Q1: What is the best way to strain yogurt, and is it really necessary?

Straining the yogurt is a highly recommended step that makes a huge difference in the final texture of your parfait! It removes the watery whey and creates a much thicker, creamier, and richer yogurt that is very similar to a store-bought Greek yogurt. The easiest way to do it is to line a fine-mesh sieve with a coffee filter or a double layer of paper towels, set it over a bowl, and let the yogurt drain.

Q2: Can I use store-bought Greek yogurt instead of straining my own plain yogurt?

Yes, absolutely! If you are short on time, you can use 2 cups of a high-quality, full-fat, plain Greek yogurt as a fantastic shortcut.

Q3: Can I make these parfaits a day or two before my holiday meal?

Yes, this is the perfect make-ahead dessert! You can fully assemble the parfaits and keep them, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours . Just be sure to wait to add the crunchy pecan topping until right before you plan to serve them for the best texture.

Q4: My whipped cream is runny and won't form soft peaks. What did I do wrong?

Runny whipped cream is almost always caused by the cream not being cold enough . For the best, most stable, and fluffiest whipped cream, it is crucial that your heavy cream is very cold , straight from the back of your refrigerator. It is also a great professional trick to chill your mixing bowl and the beaters from your electric mixer in the freezer for about 15 minutes before you begin.

Q5: What else could I use for a crunchy topping besides the pecans?

If you have a nut allergy or are not a fan of pecans, a sprinkle of crushed gingersnap cookies, a simple granola, or even some toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) would all be fantastic, crunchy, and festive alternatives.

The Best Easy & Elegant Cranberry Orange Parfait

An elegant, layered no-bake dessert, this Cranberry Orange Parfait features two distinct creamy mixtures. The first layer is a tangy orange-yogurt cream, made by straining plain yogurt to thicken it and then mixing it with orange marmalade and fresh whipped cream. The second layer is a sweet-tart cranberry cream, made by combining canned whole cranberry sauce with orange juice, zest, and more whipped cream. These two mixtures are layered in parfait glasses and finished with a sprinkle of toasted pecans.

Author: Grace
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes (includes yogurt straining and chilling time)
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Bake, Layering, Chilling
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

2 cups plain yogurt
3 tablespoons orange marmalade
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar
1 (10-ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted

Instructions

Line a fine-mesh sieve with a coffee filter or doubled paper towels and set it over a bowl. Add the yogurt to the sieve and let it drain for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight in the refrigerator, to thicken. Discard the drained liquid.
Transfer the drained yogurt to a bowl and stir in the orange marmalade.
In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until it begins to thicken. Add the vanilla and sugar and continue to whip until soft peaks form.
Create the Layers: In a medium bowl, combine the cranberry sauce with the orange juice and orange zest. Gently fold in half of the whipped cream.
In the bowl with the yogurt mixture, gently fold in the other half of the whipped cream.
Assemble the Parfaits: Layer the yogurt mixture and the cranberry mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or wine glasses.
Top each parfait with a sprinkle of toasted, chopped pecans.
Chill the parfaits in the refrigerator before serving.

Notes

Straining the yogurt for at least an hour is a crucial step that removes excess whey, resulting in a much thicker, creamier texture similar to Greek yogurt.
The whipped cream is divided to lighten both the yogurt and cranberry mixtures, creating two distinct, airy layers.
This is a great make-ahead dessert, as it needs to be chilled before serving.

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/cranberry-orange-parfait/