The most delicious high protein yogurt bowl that can be so easily made for a quick, grab-and-go breakfast with cozy flavors! Imagine creamy yogurt with soft, juicy pears cooked with cinnamon and nutmeg and toasty chopped pecans for crunch. {Gluten-Free}
Pears are such an underrated fruit! They’re already juicy and sweet even before added to a pan with butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
So, you can imagine what these cinnamon pears taste like after softening on the stove! This yogurt bowl can be served cold, after sitting in the fridge, or with the pear and pecan mixture warmed up. Either way, it’s just a super easy, flavor-packed breakfast!
Why I Love This Breakfast Bowl:
- It’s a lower calorie, high protein and fiber breakfast idea. Each serving has 27 grams of protein without any protein powder plus 5 grams of fiber! Plus, the yogurt provides probiotic strains for a healthier and more diverse gut microbiome.
- This breakfast bowl is easy to meal prep! In under 10 minutes, you can have 2 servings – one can even be meal prepped for the next morning.
- The flavor combination is delicious – especially if you love sweeter breakfasts! This bowl really feels like comfort food but with nutrition in mind. It’s the perfect cozy breakfast for fall and winter mornings yet still healthy and filling.
How to Make This Yogurt Bowl
I first tried this bowl with whipped cottage cheese and it just didn’t quite taste right to me. So, I tested it with vanilla bean Greek yogurt – SO good.
However, it was very sweet. The plain Greek yogurt added the perfect tang combined with the maple syrup and cinnamon pears. It really comes down to preference.
This recipe makes two servings and is easily customizable! The base of the bowl should contain about one cup of yogurt and then you can customize the toppings however you like!
This bowl is really good the next day but the pears will spoil if left in the fridge any longer than that.
Ingredients
- Two cups of non-fat, plain or vanilla Greek yogurt – about 1 cup for each bowl. If you love a sweeter breakfast, try Oikos Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt.
- 1 medium or large pear, cubed. If you want this yogurt bowl to be packed with pears in every bite, feel free to use one pear per bowl. However, I found 1/2 a pear to be enough.
- Cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon or more per your preference.
- Nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon or more per your preference.
- Salted Butter, one tablespoon.
- 1/4 cup of chopped pecans.
- 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, optional.
Directions
- Dice a medium or large pear into small, bite-sized cubes. Leave skin on for added fiber or peel using a vegetable peeler (your preference).
- In a small skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add diced pear, cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup. Add the chopped pecans. Sauté for 3–5 minutes until pears are soft and caramelized.
- Spoon Greek yogurt into two bowls.
- Top with warm cinnamon pears and chopped pecans.
- Drizzle with more maple syrup if desired and serve cold, after refrigeration, or warm. Nutrition boost tip: Add 1–2 tsp of ground flaxseed or chia seeds for fiber and omega-3s.
To store: Once the pears are exposed to air, they will start to brown. Eat one bowl the day that you make it and then stir the pears into the other bowl for the next morning (so they aren’t exposed to air).
My favorite way to eat this bowl is the next day, cold, topped with chia seeds and a few white chocolate chips! It’s so good.
This yogurt bowl is great for a snack as well! Use about 1/2 cup of yogurt instead. To add even more flavor, you could sprinkle the bowl with brown sugar!
What are the nutritional benefits of this yogurt bowl?
This is a well-balanced meal with protein and fiber – two nutrients that help to slow down the digestion of our food – keeping us fuller for longer and promoting stabilized blood sugars.
On top of that, yogurt is a great source of calcium and probiotics! Probiotics help to increase the good bacteria in our gut microbiome.
A more diverse and resilient gut is linked to overall health and wellness, digestion, immune support, and even mental health.
Recommendations if you prefer the topping warm?
If you prefer the topping warm, I would recommend making the topping each morning. It takes about 5 minutes and it’s actually quite simple! The pears would be delicious with cinnamon and maple syrup even without being cooked.
What if I am dairy-free?
I would recommend a higher protein, plant-based yogurt like Kite Hill Greek Style and a plant-based butter.
High Protein Greek Yogurt Bowl with Spiced Pears and Toasted Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 cups non-fat, plain or vanilla Greek yogurt – about 1 cup for each bowl if you love a sweeter breakfast, try Oikos Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 medium or large pear, cubed
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or more per your preference
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Dice a medium or large pear into small, bite-sized cubes. Leave skin on for added fiber or peel using a vegetable peeler (your preference).
- In a small skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add diced pear, cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup. Add the chopped pecans. Sauté for 3–5 minutes until pears are soft and caramelized.
- Spoon Greek yogurt into two bowls. Top with warm cinnamon pears and chopped pecans
- To store: Once the pears are exposed to air, they will start to brown. Eat one bowl the day that you make it and then stir the pears into the other bowl for the next morning (so they aren't exposed to air).
Notes
- My favorite way to eat this bowl is cold, the next day, topped with chia seeds and white chocolate chips.
- To add even more flavor, you could sprinkle the bowl with brown sugar!
- For a dairy-free option, use a higher protein plant-based yogurt like Kite Hill Greek style and a plant-based butter.
I hope you enjoyed this simple, easy, and so cozy breakfast! Subscribe for more healthy recipes and infrequent updates of new nutrition content aimed at moms who want to prioritize their health.