yogurt a little sweeter, stir in a teaspoon of brown sugar, agave, or honey.) Layer the yogurt with granola and fresh raspberries.

Switch up the citrus, using lemon with blueberries, or limes with coconut—whatever combination you desire. Making it a parfait automatically makes it fancy. Did you know that “parfait” means “perfect” in French? Ooo-la-la!

 
 

Greek Yogurt Banana Splits

Greek yogurt + banana + strawberries + Nutella

 
 

Just put the notion out of your head that banana splits are supposed to have pineapple. I like pineapple, but it has no business on ice cream, or in yogurt splits. There, I feel better. Halve the banana lengthwise; cut in half if necessary to fit in the bowl. Use an ice cream or cookie scoop to scoop the yogurt between the banana slices. (See how nicely Greek yogurt holds its shape?) Slice strawberries and place around the yogurt. Heat a tablespoon or so of Nutella in the microwave for about 12 seconds on medium heat, until it loosens a bit. Stir and drizzle over the yogurt and fruit.

 
 

These are absolutely kid-approved. If you have yogurt-haters in your house, these splits are sure to change hearts and minds.

 
 

Almond Butter-Chocolate Chip Yogurt

Greek yogurt + almond butter + bittersweet chocolate chips

 
 

The other combinations are prettier, but this concoction is the one I go to most often. Stir 1 cup yogurt together with 2 tablespoons almond butter, leaving some larger chunks of the almond butter throughout. Top with bittersweet chocolate chips.

I love this for a quick lunch with a side of fruit. The almond butter makes it more filling, and the chocolate chips, well, they’re chocolate. Need I say more?

 
 

How do you like your yogurt?