Frozen Yogurt Recipe (With Ice Cream Maker)

Name: Frozen Yogurt Recipe (With Ice Cream Maker)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 4 cups yogurt (plant-based (see notes)); 1/2 cup maple syrup (sub sugar); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (sub peppermint extract); 1 teaspoon vodka (optional)

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Did you know that you can easily make this frozen yogurt recipe with an ice cream maker at home? It comes together with only 3 ingredients and has that perfect creamy consistency. You can easily make it vegan, too.

A scoop of frozen yogurt in a small glass bowl with a silver spoon.

There's nothing better than the tanginess of yogurt combined with the sweetness of maple syrup. This homemade frozen yogurt recipe checks all the boxes and is made with clean ingredients.

If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can make this frozen yogurt smoothie or this frozen banana ice cream in a blender.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Key ingredients and substitutions
Elo's tips for creamy frozen yogurt
Step-by-step with pictures
Watch the video
Equipment
Frozen yogurt toppings
Frequently asked questions
The recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

This easy frozen yogurt recipe makes the absolute best summer snack.
It has a very short preparation time that allows you to make it right when you crave it.
It's faster to make than homemade ice cream. You don't even have to chill the frozen yogurt mixture prior to churning.

Key ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients for vegan frozen yogurt with descriptive labels.

Plain yogurt is the most important ingredient in this recipe. You want to choose a yogurt that has a relatively high-fat content (3-5 grams of fat/100 grams). I like to mix plain soy yogurt with coconut yogurt for richness (you barely taste the coconut once it's churned). If not vegan, you can use plain Greek yogurt.
Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness.
Vanilla extract is the secret to making it taste like the frozen yogurt from the froyo shop. You can replace it with peppermint extract.

Elo's tips for creamy frozen yogurt

Yogurt has a high water content that can give your frozen yogurt an icy consistency. Here are some tips to obtain the creamiest results.

Use yogurt with high-fat content. That's what's going to make your frozen yogurt creamy instead of icy.
Add 1-2 tablespoons cashew butter if you're worried that the fat content of your yogurt isn't high enough. I like it because it's the nut butter with the most neutral taste.
Add more sugar. Sugar molecules prevent the formation of ice crystals and make your froyo creamier. The more sugar you add, the sweeter and smoother it will be. You can add up to ⅓ cup of sweetener per cup of yogurt.
Add 1 tablespoon of vodka (or white rum). Alcohol lowers the freezing point of the frozen yogurt, which means that it won't freeze as solid. As a result, your yogurt will remain creamier and smoother.

Note that homemade frozen yogurt will not have the same texture as froyo from the grocery store or frozen yogurt shop. That's because manufacturers add a lot of sugar and additives such as gums, stabilizers and emulsifiers.

Step-by-step with pictures

Make sure to place your ice cream maker bowl in the freezer at least one day before making your fro-yo.

STEP 1: Combine. Add the yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl or food processor. Whisk or blend to combine.

Ice cream machine churning yogurt mixture.

STEP 2: Turn on your ice cream maker and pour in the yogurt mixture.

Frozen yogurt in an ice cream machine bowl after churning.

STEP 3: Churn for 20-25 minutes or until it stops. Most ice cream machines stop churning when the mix has reached a thick and creamy texture.

Black loaf pan filled with frozen yogurt from the ice cream maker.

STEP 4: Serve or freeze. If you like a soft serve ice cream consistency, you can eat it right after churning. Alternatively, transfer the frozen yogurt mixture into a baking dish or loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze it for 2 more hours. If you freeze it overnight or longer, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes until it reaches a scoopable consistency.

You can pimp this basic recipe by stirring in peanut butter, jam, chocolate chips or cookies after churning.

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Equipment

Ice cream machines are affordable kitchen appliances. Basic ones usually do a great job at a really good price point. The only minus is that you have to place the whole churning bowl in your freezer, which takes up a lot of space. However, that's the case for most ice cream machines out there.
Stand mixer ice cream attachments are a great alternative to ice cream machines. If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, you can get this ice cream attachment. It will save you from buying another kitchen appliance.

Ice cream scoop scooping frozen yogurt out of a tub.

Frozen yogurt toppings

Fresh berries and fresh fruit
Candied ginger and nuts
Chocolate chips, chocolate chunks or melted dark chocolate
Caramel sauce
Peanut or almond butter

Frequently asked questions

Is frozen yogurt healthy?

The healthiness of homemade frozen yogurt depends on the amount of added sugar. Higher amounts of sugar improve the creaminess and texture of the froyo but also impact its nutritional value. Froyo made with plain yogurt and little added sugar can be considered healthy.

What is the difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream?

Ice cream is commonly made from heavy cream, egg yolks and sugar while frozen yogurt is made from fermented milk and sugar.

What to do with leftover frozen yogurt?

You can freeze leftover froyo in an airtight container or baking dish covered with plastic wrap for up to 1 month. Since the yogurt turns completely solid when frozen for longer periods of time, you need to take it out of the freezer 10-15 minutes prior to serving.

Scoop of frozen yogurt ice cream in a silver ice cream scoop.

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The recipe