Ambrosia Apple Pie Parfait [Recipe]

Ambrosia apple parfaitA Healthy Twist on a Classic Dessert

If you love apple pie a la mode but you’re looking for a healthier alternative, this is the dessert for you.

We layer an apple compote (made with Ambrosia apples, of course), with Greek yogurt, and toasted oats into a parfait glass and the results are spectacular. Each spoonful has all of the delights of a forkful of apple pie and ice cream with a fraction of the sugar, fat, and carbs.

If you don’t have parfait glasses, try using mason jars. We love making them in mason jars – they have such a trendy look and they’re practical too. You can portion out just the right amount, put a lid on it and take it to go. You could even take a batch to a potluck! We bet they’ll be the star of the table.

If you want to make these desserts a little more decadent, drizzle them with caramel sauce, top with ice cream or whipped cream. Or, do all of the above.

It’s easy to make this dessert gluten-free. Simply follow the recipe and swap out the regular oats for gluten-free oats. Nobody will know the difference!

You can make these ahead of time but one of the great parts of this dish is the crunchiness of the oat crumble. If you let it sit, the yogurt and pie filling will soften the oats. They’re still delicious, just less crunchy.

Once the apple compote and oat crumble are made, the assembly only takes a few minutes, so we recommend plating them just before serving them.

Here’s how to make Ambrosia Apple Pie Parfait.

INGREDIENTS:

For the apple layer:

  • 2 large Ambrosia apples, peeled and diced
  • 2 Tbsp Demerara sugar (or dark brown sugar)
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 2 tsp lemon juice or water as needed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg

For the yogurt layer:

  • 1½ cups Greek or Balkan yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the crumble layer:

  • ¼ cup rolled oats, divided
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp butter, soft
  • 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts

METHOD:

Start by making the Ambrosia apple compote.

Melt butter on medium heat in a medium pot.

Add Demerara sugar and stir until fully dissolved.

Stir in Ambrosia apples and spices and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Add lemon juice or water to keep the apples from burning or sticking to the pan.

Once the apples are soft, remove from heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven at 350° for the crumble layer.

Grind half of the oats into a flour.

In a large bowl, combine the ground oats, oats, chopped nuts, butter, and sugar.

Spread mixture on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.

In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, vanilla, and maple syrup.

Now it’s time to assemble our parfaits!

In a parfait glass, place a generous spoonful of yogurt at the bottom, then an equal amount of Ambrosia apple compote, followed by a sprinkle of oat crumble. Repeat.

 

Any tall glass, mug, or jar will do if you don’t have proper parfait glasses. You can use smaller glasses to create smaller portions. It’s a very flexible recipe. Have fun.

 

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