Healthy Banoffee Parfaits (with date caramel & stove-top granola) (WF)

Banoffee Parfait x-39

Well since a) it’s not really prime time for fruits at the mo, b) I’m in the UK, and c) I still had my mind on breakfast/dessert type situations, I thought breakfast-ising (new word, yes?) banoffee pie would be an excellent place to start, as it’s already a parfait wannabe. (just in case you don’t know what it is: Banoffee pie is a no-bake pie consisting of a crushed digestive biscuit and butter base, dulce de leche filling, sliced bananas and whipped cream top)

Date Caramel + Yogurt

Banoffee Parfait

Banoffee Parfait x-51

I didn’t think layering dulce de leche into this breakfast-dessert would be right, so I went with a quick, utterly addictive date caramel.

The whipped cream layer was easy enough to sub for a more breakfasty counterpart; changing it for yogurt and stirring in half a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, for flavour and those gorgeous speckles.

Instead of the buttery biscuit base: I just made a mega easy, stove top granola sweetened with honey, and I threw in chopped almonds too, for extra crunch!

Off the charts, for something so simple. Decadent breakfast or lighter dessert? You decide!

Notes:

-don’t be intimidated by the fact you need to make caramel or granola for this recipe. It literally takes about 30 minutes from start to finish to make and assemble the entire recipe and, once finished, the parfaits can be refrigerated until you want them.
if you’re serving this later, toss the banana coins in some lemon juice so they won’t discolour.
– for a variation, replace the banana coins with ~3/4 cup of homemade or store bought applesauce, mixed with a little cinnamon for caramel apple pie parfaits
– for the granola, you can use 3 tbsp of any kind of nuts you want, or shredded coconut
– for the date caramel, the dates were pitted and chopped, then measured. I used 6 deglet dates (the smaller ones)
– the granola will stay crisp once layered for about 1/2 a day/overnight, but if you want it crunchy, it’s best to layer the parfait and serve it within a few hours.

Healthy Banoffee Parfaits (with date caramel and stove-top granola)

4.75 from 4 votes
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Ingredients

  • 1 large , , ripe banana
  • 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt , (I used a mixture of half Greek and half regular yogurt)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract , (I used vanilla paste, for the speckled effect)
  • 1 recipe of stove-top granola , (see recipe below) or 2/3 cup of granola of your choice
  • 1 recipe of cooled date caramel , (see recipe below)

Instructions

  • Slice the banana into 1/4″ thick coins (see notes if serving later). In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt and vanilla extract/paste.
  • In 3 small, clean glasses or jars, layer the ingredients like this: 2 tsp granola, a few banana coins, 1 tsp date caramel, 2 tbsp of Greek yogurt. Repeat. Do this for all the jars/glasses. To finish, top with any remaining granola, banana and caramel.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it went! Mention @izyhossack or tag #topwithcinnamon!

For the date caramel:

Put 1/3 cup of pitted, chopped dates (see notes), 1/3 cup of milk, 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt into a blender, blend together until smooth. Pour into a saucepan and heat whilst stirring over a low flame for 5-10 minutes, until thickened and reduced down to ~1/3 of a cup in volume. Set aside to cool.

For the stove-top granola:

Chop 3 tbsp of almonds (see notes) into small, rough chunks. Place with 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats into a small frying pan, toast for 5 minutes over a medium heat. Then melt in 1 tsp of salted butter, and stir in 1 heaped tsp of honey just until evenly coated. Remove from the heat and set aside.

99 thoughts on “Healthy Banoffee Parfaits (with date caramel & stove-top granola) (WF)”

  1. I would eat breakfast food for all meals if I could. Most of my weekday breakfasts are yoghurt, granola and sliced banana. I’m mixing it up this week by making healthy egg mcmuffins and freezing them ready to microwave at work. Last time I mad granola I pretty much ate half of it straight out of the oven, not even sorry. Definitely going to give your stove top granola a try.

  2. 1. I’m absolutely LOVING this idea and am pinning it now as I’m so making the banana and apple versions of these.
    2. I’ve only recently come across your blog and I love how you put it together (I mean that in a non suck up kinda way – I do really like).
    3. Feeling totally inspired to attempt some gif’s right now too. Never tried making one, but heck, that’s not gunna stop me,

  3. I love anything banoffee! I love layering in jars too so you’ve got a whole lot of awesome going on there. And as much as I would totally be on board with eating dulce de leche for breakfast (I have been known to eat cake for breakfast), that date caramel sounds crazy good.

  4. Oh gawd banoffeeee. Oh gawd bananaaaaas. MARRY ME IZY. (PS – I approve of the orange nail polish hehe).

    • Yes. Yes. Aaaand yes! Haha thanks ( I’ve still got it on two weeks later… Ahh the pleasures of having no nail polish remover)

  5. Oh god these look amazing! I’m a huge health food junkie and banoffee fan – but those two things normally dont compliment each other hahaa.. I have to try these tomorrow! <3

  6. Love your GIF! I would definitely paint my nails too. 😉

    This recipe sounds amazing – pretty much combines all of my favorite breakfast items… including caramel haha.

  7. Absolutely love the minimalism in this photos. Completely gorgeous, and the food looks incredibly beautiful. Yay for yogurt!

  8. Mmmmm dates. I could eat them by themselves for days on end! This sounds like a seriously delicious and yet healthy (I love it when magic like that happens) breakfast.

