Chocolate Cherry Protein Parfaits

Chocolate goes with everything, especially fruit! Berries are one of my favorite things to put with chocolate, besides coffee and caramel, but cherries aren’t really berries either so I guess fruit. If you are a regular reader you also know we like our dessert for breakfast and this is one of those breakfasts we like to enjoy that tastes like dessert and is healthy! Not only do we find this to be a great start to the day with the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and deliciousness but it is one of my favorite snacks or post workout eats! Having different nutritional needs as well as dietary restrictions this is another recipe that works for pretty much anyone or can be easily adapted. It works for a protein packed breakfast, snack, post workout, or dessert! Not that you will need to figure out when to eat it but probably trying to figure out why you can’t or when you can’t. Sometimes there are the simplest “recipes” I get really excited about and this is one of them! So excited I want to go knock on the doors of neighbors, friends, and family with Cacao Cherry Protein Parfait in a jar and say good morning and wait for them to take that first bite and smile and I can know they fell in love with it just like I did. So I’ll help you break it down because this is another one of those staples we love that I want everyone to try!

Nutritionally it is packed with protein, weather you make it with greek yogurt or protein powder, for the non dairy free my family likes plain Siggi’s yogurt for a protein packed yogurt version and Vega protein powders for a dairy-free protein alternative. Cherries are packed with antioxidants, beta carotene, and vitamins like vitamin C! Great for balancing out your blood pressure, combating cancer, said to help with weight control and sleep, and one of my personal favorites reducing muscle soreness which makes it one of my favorite post workout snacks or breakfasts for early morning workouts. Cacao Powder is loaded with antioxidants and a good dose of magnesium. Muesli is a great source of healthy carbs and packed with nuts, fruits. Muesli is different from granola in that it is not baked, there is no oil, and it is less sweet. Soaking it not only makes it easier to digest but also is said to help our bodies get more nutrition out of it.

For a quick healthy breakfast the whole family will love just simply soak muesli overnight with equal parts of non dairy milk and muesli, or it can be done with less time as well, in a pinch I let it soak for about 20 minutes. In the morning stir in cacao powder with a little more milk to desired consistency as well as sweetener of choice to taste as desired. Blend cherries and yogurt or layer if desired, which the kids love both ways, blended with frozen berries it is like froyo! What kid, or adult, wouldn’t love froyo for breakfast? Top with some cacao nibs for crunch and off you go!
If you aren’t a yogurt fan or want a smoothie or smoothie bowl simple blend frozen cherries with non dairy milk and protein of choice, if using chocolate protein than you don’t have to add the cacao to the soaked muesli.

I’m still looking for a reason not to enjoy these simple, delicious, healthy parfaits! Eating healthy isn’t boring or hard and this parfait is proof of that.

Chocolate Cherry Protein Parfaits
Makes 1 serving
1/4c muesli (Seven Sundays Vanilla Cherry Pecan Muesli, gluten free)
1/4c non dairy milk of choice (So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk)
1c yogurt (So Delicious Vanilla Greek Style Coconut Yogurt, for dairy Siggi’s Icelandic plain)
1/2c frozen cherries
OR
1c non dairy milk (So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk)
1/2-1c chocolate or vanilla protein powder, if using chocolate you can omit the cacao powder and additional milk (Vega chocolate protein, mix of Sport Protein and Vega One)
1/2-1c frozen cherries
2 TBSP cacao powder (Navitas Naturals)*
2 TBSP-1/4c non dairy milk of choice (So Delicious Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk)
sweetener of choice, optional as desired (1 packet Stevia In The Raw)
1-2 TBSP cacao nibs, optional (Navitas Naturals)

*When making a smoothie or smoothie bowl with chocolate protein omit cacao powder. I also like to chop a couple of cherries and stir into the muesli so I still get a pretty color contrast.

Start by soaking muesli with milk overnight in the refrigerator, or for at least 20 minutes. If adding in cacao powder stir in cacao powder, sweetener of choice, and milk until desired consistency. In a Vitamix, or mini food processor/blender, blend yogurt and frozen berries until smooth or desired consistency. If making a smoothie or smoothie bowl blend milk, protein powder, and cherries together in a Vitamix, or blender, until smooth or combine. Pour yogurt mixture or smoothie over soaked muesli and top with cacao nibs. Enjoy!
Eat chocolate! Chocolate Cherry Protein Parfaits do a body good! @SevenSundaysMN #SweatPink #wholefoods Share on X