Frozen Yogurt Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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This homemade frozen yogurt is made without an ice cream maker. Simply mix the ingredients, place the mixture in a shallow pan, and freeze.

Although you'll need to stir the mixture a few times while freezing it, this is an easy recipe, and the yogurt comes out creamy and delicious.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

In summer, there's nothing quite like a sweet frozen treat. I used to own an ice cream maker, but it took up too much countertop space. So I gave it away, and now I make frozen treats without an ice cream maker.

This frozen yogurt recipe is truly easy to make and delicious. You can serve it at a soft-serve consistency or freeze it until it can be scooped out.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storing Leftovers
  • More Frozen Yogurt Recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card

Ingredients

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You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this homemade dessert. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Greek yogurt: I use plain whole-milk yogurt in this recipe. While regular yogurt is excellent, you should definitely use Greek yogurt in this recipe.
  • Sweetener: I like to use honey because it's so delicious. You can use a granulated sweetener if you prefer - sugar or a sugar-free alternative.
  • Vanilla extract: Use high-quality pure vanilla for the best results.

Variations

The basic recipe is simple: it contains yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract. You can add fruit—fresh or frozen, pureed or chunky.

I like to completely puree the fruit in the food processor, then add the yogurt, honey, and vanilla.

But you can blend the yogurt and honey first, then add the fruit and process briefly, leaving fruit chunks in your yogurt.

The possibilities are endless, but the flavors I make most often, in addition to this one, are mango frozen yogurt, raspberry frozen yogurt, and chocolate frozen yogurt.

Instructions

Making frozen yogurt without an ice cream maker is easy, although it's a bit time-consuming. The detailed instructions are included in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:

Mix. You start by mixing the ingredients together. You can use a food processor or simply place the ingredients in a bowl and use a hand whisk. Keep in mind that you'll need to whisk for about three minutes to get the mixture to be fluffy.

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Freeze. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch square baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 45 minutes.

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Stir. Remove the pan from the freezer. Use a rubber spatula to give the mixture a good stir. You especially want to stir the already-frozen edges into the still-soft center. Flatten back, cover, and continue freezing for 2 more hours, stirring every 30 minutes.

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Freeze some more. The yogurt should now have a soft-serve consistency. You can go ahead and enjoy it. At this point, I usually transfer it to a smaller container (this makes scooping easier), cover it, and freeze it for one more hour to achieve a scoopable consistency.

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Recipe FAQs

Do you need an ice cream maker to make frozen yogurt?

No, you don't. Instead of using an ice cream maker, you can stir the yogurt often during the freezing process to ensure a smooth and creamy consistency.

Why do I need to stir the yogurt so often?

To achieve the creamy consistency shown in the photo below, you either need an ice cream maker or stir the yogurt often during the freezing process. This helps prevent large ice crystals from forming.

While the frequent stirring may seem like a drag, it's not difficult to do on a day when you're home anyway. And to me, the extra space I have in my kitchen by not owning an ice cream maker is worth it.

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Is this yogurt as good as commercial yogurt?

No. Unlike commercial brands, this recipe contains no thickeners and is lower in sugar than many brands.

So don't expect the "perfect" texture and intense sweetness you get when you add thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and lots of sugar.

But this homemade version is wonderful! You can taste the yogurt's tang and the honey's sweetness. It's simple, delicious, and fresh.

Serving Suggestions

This dessert is excellent all on its own. It also pairs well with grilled peaches, apple crisp, baked apple slices, or fried bananas.

Sometimes, I serve it topped with honey-roasted nuts, stewed prunes, blueberry compote, or strawberry compote.

You can also drizzle it with melted dark chocolate or melted peanut butter. And for a special treat, serve it with crumbled chocolate cookies or chocolate chip cookies.

Storing Leftovers

You can freeze the leftovers in a sealed container for up to a month. However, the longer they stay in the freezer, the less creamy and icier they will become.

If the yogurt has been in your freezer for over a day, remove it about 30 minutes before enjoying it.

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More Frozen Yogurt Recipes

  • Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
  • Mango Frozen Yogurt
  • Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

Recipe Card

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4.99 from 887 votes

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Frozen Yogurt Recipe

This frozen yogurt is made without an ice cream maker. It's easy to make, creamy, and delicious.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Rest time2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Total Time2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 178kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Greek yogurt plain, full fat
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place the yogurt, honey, and vanilla in your food processor’s bowl or in a medium mixing bowl.

