Frozen Yogurt Recipe (2024)

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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 (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
  • Reviews

Ingredients

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (2)

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.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (3)
Frozen Yogurt Recipe (4)

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

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (5)
Frozen Yogurt Recipe (6)

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.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (7)
Frozen Yogurt Recipe (8)

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.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (9)

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.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (10)

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.

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (11)

More Frozen Yogurt Recipes

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

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Recipe Card

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (15)

4.99 from 889 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.

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (16)

  • 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.

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (17)

  • 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.

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (18)

  • 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.

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (19)

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

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (20)

  • 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.

    Frozen Yogurt Recipe (21)

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.

Nutrition per Serving

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

Made this Recipe?

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment sharing your experience with others. Thank you so much!

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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.

About the Author

Frozen Yogurt Recipe (22) 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

    Review this Recipe or Ask a Question:

  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 (2024)

FAQs

Can you just freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt? ›

Press a piece of parchment against the top of the yogurt to prevent ice crystals from forming. Freeze until hard, at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve the frozen yogurt: When ready to serve, let the frozen yogurt sit on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes, until just soft enough to scoop.

How do you make frozen yogurt in Little Alchemy 2? ›

Little Alchemy 2
  1. Yogurt + Cold.
  2. Yogurt + Ice.

What is the best frozen yogurt combination? ›

The PBandJ: Combine peanut butter yogurt with raspberry sauce, fresh berries, and peanut pieces. You can also invert the flavors by doing it with strawberry yogurt and peanut butter sauce! Pina Colada: Combine coconut and vanilla yogurt, topping it with coconut shavings, pineapple pieces, and a cherry for garnish.

What's frozen yogurt made of? ›

Frozen yogurt consists of milk solids, a sweetener, milk fat, yogurt culture (commonly Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), plus flavorings and sometimes coloring (natural or artificial).

How long does yogurt need to be in the freezer to freeze? ›

Yogurt takes a few hours to freeze completely. We usually keep it in the freezer overnight to prevent a mess. Step 3: Remove the ice cube trays from the freezer and release the yogurt cubes from the ice cube trays. Step 4: Transfer the cubes to a freezer-friendly ziplock bag or an airtight freezer-friendly container.

Does frozen yogurt freeze 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.

How do you make freezing in alchemy? ›

Combine Water, one of the starter elements, with Cold to get Ice. You can also combine Water and Solid to get Ice, though Solid is harder to get. Combine Water with itself to get Puddle, then combine Puddle with Cold to get Ice.

How do you make human soup in Little Alchemy 2? ›

Making the Primordial Soup

The fastest way to make Primordial Soup is by combining Earth and Ocean. Make Ocean by starting with Water combined with Water. Keep combining the new water products with itself or with Water until you get Ocean. Now, combine Earth and Ocean and you'll have the Primordial Soup.

How do you make chocolate milk in Little Alchemy 2? ›

Little Alchemy 2
  1. Chocolate + Milk.
  2. Chocolate + Coconut milk.

What is a substitute for frozen yogurt? ›

Yes, you can substitute plain yogurt for frozen yogurt in a smoothie recipe. However, keep in mind that using plain yogurt will result in a smoothie that is slightly less thick and creamy than if you were to use frozen yogurt.

Is vanilla frozen yogurt better than ice cream? ›

Is frozen yogurt healthier than ice cream? It depends on what your focus is. For those who are looking to limit their sugar intake, ice cream is the healthier option. Instead, if you're hoping to cut down on fats, then usually frozen yogurt is the better choice.

Is frozen yogurt any 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!

Does frozen yogurt have egg in it? ›

Some of our frozen yogurt products contain eggs. Please note that our frozen yogurt is made in a factory that processes eggs, and therefore it is possible that our products contain trace amounts of eggs.

Can diabetics eat frozen yogurt? ›

If you have diabetes or insulin resistance, you'll probably want a lower sugar option. In that case, it might make more sense to choose ice cream as an occasional treat. Look for reduced sugar or no-sugar-added varieties. If you're limiting your fat intake, frozen yogurt will be a better choice for you.

Why can I eat frozen yogurt but not ice cream? ›

Because the fermentation process used to make the frozen yogurt reduces the amount of lactose it contains. Frozen yogurt is also easier to digest than ice cream for people with lactose intolerance. Also frozen yogurt has fewer calories and less sugar than ice cream.

What happens if you freeze regular yogurt? ›

When you freeze yogurt, it changes the flavor and the texture slightly, but the probiotics should remain intact. Yogurt is a popular healthy snack that provides many nutrients and probiotics. It is a fermented milk product with a slightly sour taste and a smooth, often creamy texture.

Why does yogurt say do not freeze? ›

There are several reasons for this recommendation. Firstly, freezing can cause the water in the yogurt to separate from the gel, resulting in a loss of texture. This can make the yogurt become grainy and watery once thawed.

What happens if you freeze Greek 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.

Can you freeze yogurt for yogurt starter? ›

SHORT BREAKS, UP TO 4 WEEKS - FREEZE THE CULTURE!

Put fresh, active yogurt in clean freezer-safe containers. We find ice cube trays to be quite convenient. Fill each cube with the amount of yogurt that it will take to culture 1 cup of milk.

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