Summer is at its full out here in Missouri and we are enjoying every bit of that sunshine. With berries in season, it’s the perfect time to explore fresh and healthy berry recipes.

About this parfait; it’s a layered breakfast which is colorful, fresh, filling and soothing to your stomach! Yes…we are talking about parfait breakfast days. This simple 5 ingredient berry yogurt parfait is a light and healthy dish and has now become my new obsession.

Creamy Greek yogurt layered over berry sauce and crunchy granola makes a glass full of deliciousness which kids also enjoy. Including yogurt in your diet on a daily basis is really good for your health. The probiotics in Greek yogurt help to increase the good bacteria in your gut thereby enabling digestion, reducing bloating, and promoting better health.

The main advantage of this dish is that it’s a ‘make-ahead recipe’ and has endless options to customize. You can add a variety of fruits, like chopped banana, mango, & peaches, as your toppings. Also, if you’re not a fan of Greek yogurt, substitute it with regular yogurt. For the berry compote, if not strawberry feel free to choose your favorite berries, which also works perfectly for this dish.

Making granola at home is simple, check out my Easy Homemade Granola recipe here.

All the ingredients can be prepared, layered (except for the granola) and refrigerated in advance. Addition of granola as the last step helps to keep it crunchy and fresh, otherwise it will turn soggy & cold when placed on the berry compote for a while. And when it’s time to serve, top with granola and enjoy it as breakfast or as a healthy dessert!

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate us if you love it!

Print

Berry Yogurt Parfait

A Creamy Berry Yogurt Parfait, layered with Greek Yogurt, Berry Compote, Granola and Fresh Berries! Perfect for a Healthy & Colorful Morning Breakfast …!!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword berry crumb bar, breakfast, parfait, yogurt bowl

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 3

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• 2 pack Greek yogurt (5.3oz each)
• ½ cup granola
• 1 cup strawberries (hulled and roughly chopped)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp sugar
• ¼ cup water
• Fresh berries (garnish)

Instructions

• For the strawberry compote: Combine strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook on a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once the strawberries are cooked, mash them to form a thick consistency. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Switch off the flame and allow it cool. The sauce will thicken once it is cooled down.
• For the granola: Refer my post https://www.pepperdelight.com/granola/
• Assembling the parfait: Into a serving glass, spoon greek yogurt as the base, then top with a layer of berry compote (2-3 tbsp), and then top with granola. Garnish with fresh berries.

The post Berry Yogurt Parfait appeared first on Pepper Delight.

I love to have something to snack in my pantry always. Well… who doesn’t? Keeping it healthy and tasty is the tough part, but if you have got all that sorted out, there you go… you have a winner dish for sure! So, it was my hunt for a winner that finally landed me onto these deliciously healthy berry bars; my love for crumble recipes combined with the idea for a snack, a perfect choice I would say.

This dish has a wonderful buttery crust, made with whole wheat flour and oats sweetened with brown sugar. Oats being among the main ingredients in this recipe, is one of the healthiest whole grain and a great source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Unlike regular flour, I have used whole wheat instead, considering its benefits…but I can guarantee you that it doesn’t alter the taste a bit. You can also use your choice of fresh berries for the filling. These bars are crunchy and chewy at the same time, and seriously so addictive that you are not going to stop in one bite.

Keeping aside it’s health benefits, the preparation is even better. All you need are two bowls, one to mix the crust ingredients and the other to prepare the fresh fruits. And in no time your dish is ready!  This eggless snack is a great choice for kids & adults alike, perfect for any time of the day – breakfast, after-lunch, post work out, tea time, or even as a healthy dessert. And if you want to make your dessert fancy, just add a scoop of vanilla ice cream…Trust me, it would be heavenly!!!

Interested in more snack bar recipes? Check this out;

Healthy Nut Bars with Chocolate Drizzle

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate us if you love it!