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  • Process the ingredients to incorporate, stopping once to scrape the sides of the bowl, then process for 1 more minute until light and fluffy. If mixing by hand, mix for 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

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  • Using a spatula, transfer the mixture to a square 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Cover with cling wrap and freeze for 45 minutes.

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  • Remove the pan from the freezer. Use a rubber spatula to stir the already-frozen edges into the still-soft center, then spread evenly again.

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  • Cover again, and place in the freezer for 2 more hours, repeating the process of stirring the yogurt every 30 minutes.

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  • When the entire mixture is frozen, serve immediately as a soft-serve yogurt (use chilled bowls), or freeze it for 1-2 more hours for a firmer consistency that you can scoop out with an ice cream scoop.

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Video

Notes

  • To keep this yogurt low-carb, you can use a sugar-free sweetener. ½ cup of the low-carb
  • You can keep this yogurt in a sealed container in the freezer for up to a month. But the longer it stays in the freezer, the less creamy and icier it will become. If it's spent longer than a day in your freezer, remove it from the freezer about 30 minutes before enjoying it.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 41mg | Sugar: 21g

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Disclaimers

Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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About the Author

Frozen Yogurt Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (32) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Shirin

    Many thanks for this recipe. The taste ended up being great, however the texture was more like a sorbet. I didn't have plastic wrap and had to use a cut up zip loc bag instead. I wonder if that's the reason why it didn't turn out creamy? Or did I perhaps do the stirring incorrectly? I'd love any advice as I want to try this again <3 Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Shirin,
      It could be the Ziploc bag, not stirring thoroughly, or perhaps the yogurt you used wasn't creamy. Next time, get the highest-fat Greek yogurt you can find (which would be the highest-calorie one), use plastic wrap, and stir the yogurt thoroughly.
      If kept in the freezer overnight, it also helps to remove it to the counter at least 30 minutes before serving it.

      Reply

  2. Branden Lewis

    How would one go about making a peanut butter frozen yogurt?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Branden,
      Great idea. I would use this chocolate frozen yogurt recipe as a starting point. Replace the cocoa powder with powdered peanut butter and omit the vanilla.

      Reply

  3. Ro

    How do i use vanilla bean vs extract?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I recommend using one whole vanilla bean in this recipe.

      Reply

  4. Paris Heidt Laliberte

    Is there a way to reduce the "yogurt" taste ? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Hi Paris,
      Yes. Increase the honey to 1/3 cup.
      If you like cinnamon, add 1/2 teaspoon of it.

      Reply

  5. Adam

    Can you just use the vanilla and yogurt?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Yes, you can!

      Reply

  6. Amber

    Can your frozen yogurt recipes be made in an ice cream maker? Also, do you think this would work with 2% fa*ge? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Yes. You can mix the ingredients per the instructions and then transfer them to an ice cream maker.
      I don't recommend using 2% fa*ge in my frozen yogurt recipes.

      Reply

  7. Marina

    Have you tried this with fruit in it such as raspberries? Does the consistency turn out right?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Yes, you can add fruit - fresh or frozen, pureed or chunky. I puree the fruit in the food processor, then add the yogurt, honey, and vanilla.

      But you can blend the yogurt and honey first, then add the fruit and process briefly, leaving fruit chunks in your yogurt.

      The fruit flavors I make most often are mango frozen yogurt and raspberry frozen yogurt.

      Reply

  8. Marina

    Will this turn out well with a 2% fat greek yogurt instead of full fat?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Sadly, it won't. I tested this recipe with full-fat Greek yogurt and low-fat Greek yogurt. The full-fat version is significantly better. It's tastier and creamier. The low-fat version is OK, but it's not as good.

      Reply

      • Marina

        Thank you!

  9. Antoinette

    Can this be made in an ice cream maker?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      Yes. You can follow steps 1 and 2 in the recipe card (mixing the ingredients), then transfer the mixture into your ice cream maker. An ice cream maker will eliminate the need to stir the yogurt periodically.

      Reply

  10. Kim

    Can these be placed in a mold to make them into popsicles?

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      I haven't tried this, so I'm not sure.

      Reply

Frozen Yogurt Recipe - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Can frozen yogurt be healthy? ›

Frozen yogurt certainly does have healthy attributes like less calories and fat and some healthy bacteria but there's a lot of variation in the sea of frozen yogurt options. Whether you're at the local yogurt shop or picking up pints at the grocery store – seek out nutrition info and read ingredient labels carefully.

