Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits

Use leftover cranberry sauce to create these gorgeous make-ahead Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits! These protein packed breakfasts are full of Fall flavors and perfect for your post-holiday meal prep!

Here is what could possibly be my favorite use of holiday cranberry sauce ever. Meaning I would quite possibly buy cranberry sauce just to make this recipe. You heard me.

The flavors were semi-accidental. I was definitely trying to come up with leftover cranberry sauce recipes. That part was purposeful. Not to mention I love Greek yogurt, and sometimes I even make it at home (there are also 5 other Greek yogurt parfait ideas on the blog!). 

But the flavors were accidental! I had an extra orange on the counter, then I remembered cinnamon existed. And here we are.

What’s in the Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits?

These make-ahead breakfasts are created with just a few seasonal ingredients that go SO WELL together, it will actually shock you. I love Greek yogurt – I’ve tried many a store-bought and homemade kinds, but this one is by far my favorite flavor combination of all.

Here’s what’s in the Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits:

• Greek yogurt – I prefer the thickness of 2% Greek yogurt, but full fat or nonfat would also work just fine. When I’m not making my own Greek yogurt, I use Fage because there’s no added sweetener (just live cultures and milk). If you don’t like Greek yogurt, I do think a regular plain yogurt would also work.
• cranberry sauce – Use up leftover cranberry sauce in this recipe! It’s great for small leftover amounts. More on that below. I prefer the whole berry kind over the canned jelly kind, but I think either would work.
• orange juice – Juice from one fresh orange will work, but store-bought orange juice from the store will also work here.
• cinnamon – Cinnamon is the magic ingredient that bring this whole thang together, and in my opinion, gives it a solid step up from just yogurt + cranberries.
• maple syrup – In case you want it sweeter, go for a teaspoon or two of the pure stuff. If your cranberries are way sweet, you could skip the extra sweetener.
• granola, nuts, etc – Everyone likes crunchy bits in their parfaits! Go with some crushed pecans for a seasonal number, or just use your favorite granola. I recommend not adding granola until you’re about the eat the parfait.

How much leftover cranberry sauce does this recipe use?

Each parfait uses about 2 heaping tablespoons of leftover cranberry sauce. More or less if you want! The whole recipe, which makes 2 parfaits, uses about 1/4 cup cranberry sauce, but it’s easy to customize.

This recipe is a great way to use up any small amount of cranberry sauce!

How do you make the Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits?

First, mix up the Greek yogurt with the cinnamon, orange juice, and maple syrup if you’re adding any. Stir until it’s smooth and light. The recipe makes enough yogurt for two parfaits, but it’s easy to make only one parfait (half the recipe), or more than two.

If you want the layered parfait effect, add a couple spoonfuls of yogurt to a small container, one spoonful of cranberries, and then a bit more yogurt. This creates a very lovely bright red layer between the cinnamon speckled Greek yogurt.

For storing these parfaits, I used Half Pint Wide Mouth Mason Jars (affiliate link!) which I believe I purchased from my local grocery store – link is provided to show you exactly what I’m talking about.

How long do the Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Yogurt Parfaits last?

These parfaits will last 4-5 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If you used older cranberry sauce from 3-4 days ago, I would consume your parfaits sooner rather than later!

Can you freeze these fall breakfast parfaits?

These cranberry yogurt parfaits would not freeze well. I do not recommend putting them in the freezer. In fact, the Greek yogurt container says “Do Not Freeze”. I think it’s because it won’t thaw well.

What are some other uses for leftover cranberry sauce?

While it’s only around for a short time, cranberry sauce is SO versatile, and the leftovers can be used in a variety of ways! If you want to try something other than these Greek yogurt parfaits, here are some ideas for you:

• Cranberry Sauce Orange Scones
• Cranberry Sauce Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake
• Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce
• Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
• Cranberry BBQ Crockpot Meatballs