Celebrate National Parfait Day with a Guide to Parfait's History, and Make Your Own

If you are looking for a reason to celebrate today, how about celebrating National Parfait Day with an at-home build-your-own bar? Lay out ingredients for guests to craft their own parfait and to make it more entertaining by making a contest out of it, with rewards for the most creative parfait!

If you're a fan of this delicious layered dessert, today is your day to celebrate. A parfait is a classic French dessert made by layering ingredients like yogurt, fresh fruit, muesli and more in a tall glass. The name "parfait" comes from the French word meaning "perfect", and why not when it is utter perfection in every spoonful?

Parfaits offer the perfect combination of textures and flavors. The layers allow you to enjoy a little crunch from muesli or nuts, a bit of creaminess from yogurt or whipped cream, and the sweetness of fresh berries or other fruits. You can customize your parfait with your favorite ingredients to suit any taste.

The History

It could have been a frustrated cook or someone who decided to take the less beaten road and experiment with fresh ingredients, but we don’t know for sure who was behind the creation of parfaits. However, we do know for a fact that the parfait popped up in France before anywhere else.

During this time, innovative French chefs developed new techniques for making ice cream and frozen desserts using ingredients like cream, eggs, fruit and syrups. They discovered that these mixtures took on an excellent texture when frozen slowly in narrow containers, helping distinguish parfaits from other frozen treats.

One of the first printed parfait recipes appeared in 1769 in Menon's La Cuisinière bourgeoise. Recipes from this era layered fruit purées with whipped cream or custards in tall glasses. In the 19th century, famous chefs like Marie-Antonin Carême perfected multi-layered parfaits served between courses at lavish meals.

Mass production of ice cream began in the late 1800s and so as the lore goes, in the 1890s, the ‘perfect’ parfait made an official debut in France. If this is not motivation enough to make your own parfait, your local bakery will be selling them, for sure. But, just in case you do, we have some suggestions, and the rest we will leave to your imagination, to do with as you please.

Popular Parfait Combinations and Why You Should Try Them

1. Creamy Base + Fresh Fruit

A thick yogurt, custard, or cream acts as a stabilizing base layer that won't dry out over time. Its smooth texture supports mixing in juicy fresh fruit cut into bite-sized pieces. Fruit placed directly on the bottom could cause sogginess or sliding.

2. Tart + Sweet Fruits

Combining tart fruits high in acidity like berries with sweeter options provides a balanced flavor in each bite. For example, layering sliced banana with raspberries allows the tartness of the berries to cut through the banana's natural sweetness for a more interesting taste experience than either fruit alone.

3. Crunchy + Soft Textures

Including mix-ins with contrasting textures adds visual appeal and keeps each bite interesting. Crunchy muesli, nuts or baked goods sprinkled between layers of soft fruits or creamy dairy provide pleasing bursts of crunch amid smooth flavors. This variety stimulates the senses.

4. A Pinch of Spice

Freshly ground, finely chopped, crushed, broken, or hammered spices enhance the natural flavors of ingredients like fruits and help parfaits develop a more complex taste. For example, a pinch of cardamom powder or vanilla in plain yogurt before layering adds a distinct taste that complements fruits really well

5. Aesthetics 101

Alternating colors is the way to go for parfaits to make for a visually appealing treat. Bright layers of red berries, snowy yogurt, golden muesli, dark chocolate, and green kiwis (not in that order or in the same parfait) will be a visual treat and prompt anybody to dip a spoon into it.

6. Coffee

Imagine espresso and chocolate yogurt coming together, supported by buttery biscuits; does it not make your mouth water? The layers will allow each ingredient, from the crunchy muesli to the fudgy shavings, to shine while combining for a caffeine-boosted indulgent treat.

7. Coconut

This one deserved a separate section for its unique flavor and the value it adds to desserts. Coconut in parfait is an unusual ingredient but it is a really worthy addition. Grated or desiccated coconut adds a subtle flavor that is hard to miss. If you don’t want the coconut to overwhelm your parfait, add it as a garnish.

So if you have leftovers in the fridge that are too boring to be had on their own, craft a parfait from them and use this special day as an excuse to feed your loved ones and yourself. If you are trying to eat healthier, watch the ingredients and go for a yogurt-fruit-wafer combination.