Can you just freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt? ›

It's best to keep in mind that the main purpose of freezing yogurt is so you can save it for later use. This process is entirely different from making the frozen yogurt dessert fro-yo, which is essentially yogurt with the texture of ice cream. Hence, you can't just freeze yogurt to make the frozen yogurt dessert.

Can you make frozen yogurt in an ice cream maker? ›

Directions. Stir together yogurt, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Pour chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions until it reaches "soft-serve" consistency.

What is in yogurt ice cream? ›

Ice cream and frozen yogurt share two main ingredients: dairy and sugar. Both also contain flavorings or other swirled-in ingredients. Unlike ice cream, frozen yogurt incorporates cultured milk, or yogurt. The fat content of the milk largely determines how much overall fat is in the final product.

Is frozen yogurt actually healthier than ice cream? ›

Average all brand of a cup of frozen yogurt contains 10% fat, 37.3 g of sugar, and 221 calories whereas average all brand of a cup of vanilla ice-cream contains 22% fat, 28 g of sugar, and 273 calories. Toppings or the type of ice cream or frozen yogurt may actually determine the healthier choice. Be cautious though!

Is it okay to eat frozen yogurt everyday? ›

Frozen yogurt has less fat than ice cream. But it can contain high amounts of sugar, meaning it should be treated as an occasional treat or dessert.

How do you freeze yogurt and eat it like ice cream? ›

For soft-serve-style fro-yo: Churn until the yogurt reaches the consistency of soft-serve ice cream and serve it right away. For scoopable fro-yo: Once it's finished churning, pack it into a freezer container, or cake pan; cover it with parchment paper; and freeze it until hardened.

Why is my frozen yogurt icy? ›

However, a common problem many encounter when home-making froyo is the icy, chunky consistency — a result of its low-fat but high-moisture nature. To combat this, simply use rich, high-fat cream products as a base or add it to your base.

Can you freeze Chobani yogurt? ›

Absolutely! Frozen Chobani® Greek Yogurt products can be stored in your freezer up to the expiration date listed on the container. While frozen, the cultures become dormant. But once thawed, they become live and active again.

Can you freeze yogurt like a popsicle? ›

Tips for making the best frozen yogurt popsicles

The full fat in the yogurt helps reduce the water content, so they become more creamy and less icy. Use small paper cups. If you don't have a popsicle mold, you can also use small paper cups. Fill ¾ full, then cover with tin foil.

How to make frozen yogurt Jamie Oliver? ›

Strawberry, balsamic & basil fro-yo

In a food processor, blitz 400g of frozen chopped strawberries, 1 peeled banana, 150g of porridge oats, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and the leaves from 2 sprigs of fresh basil until finely chopped. Add 200g of natural yoghurt and blitz again until smooth.

Why is my frozen yogurt so hard? ›

As with ice cream and sorbet, the more sugar you add, the softer your yogurt will be. Sugar molecules get in the way of growing ice crystals, keeping your frozen dessert smooth and creamy.

Is McDonald's ice cream made of frozen yogurt? ›

Absolutely not, and it contains no yogurt. Here is the ingredient list: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate. The composition of this recipe is to design a slurry that freezes rapidly and forms into an icecream-like substance.

Can I freeze Greek yogurt and eat it like ice cream? ›

Yes, you can freeze yogurt to eat like ice cream. Note that the texture may be firmer compared to store-bought frozen yogurt or ice cream, but it still makes a refreshing and healthy snack. How long does yogurt last if I freeze it? Yogurt lasts for one to two months in the freezer.

Why is frozen yogurt so expensive? ›

Real frozen yogurt is expensive to make. It requires full fat milk, yogurt culture, and real fruit to prepare, as well as natural thickeners depending on the freezing point for what has been added. For example, chocolate frozen yogurt is much harder to freeze than other flavors.

Is frozen yogurt more unhealthy than ice cream? ›

Frozen Yogurt: A Wholesome Alternative

Frozen yogurt typically contains less fat and fewer calories than ice cream. A similar serving size of regular frozen yogurt might contain around 4 grams of fat and 17 grams of sugar. Moreover, it can be a source of probiotics, gut-friendly bacteria that aid in digestion.

Is frozen yogurt healthier than yogurt? ›

Don't expect to find all the nutrients in frozen yogurt, either. Some brands contain as little as 4 grams of protein per cup compared to 12 grams of protein in a serving of regular yogurt. And the calcium content in many frozen yogurts doesn't measure up to the real thing.

Does yogurt lose nutrients when frozen? ›

That's because freezing yogurt changes the texture and can mean the loss of its active cultures – but it won't significantly impact its nutritional value.

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