Frozen Coconut Parfait with Fresh Blackberries

Sara Lewis, British tastemaker and author of Cooking from the Gardenwas kind enough to share this blackberry and coconut parfait recipe with us. And I am so glad.

This elegant parfait recipe has everything I love in a summer dessert. It is refreshing and not too sweet with both creamy and crunchy elements in every bite. What more could you want?

How do you make this frozen French parfait?

“Parfait” is french for perfect, and that’s exactly what this frozen coconut dessert is on a hot summer day. Although a traditional French parfait recipe would be made from an egg yolk custard cream, this lightened-up version of a parfait uses a blend of coconut milk and yogurt with honey and lime to create a creamy and tangy frozen treat.

To make this coconut milk parfait, you first make a granola crust and allow it to cool. The granola is simply a delicious combination of chopped almonds, pistachios, sugar and butter heated together in a saute pan. It will top the homemade parfait mixture before the pan goes into the freezer. (You will need a loaf pan to make this coconut dessert.)

For the parfait itself, you simply whisk the coconut milk with the lime juice, honey and sugar. (It is very important that you use full fat coconut milk, not light coconut milk or coconut cream for this parfait recipe.) Then add the yogurt. Just be careful not to mix it too much once the yogurt is added.

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Make it in advance

One of my very favorite things about this parfait recipe is that it has to be made in advance. You can even make it several days in advance. Just keep it in the freezer in the loaf pan (or loaf tin as Sarah calls it), and cover the top with saran wrap or your favorite reusable sandwich wrap.

The trick to serving it

Just remember to take it out of the freezer about 25 minutes before you’re going to serve it so it softens a little and releases smoothly from the pan. (I usually take it out of the freezer right before I serve the main course. If you’re afraid you won’t remember, set a timer.)

When to serve this healthy-ish summer dessert

This elegant, frozen parfait recipe is definitely the sort of dessert you serve to the garden club or make for Mom on Mother’s Day. But those leftover slices of parfait, with their crunchy sweet crust, cold coconut flavor and bursts of berry flavor are going to make a midnight snack to devour with your lover.

And your body will say, “Thank you!” That’s because, for a creamy, frozen treat, this coconut parfait is practically a health food. Yes, it has its share of sugar and fat but just look at the ingredient list.

There are so many good-for-you ingredients on there, including ones that are great for supporting a healthy libido, including nuts, honey and sexy, musky blackberries. And then there’s the coconut, which makes our list of the 10 best foods for men’s sexual health.

This is truly a summer dessert you can enjoy with zero regrets!

Frozen Coconut Parfait with Blackberries and a Granola Crust

Print Recipe

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This elegant, frozen treat is the kind of dessert that will "wow" guests. And they'll never know how easy it is to make! 

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine dessert

Dish Type Parfait

Cooking Style Easy, Vegetarian

Diet and Health gluten-free, healthy-ish

Seasonal Easter, Mother's Day, summer

Ingredient Blackberries, Coconut Milk

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 4 mins

Freezing time 6 hrs

Total Time 14 mins

Servings 6 slices

Author Sara Lewis

Ingredients

For the granola base:

• 1 1/2 oz butter
• 11/2 oz slivered almonds roughly crushed
• 1 1/2 oz pistachio nuts roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar

For the parfait:

• 1 14 oz can full fat coconut milk*
• 2 limes (zest from both, juice of 1)
• 4 tbsp runny honey
• 3 oz granulated sugar
• 16 oz Greek style yogurt
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• fresh violets to decorate optional

Instructions

• Line the base and two long sides of a 2 lb non-stick loaf tin with a strip of non-stick baking paper or plastic wrap.
• To make the granola topping, heat the butter in a saute pan. Stir in the slivered almonds and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring until almonds just beginning to color. Mix in the pistachio nuts and sugar and cook for 1 minute until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
• For the parfait, pour the coconut milk into a mixing bowl, add the lime rind and juice, honey and sugar and whisk together until smooth. Add the yogurt and whisk briefly until smooth.
• Pour about one third of the parfait mixture into the base of the lined tin. Crumble about one third of the blackberries over the top, breaking up with fingertips, then spoon over half the remaining parfait mix and repeat so that all the parfait mixture and all the blackberries are added to the tin.
• Level the surface of the mixture and spoon over the cooled granola in an even layer. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight, covering the top with plastic wrap as soon as it is hard.
• To serve, take the parfait out of the freezer 15-25 minutes before you are ready to serve it. Allow to defrost slightly then run a wet, round-bladed knife around the sides of the parfait to loosen it. Turn out on to a plate and gently peel off the lining paper or plastic wrap. Decorate with violet flowers and cut into thick slices with a hot knife.

Notes

* Do not substitute with light coconut milk. 

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Amy Reiley

An award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks with an MA in Gastronomy, Amy Reiley has spent the past 18 years studying the history and science behind aphrodisiac foods. She speaks on aphrodisiacs globally and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac foods to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health writer and wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine. Most importantly, Amy is a mother to 2 human children and 1 standard poodle.

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