Pomegranate Cherry Yogurt Parfait

This easy to make Pomegranate Cherry Yogurt Parfait is a perfect treat to create in a Mason Jar for Valentine’s Day or any time you want a healthy treat!
Yogurt Parfait in a Mason Jar
Valentine’s Day is approaching fast! This year I wanted to make a treat that is healthy, but still delicious and seasonal, and I came up with this Pomegranate Cherry Yogurt Parfait. I used pomegranate arits and cherries to make a simple fruit compote, and then layered the compote with plain yogurt for a dessert that is nutritious and delicious.

Pomegranate ready to be opened and seeded

This year I am making an effort to make recipes with new ingredients that I haven’t used before. And while I have eaten pomegranate before, I have never peeled and opened a pomegranate myself. I followed directions I found here, and cut the pomegranate open and put it in a bowl of water to loosen the membranes and free the arils. The arils all sunk to the bottom and were easy to separate. It was not nearly as intimidating as it sounded, and fresh pomegranate arils are so tasty I will be doing it again soon.

Pomegranate arils and Cherries

I used my handy cherry pitter to pit the cherries and chopped them up. Then to make the compote I mixed an equal amount of pomegranate arils and fresh chopped cherries, and added a few tablespoons of pomegranate juice. Then I heated it up for about 15 minutes to soften the fruit.

Ball Pint Jar, Regular Mouth, Set of 12, (16 oz)

Healthy Yogurt Parfait in a Mason Jar

I wasn’t sure if I should add a sweetener like honey to the plain Greek yogurt, but I decided not to. And it turns out it was quite sweet enough with just the layers of pomegranate and cherry compote. I topped it off with some granola and a cherry, and it was ready to go. The yogurt parfait was delicious, and makes a perfect Valentine’s treat that won’t have you feeling guilty about eating!

Healthy Yogurt Parfait Recipe

Pomegranate Cherry Yogurt Parfait Recipe
Pomegranate Cherry Parfait

This easy to make Pomegranate Cherry Yogurt Parfait is a perfect treat to create in a Mason Jar for Valentine’s Day or any time you want a healthy treat!

Ingredients
4 pomegranate arils
1/5 pound cherries
6 Tablespoon pomegranate juice, or water
6 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/7 cup granola
7 cherries
Instructions
To open the pomegranate cut the top off, then score down the sides to pry it open.
Put the pieces in a bowl of water and gently loosen the arils, which should sink to the bottom while the membrane floats to the top.
Pour off the water and membrane.
Pit the cherries and chop, reserving 7 cherries to decorate the top.
Combine 4 c. each of the arils and cherries in a sauce pan and add 6 T of pomegranate juice, or water if you don’t have any pomegranate juice handy.
Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes to soften the fruit.
Let the fruit cool for 30 minutes.
Put a layer of fruit on the bottom of a mason jar or container, and top with 1/7 c. yogurt.
Continue alternating layers until you get to the top of the container.
Add a dollop of yogurt to the top to hold one of the reserved cherries, and sprinkle granola around the top.
Notes
Nutrition facts are estimates.

Nutrition Information: YIELD: 4
Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 171CHOLESTEROL: 7mgSODIUM: 57mgCARBOHYDRATES: 22gFIBER: 1gSUGAR: 16gPROTEIN: 16g
Cherries are one of the fruits with the lowest caloric value, and on the other hand they are very rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Both cherries and sour cherries are packed with a number of ingredients that are crucial to maintaining good health and general well-being.
Cherries are fruits rich in pigments. These pigments are actually polyphenolic flavonoid compounds known as anthocyanin glycosides. Anthocyanins are red, purple or blue pigments present in many fruits and vegetables. They are especially concentrated in the peel and have powerful antioxidant properties.
Scientific studies have shown that anthocyanins in cherries act as anti-inflammatory agents, by blocking the enzymes cyclooxygenas 1 and 2. Consuming cherries has potential health benefits, such as blocking painful chronic episodes of: arthritis, fibromyalgia (muscle) injury and painful sports .
Scientific research also suggests that cherries help the body fight certain cancers, neurological diseases, early-onset diabetes, and slow down the aging process.
Cherries are very rich in the stable antioxidant melatonin. Melatonin can easily cross from blood to the brain through the process of osmosis and has a calming effect on neurons in the brain, calming the nervous system, which can significantly relieve the symptoms of: neurosis, insomnia and migraine.
Cherries are also a good source of minerals such as potassium, iron, zinc and manganese. Potassium is a mineral good for heart health, an important part of cellular and body fluids, which helps regulate heart function and blood pressure.