Print

Berry Oatmeal Crumb Bars

Crunchy n Chewy… Healthy n Easy… Irresistibly Delicious Eggless Berry Bars. Made with Whole Wheat, Oats, Strawberries and Blueberries…...Perfect as a Snack or as a Dessert!!!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword berry crumb bar, crumb bar, healthy snack

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 20 bars

Author Akhila

Ingredients

For the crust

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1¼ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup melted butter
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup slivered almonds (optional)

For the fruit filling

• 4 cups of diced strawberries and blueberry
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp corn flour
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375-degree F. Line a 9x13 inch sheet pan with parchment paper extending it a few inches over the sides. Grease the pan properly with butter and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon powder, vanilla extract, melted butter and salt. Stir to mix together until it forms a crumble like texture. Divide the mixture and set 1 cup aside. Transfer the remaining to the prepared pan and press it gently with your hands or spatula to form an even flat base.
• In a separate bowl, toss berries with lemon juice, corn flour and sugar. Spread it evenly over the crust. Top with remaining crumble mixture and slivered almonds.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the fruit mix is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow it cool in room temperature. Refrigerate for 1-2 hour before cutting into squares.
• You can refrigerate and store it in an air tight container for 3-4 days.

The post Berry Oatmeal Crumb Bars appeared first on Pepper Delight.

Hello 2018… A New Year… A New Beginning…!

And I’m Starting this New Year with a single Mantra – Eat Healthy…!

One of the leading food trends of 2018 is sugar alternatives. So, let’s start with January on a positive note by avoiding that extra sugar which you don’t actually need, and still enjoy all the sweetness available from natural sources. Like these bliss balls for example, they are healthy, sweet and nutritious, totally a no-cook fuss-free recipe.

This dish is made by mixing different nuts, adding a sweetening agent like dates/chocolates/honey/maple syrup, and then rolled into little treats. It hardly takes 10 minutes to prepare with only 4 ingredients, and the best part is – you can customize it with endless choices. You can add hemp seeds, chia seeds, cocoa, chocolate chips, or your favorite nuts & dry fruits.

Moist n chewy, these bliss balls work best as a post workout snack, or as little treats to pop into kid’s lunch boxes, or even as an evening snack for that extra sweet craving. Store them in an airtight container and refrigerate, and they stay fresh and taste great for up to 2 weeks!

Enjoy, Happy Cooking…!

Follow me on Instagram, try out the recipes and tag #pepperdelightblog to all your pictures of Pepper Delight recipes you prepare. Rate us if you love it!

Print

Bliss Balls

Healthy n Naturally Sweetened, Gluten free n Vegan, Made with Nuts n Dates… a 4 Ingredient, Perfect after-meal Snack… Bliss Balls…!!  

Course Dessert, Snack

Keyword bliss balls, energy balls, healthy, snacks

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16 balls

Author Akhila

Ingredients

• ½ cup cashews
• ½ cup almonds
• 8-10 dates
• ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• Pinch of salt
• Coating: shredded coconut, matcha powder, cocoa powder, grounded walnuts

Instructions

• If your dates are dry, soak them in water for up to 5 minutes to soften. Drain the water and set the dates aside.
• Blend nuts in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add shredded coconut, dates, a pinch of salt, and blend until they combine well and the mixture becomes sticky.
• Roll the mix into equally sized balls and refrigerate airtight for 20 minutes to allow it to set.
• To apply the coating, roll the balls in the coat mixture of your choice. Put a little mix on your palm and roll the balls one by one for a final finish.
• The Bliss Balls are ready to be served. For later use, store the balls in an airtight container and refrigerate up to two weeks.

Notes

1. If the mixture turns too moist, try refrigerating it for 30 minutes to firm up or add more grounded nuts or shredded coconut.

2. Roll them on your palm by moistening with a tiny drop of water so that the balls won’t stick to your hand.

The post Bliss Balls appeared first on Pepper Delight.