    And yes! Trying to get nail polish off of skin is a TOTAL nightmare. I’ve ended up using nail polish remover on my hand on several occasions. Doesn’t leave it with the most pleasant of scents, that is for certain. But at least it’s not covered in red polish that makes it look like your hand is bleeding profusely. Life’s ups and downs!

    • Mmmmm me too, they’re SO GOOD. yay, yeah totally magical 🙂

      Ugh I know, and then if you don’t wash your hands after using nail polish remover, and then eat food, it’s totally gross and chemically 🙁 haha yes 🙂

  9. Wow these look amazing, such a great idea. I think they”ll make the perfect snack for coffee break 🙂 Love her videos as well!!

  10. OMG STOP. Photos are unreal. They’re just so crisp and clear. I’m in love. WHAT CAMERA DO YOU USE?? I want it. Sorry, have you already answered this somewhere? Anyway. I am also a total breakfast fiend. I could definitely eat breakfast foods a good 80% of the time and be totally happy. Especially if it involves caramel and granola!?!?! (Genius!)

    • Aww thanks!! These a probably my most clear photos ever tbh! I use a canon rebel t2i with the good old 50mm f/1.8 lens

      Breakfast dessert food hybrids > all other food.

  11. I am totes a fan of anytime of day breakfasting. I love the idea of date caramel–I will absolutely be giving that a try. And I bet the granola and date caramel would go deliciously on top of some ice cream for a little dessert change up. These look so so good.

  12. Actually, I am freckled. Thank you for noticing. 🙂 This looks delicious. I am definitely trying this one.

  13. Steph you are hilarious…I love the way you get side-tracked…reminds me of myself. I’m actually making granola for my upcoming blog post. I’ll be sure to link it to your post so that we can give granola and breakfast parfaits a chance to achieve world wide domination.

  14. OMG…talk about sidetracked writing…I called you Steph…that’s the name of my friend I’m sitting next to…doh…sorry IZY!!!!!

  15. Oh yes, definitely on board with the sweet breakfast at the non-breakfast time of day. Once I devour a breakfast with an ungodly amount of salt on it, the sweet cravings really start kicking in! (Also, I was just talking to Johnny about wanting to make breakfast for dinner the other night. But then he started telling about how his mom would make these “special occasion” savory pancakes for dinner with potato flour and cheddar cheese. omg.)

    • Ok what. You going to have to make and post those immediately because now I can’t actually imagine life without them.

  16. fabulous. can’t wait to try these!

    you are so so right. layering one’s food is totally and completely fun. xo

  17. Totally digging the gifs–and digging through them layers, girl! Don’t look now, but I’ve taken your gif-spiration to heart and starting making gifs too…hehe. Off to have breakfast for dinner–I dunno about you, but I will say that one perk about living on your own is that you get breakfast for every meal of the day…

  18. I finally must say that I’m totally in love with all your recipes, photographies and your whole Blog!! <
    Just say that you're a great inspiration for me and that I also love your Blog design (I'd like to change mine but don't even know how to do it!)
    (Hope you take a look on my Blog and told me your opinion!! <3)
    P.S.: Sorry for my "bad" english, but I cannot write better what I mean. The english level in Spain is poor :___D!!

  19. Hi Izy,
    Love love love this post, the pics, the explanation, great stuff. I’m not a muesli fan but after reading your post I think I might just try your recipe out…after all, bananas, caramel, I love, so it’s worth a go yes?!
    Thanks for sharing your recipe and inspiring me 🙂
    Mary from Lovefoodies

  20. I just tried this last night, and it was quite delicious! Thank you for sharing it with us (and the “healthy-ish” brownie recipe). 🙂 I look forward to trying this recipe again when I have a little more time on my hands and can make it look good as well as taste good (which it already did).

  21. Wow..Spring has sprung here in the Rockies (if only for a day or two) and I am loving my thoughts of camping!
    This Banoffee looks perfect for summer in the camp mornings.
    Can’t wait to try it.
    Thanks.

  22. Falling in love with this “date caramel” Idea! Can tell me if you used full fat, low fat or skim milk?

  23. These looks delicious. Ended up toasting some oats, then adding the date caramel to the oats along with peanut butter and making that the granola. When It was done and it cooled for a little, I added mini choc chips and poured milk over it. Amazing. Great inspiration.

  24. This seems like a versatile dish – breakfast or desert. Thanks for posting the recipe.

  25. Just made the caramel and the granola- can’t wait to layer it for my family for dessert tonight 🙂 Great idea Izy!

  26. OMG that looks SO good! I love love love parfaits, there is something about yogurt and granola together that just makes me so..happy (can I say that? haha) I love this idea of introducing the “caramel” I may try it soon! btw gorgeous pictures! I’ve seen that you added a first layer of granola, I usually like starting with yogurt, otherwise I find that the last layer of granola is kind of difficult to pick up..or maybe I’m just a little stupid 😛
    •The Health Blog for the Lazy Girl•

  27. Hey! I just found your blog because a friend of mine happened to pin this recipe. Just wanted to say I love the way you write, you are hilarious. 🙂 Going grocery shopping for the missing ingredients tonight, and super excited to make this recipe soon!

  28. Love it Izy! Especially the gif haha. The recipe sounds super easy het special for a work day.
    Thanks for sharing!

  29. This was the BEST sunday breakfast ever! I used almond milk and coconut cream to make this vegan, and it’s soo delicious ?

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