Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Parfait

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When I see honey crisp apples at the store, I quietly squeak with excitement.  You know, honey crisp are my favorite apples!  Most (80%) of honey crisps' in So Cal are produced purely for juicing.  Sad, right??  Not now, I found another new breed of apple that became commercially available this year...Lady Alice Apples.  

Be still my heart!  

These wonderful apples are like a fine wine... they get richer and more robust with age.  It's no secret my family are suckers for anything caramelized, especially caramelized fruits!  Slow cooking fruits really brings out the natural sweetness and flavors.  

Quinoa is usually thought of a savory dish ingredient, although I've been wanting to experiment with the sweeter side of the ancient grain.  Since my girls have a hard time eating anything that is relatively healthy, I thought to incorporate quinoa into a healthy yet tasty breakfast treat. 

Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Parfait 

Yields 4 small parfait cups

Recipe created by Epicurean Mom

For Oat Crumble:

1 cup rolled oats

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Evenly spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 7-10 minutes.  Set aside to cool.

For Cinnamon Apple Compote:

4-5 apples (preferably lady alice), peeled, cored and coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoons sugar

1 cup water, or more if necessary

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients, mixing well.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low.  Partially cover and cook until apples are softened and liquid is syrupy, about 10 minutes.  Add more water if needed in the cooking process.  Take off heat and let cool completely.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  

For Quinoa:

Cook 1 cup quinoa according to package directions.  Once cooked, add 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, mix well.  Set aside to cool.

For Yogurt:

2 cups non-fat vanilla, greek yogurt (I used Chobani) 

Assembly:

Spoon 1/4 cup yogurt in bottom of glass, 1/4 cup quinoa, 1/4 cup cinnamon apple parfait.  Repeat the layering and top with oat crumble.  Repeat with remaining glasses.  

If making a dessert parfait, top with fresh whipped cream.