Fluffy Yogurt Lemon Parfait (Printer-friendly)

Creamy yogurt layered with lemon curd and a crisp sourdough crumb topping creates a bright, textured dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Yogurt Layer

01 - 2 cups Greek yogurt, full-fat or 2%
02 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
03 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Lemon Curd

04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
08 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

→ Sourdough Crumb Topping

09 - 1 cup sourdough bread, torn into small crumbs
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
12 - Pinch of sea salt

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh berries, optional
14 - Lemon zest, optional
15 - Fresh mint leaves, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a heatproof bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water using the double boiler method. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in butter until smooth. Allow to cool completely.
02 - In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add sourdough crumbs and brown sugar, sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Toast while stirring frequently until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
03 - In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt with honey and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
04 - In 4 glasses or jars, layer yogurt mixture, then a spoonful of lemon curd, followed by a sprinkle of sourdough crumbs. Repeat layers as desired, finishing with crumb topping on the surface.
05 - Top parfaits with fresh berries, extra lemon zest, and mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, with most of that being passive cooling time.
  • The contrast between creamy yogurt, tangy curd, and buttery crunch is genuinely addictive.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble right before serving, which feels like cheating at dinner parties.
02 -
  • The lemon curd absolutely must cool before layering, or it will turn the yogurt weepy and ruin the whole texture situation.
  • Toast the sourdough crumbs right before serving or store them in an airtight container—they soften within an hour once exposed to the humidity from the yogurt.
03 -
  • If your lemon curd breaks or looks grainy, strain it through a fine sieve while still warm and it'll come back together.
  • Use the sourdough crumb mixture on other desserts—it transforms a simple bowl of ice cream or plain cake into something memorable.
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