Yogurt Flavorings & Toppings (for Breakfast or Snack)

Yogurt can be eaten parfait-style, in layers with fruit, flavorings and granola or other crunchy topping, OR in smoothies, below are some flavoring ideas for both.

Ways to flavor yogurt:

• Honey or maple syrup
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, and other warm spices
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Vanilla or almond extract
• Peanut butter or other nut butters, nutella
• Chocolate chips or melted chocolate
• Pumpkin (with warm spices)
• Lemon curd (?)

Fruit:

• Fresh or frozen fruit in bite size pieces, mashed (for instance, banana), or pureed
• Jams and jellies, apple butter, apple sauce, cranberry sauce
• Dried fruit, such as raisins, cranberries, dried blueberries, banana chips, dates, etc.
• Citrus zest

Something crunchy:

• Granola
• Dry cereal, Grape Nuts, cornflakes, any type
• Crumbled graham crackers
• Toasted coconut
• Toasted nuts and seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Rolled oats (no need to cook or soak, although doing so breaks down phytic acid which can inhibit mineral absorption)
  Soaking rolled oats is generally considered a more effective way to reduce the impact of phytic acid on mineral absorption compared to simply heating them; soaking activates an enzyme called phytase which naturally breaks down phytic acid, while heating only slightly reduces its presence.
• Wheat germ, toasted

Good Combinations:

After experimenting, I found I like the yogurt toppings the best that had some sort of fruit in it, fresh, frozen or dried. Crumbled graham crackers are okay, but so far I like granola better. I'll buy some Grape Nuts and see how I like that. I also read that someone adds crunshed rice cakes on theirs. Worth a try.

• ***Yogurt Parfait: Yogurt topped with fresh fruit and granola. The granola adds just enough sweetness. [A Breakfast Oatmeal Raisin Cookie sounds really good, too.] Fresh fruits, such as blueberries can be a little sour sometimes. Add in layers in parfait glasses if preferred, or just put on top of yogurt.
• ***Cinnamon Raisin: Honey, raisins or currants, cinnamon (this was very good. Mix the cinnamon in with the yogurt.)
• *Maple Pecan or Walnut: maple syrup, chopped toasted pecans or walnuts (good, I also added some crumbled graham crackers on top. The maple flavor does not come through like honey does)
• Honey Nut: Honey and toasted walnuts
• ***Apple Raisin: Apples cooked with a little sugar and cinnamon (or chopped apples, honey and cinnamon OR apple sauce, add cinnamon), raisins, nuts (or crumbled graham cracker topping or Grape Nuts). Raisins are also a nice addition.
• **Banana & Honey: The banana and honey topping was okay. I thought it needed something so I added a crushed graham cracker on top. That helped. Maybe a touch of cinnamon, or, turn back to my mainstay, add some granola.
• ***Yogurt with cranberry sauce & toasted pecans
• Yogurt with rhubarb?
• Blueberry Muffin: Blueberries (or dried blueberries), nuts, honey, cinnamon, raw oatmeal topping
• Lemon Blueberry: Lemon or lime zest, honey or Lemon Curd if you have it, blueberries and crumbled graham crackers or Grape Nuts
• Lemon Poppy Seed: Lemon, honey or Lemon Curd if you have it, poppy seeds
• Banana Nut: Banana (fresh or dried), toasted walnuts or pecans, honey (brown sugar?). Or make a Bananas Foster type topping, minus the alcohol. Heat some butter in a pan, add brown sugar, then split bananas. Cook for a few minutes until bananas soften and start to brown.
• Cherry Almond: Cherries (fresh or dried), slivered toasted almonds, almond extract, honey
• Vanilla with Almonds: Toasted slivered almonds, almond and vanilla extract, honey
• Almond Joy: Dark chocolate chips (or mix in cocoa powder), top with shredded coconut and toasted almond slivers, maybe some almond extract if extra flavor is needed
• Oatmeal Cookie: Raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, banana, (optional), oatmeal topping
• - PB & Banana: Peanut butter, banana, peanuts for crunch if desired (This was just ok, would not make again. Gave a sour taste to the peanut butter. I threw the last bit of it out.)