Cherry parfaits often use Greek yogurt to create a thick base for fruit, granola, and nuts. I wanted to use almond milk instead, but pouring it into a glass with the same toppings would leave the breakfast thin.
Chia seeds and oats solve that problem. Both absorb almond milk as they sit, turning it into a spoonable breakfast that can hold cherries, sliced almonds, and granola. You still get the cherry-almond combination without using yogurt.
This version takes its cue from a cherry-almond parfait made with Greek yogurt, dark sweet cherries, granola, and sliced almonds. The original requires no cooking and takes about five minutes to assemble.
Almond Milk Needs a Thickener
Greek yogurt can hold fruit and granola as soon as it comes out of the container. Almond milk needs time and ingredients that absorb liquid.
For one serving, combine ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, and 1 tablespoon chia seeds. Stir, cover, and refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.
Chia seeds absorb part of the almond milk, while oats take up more as they soften. If the mixture feels too thick the next morning, stir in a small splash of almond milk before adding the toppings.
Add Cherries and Almonds After the Base Sets
Pit and halve about ½ cup of dark sweet cherries. Fresh cherries work during their season, while thawed frozen cherries can take their place during the rest of the year. The original parfait also lists thawed frozen cherries as an alternative.
Spoon the oat mixture into a bowl or glass, then add the cherries and 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds. Keep the almonds on top so they retain their crunch.
A small amount of vanilla extract or cinnamon can go into the oat mixture before refrigeration. Taste the cherries before adding a sweetener, since ripe fruit may provide enough sweetness on its own.
Wait Until Breakfast to Add the Granola
Granola loses its crunch when it sits in almond milk overnight. Add about ¼ cup before serving instead.
You can build layers with the oat mixture, cherries, almonds, and granola or put the entire almond milk base in a bowl and add the toppings. Both methods use the same ingredients, so the choice comes down to texture and presentation.
For several breakfasts, prepare the almond milk, oat, and chia mixture in separate jars. Store the fruit, nuts, and granola apart and add them when you eat.
Food Choices Can Matter With Some Medications
Changing yogurt to almond milk is a food preference for most people, but some prescription medications come with instructions involving food. Those instructions depend on the drug, so they shouldn't be applied from one medication to another.
BRUKINSA, for example, can be taken with or without food, according to its prescribing information. Its patient information also tells patients to discuss medications, supplements, and certain foods with their doctor, with grapefruit juice and Seville oranges named as examples. People prescribed btk inhibitor drugs should follow the directions for their medication and ask their healthcare provider or pharmacist about food or supplement interactions rather than changing their diet based on general advice.
Nothing about this guidance means almond milk, almonds, or cherries have a treatment role. It shows why checking medication-specific food information matters when a prescription has dietary considerations.
Almonds Add More Than Crunch
Sliced almonds give the soft oat and chia base a contrasting texture, while cherries add moisture and sweetness. Granola adds another crisp element, so a small amount is enough.
Research has also examined almonds as part of the diet. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis covering 37 randomized controlled trials found almond consumption was associated with small reductions in body weight, waist circumference, fat mass, and reported hunger compared with control groups, though the authors noted that evidence certainty varied by outcome and called for more well-designed trials.
Almond milk won't create the same breakfast as Greek yogurt on its own. Give it oats, chia seeds, and time in the refrigerator, then add cherries, almonds, and granola when the base has set.
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