Frozen Yogurt Recipe (With Ice Cream Maker) (2024)

FAQs

Can you just freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt? ›

You can absolutely serve the strawberry Greek yogurt immediately in glasses as a milk shake or a smoothie. But to serve it as a frozen yogurt treat, you do need to freeze it for at least 6 hours until it hardens (same goes for Yogurt Popsicles).

What is the difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream? Both recipes call for dairy and sugar. The dairy in ice cream comes from cream, while frozen yogurt uses cultured milk. The result is that ice cream tends to have a higher fat content, while frozen yogurt contains more sugar to hide its tangier taste.

Adding sugar to full-fat plain yogurt will make it sweet and soft enough to scoop when frozen.

The base is made using strained whole milk yogurt. Straining the yogurt overnight, or for at least 6 hours, will result in a thick yogurt. In the straining process, about 1 cup of liquid whey will be strained out of 1 quart of yogurt. Because we're removing liquid, the yogurt is creamier and less icy.

Can you freeze yoghurt? Yes, you can freeze yoghurt but you should be mindful that its texture will change, becoming thinner and less creamy. It will still be fine to use in cooking or smoothies. To freeze small amounts of yoghurt, pop it in ice cube trays, then transfer cubes to a freezer bag and expel air.

Frozen yogurts vary but are generally made from yogurt, additional cultured milk, sweeteners, and sometimes other dairy derivatives. Contrary to popular belief, regular yogurt's probiotic benefits don't really carry over to frozen yogurt because the cultures are ruined during the freezing process.

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.

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.

One serving of froyo has less than one-fifth as many calories as the same amount of ice cream, making it a good choice if you are trying to lose or maintain weight. Of the three desserts, frozen yogurt also has the lowest total amount of fat, while gelato has almost three times as much fat.

The problem is that yogurt, while creamy when you spoon it from the carton, actually contains a good amount of water and not a lot of fat. When you freeze it, the water forms crystals that make fro-yo icy and decidedly non-creamy.

How do you thicken frozen yogurt? ›

Like many dairy items, yogurt will separate a bit when frozen, which can make it watery or grainy. This makes it essential to stir the thawed yogurt thoroughly before using it. If it separates a lot, you can also blend yogurt in a food processor to bring back some of its smoothness.

Really any yogurt works for making homemade frozen yogurt, however I like using Greek yogurt because the end result is super thick and creamy. I also recommend using plain whole milk yogurt so you can add in your own sweetener and flavors but you could try using vanilla or your favorite flavor for a shortcut!

Now take the yogurt (which at this point is regular yogurt and you can eat it like this if you want) and put it in a yogurt maker/strainer or in 2 layers of cheese cloth over a large bowl and refrigerate for 8-24 hours. The more you refrigerate it while it's straining the thicker it will get.

The best method will depend on how you plan to use it and the freezer space available. It is best to freeze plain yogurt, but it will work with flavored yogurt, too. If looking for a low sugar option, try this strawberry yogurt, vanilla yogurt, or mango yogurt.

In comparison to some dairy products that grainy after freezing (like sour cream or cottage cheese), Greek yogurt freezes beautifully. While it may appear to separate after thawing, simply stir it and it returns to its original texture. It works to eat fresh, or to use in cooked or baked recipes.

Freezing yogurt will not kill the live and active cultures. Once the product is refrigerated again, as it thaws, the live and active cultures will resume normal activity.

#4.

If you are eating vegan alternatives for yogurt, these can be frozen for up to 1 month using the same methods as above.

It won't harm you if that's what you're asking. Yogurt doesn't spoil when frozen, and live cultures in the yogurt should survive. Freezing and thawing may change the texture of the yogurt however, so you may not enjoy it the same. My advice is try it, and if it seems yucky, just toss it.