Granola with Fresh Fruit

Sometimes the best breakfast is the one you can throw together half-asleep. This is less a recipe than a blueprint for a great granola bowl, crunchy granola under a pile of fresh fruit, with milk or yogurt poured over the top.

What makes it work is contrast. Crisp granola against soft, sweet banana slices, tart-juicy blueberries and raspberries, and a scatter of sliced almonds for extra crunch. Every spoonful has something going on.

The fruit and almonds also turn an ordinary bowl into something genuinely filling and high in fiber. Use cold milk for a classic cereal bowl, soy milk to keep it dairy-free, or thick yogurt if you want to build more of a parfait that holds you until lunch.

Kitchen Tips

• Add the milk or yogurt just before eating so the granola keeps its crunch instead of going soft.
• Layer granola, fruit, and yogurt in a glass for a pretty, portable parfait.
• Toast the sliced almonds for a minute in a dry pan to deepen their flavor.

Variations

• Swap in strawberries, blackberries, peaches, or mango depending on the season.
• Use a homemade granola for more control over the sweetness and add-ins.
• Drizzle with honey or maple syrup, or stir in a spoonful of nut butter for staying power.