September 13, 2020

35+ Greek Yogurt Toppings and Breakfast Bowl Ideas

Name: Greek Yogurt Bowl with 35+ Toppings Ideas
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; Strawberries; Bananas; Blueberries; Figs; Peaches; Dates; Cherries; Pineapple; Mangoes; Raspberries; Kiwis; Blackberries; Nectarines; Pomegranate; Goji berries; Apples; Sliced almonds; Walnuts; Pecans; Hazelnuts; Granola; Chia seeds; Flax seeds; Hemp seeds; Oats; Chocolate chips; Cinnamon; Cardamom; Dried coconut

Yogurt used to gross me out. Regular yogurt’s sugary taste and semi-watery texture wasn’t for me, and Greek yogurt was too plain and tart. That was until I got creative with building my yogurt bowls and mixed up my yogurt toppings. Now I eat a yogurt bowl for a snack every morning! And when I don’t, I crave one.

Not all brands of Greek yogurt have the same taste or texture, so make sure to experiment with different brands to find your favorite. While I often opt for the store brand, Fage is my favorite brand name Greek yogurt because of it’s creamy taste and silky texture.

The Benefits of Greek Yogurt

One of the reasons I love Greek yogurt is because it’s high in protein — it has about 15 grams per serving! It’s relatively low in calories (about 90-100 per serving), low in carbs (about 5 grams per serving), and low in fat. The amount of fat can vary depending on the type of yogurt you choose, but I typically get 0% milkfat. Even better, it only has about 5 grams of sugar compared to the 15+ grams regular yogurt typically has.

Greek yogurt is also rich in probiotics and calcium. I like to mix protein powder into my yogurt bowl for a post workout snack, or top it with berries for a mid-morning pick me up.

If you’re still on the “yogurt is boring, but healthy” train, try some of these yogurt topping ideas and see if they change your mind!

How to Make Greek Yogurt Bowls

It’s as easy as one, two, three, literally.

Add a serving of yogurt to your bowl. I usually measure out half a cup.
Choose your toppings. Arrange them on top of the yogurt (and snap a pic to make your friends jealous).
Eat up!

While making the bowl itself may be easy, knowing how to keep your yogurt toppings fresh may not be as intuitive. Here are a few ways I like to keep it interesting:

Cook up your fruit. Sometimes a warm topping is just what’s needed. I like to saute apples or peaches with spices. Pro tip: You can freeze apples if they’re about to go bad.
Make a sauce. To create a low sugar sauce, simmer berries with a few spoonfuls of water until they become soft. Add in lemon or orange zest for extra flavor.
Freeze your fruit. Cold fruit on a summer’s day is always refreshing. Depending on the texture fruit, you can either thaw slightly or top your yogurt with fruit straight from the freezer. Plus, it’s a good way to keep from wasting food. I throw my fresh berries in the freezer right before they’re about to go bad. My favorite yogurt topping is frozen cherries!
Add more protein. For a high-protein (and delicious) snack, I like to mix one scoop of protein powder into my yogurt. If you don’t use protein powder, you can add a spoonful of cocoa powder for a chocolatey boost.
Limit dried fruit and added sugar. Dried fruit and toppings like granola can be high in sugar. Use in moderation if you’re trying to limit your sugar intake.

Yogurt Topping Ideas

Keep it simple with one to two yogurt toppings, or get fancy and choose from each category! You can drizzle sweetener on top, but it’s not always necessary if you pick naturally sweet fruit.

Fruit

Strawberries
Bananas
Blueberries
Figs
Peaches
Dates
Cherries
Pineapple
Mangoes
Raspberries
Kiwis
Blackberries
Nectarines
Pomegranate
Goji berries
Apples

Nuts, Grains, and Seeds

bowls of nuts and seeds: pecans, chia seeds, sliced almonds, walnuts

Sliced almonds
Walnuts
Pecans
Hazelnuts
Granola
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Hemp seeds
Oats

Other

bowls of dried coconut, cinnamon, puffed rice

Chocolate chips
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Dried coconut
Peanut butter
Almond butter
Crushed graham cracker
Orange or lemon zest
Puffed rice

Sweeteners

maple syrup bottle, honey jar, chocolate chips

Melted chocolate
Honey
Maple syrup

Yogurt Breakfast (or Snack) Bowl Ideas

Now it’s time to put it all together! These are some of my favorite yogurt bowl combinations.

Very Berry bowl: Greek yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, toasted sliced almonds and honey

Very Berry: Keep it classic with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, toasted almonds, and a drizzle of honey.

Pina Colada:Transport yourself to an island getaway by topping your yogurt with pineapple chunks and coconut flakes.

Peanut Butter Banana: Reminiscent of a favorite child-hood sandwich, add sliced banana, crushed peanuts, and peanut butter drizzle. Pro tip: heat up the peanut butter before drizzling it on for more even coverage.

Chocolate Banana: Mix a scoop of chocolate protein powder or cocoa powder into your yogurt. You may want to add a dash of milk or water to help it mix more easily. Top with sliced bananas and chocolate chunks.