Making frozen yogurt at home can be tricky. But what if you could make a drinkable version? This no-churn frozen yogurt smoothie can be made in a blender and will satisfy your frozen yogurt cravings.
If you like thicker smoothies, you'll love the creamy texture of this one as it's very close to churned frozen yogurt. It makes an incredibly healthy and easy snack that's perfect for hot summer days.
Once you made frozen yogurt cubes, you can also add them to other smoothies. Our favorites from the blog are this frozen banana smoothie, frozen mango smoothie or frozen strawberry smoothie.
Why you'll love this recipe
- This frozen yogurt alternative can be made without an ice cream maker.
- It's really easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients.
- It's kid-friendly and can be made without added sugars.
- This recipe is very versatile. You can make plain frozen yogurt smoothies or vary the flavors by adding fruits (see below).
- You can make it vegan or use regular yogurt.
Key ingredients
- Plain yogurt is the key ingredient of this recipe. You want to buy thick, unsweetened yogurt. Don't use the light versions. We usually go for unsweetened soy yogurt. Coconut yogurt works great as well if you like the coconut flavor.
- Vanilla-flavored milk alternative helps the blending process. I like to use vanilla soy milk for this recipe as it provides a creamy texture and doesn't mask the flavor of the yogurt.
- Vanilla extract enhances the vanilla flavor of the drink and makes it taste just like frozen yogurt.
- Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to the smoothie. You can replace it with your favorite liquid sweetener (e.g., agave syrup). Feel free to leave it out if the yogurt or milk you're using is already sweetened.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Elo's tips
- Use a clean ice cube tray. Make sure it's free from fat and any other residues as this could alter the flavor of the yogurt.
- Make a big batch of frozen yogurt cubes if you make smoothies on the regular.
- Store frozen yogurt cubes in an airtight container(or silicone bags). This prevents the yogurt flavor from getting altered in the freezer.
- Use a tamper if your high-speed blender comes with one. It prevents the yogurt from sticking to the sides and improves the blending process.
Step-by-step with pictures
STEP 1: Spoon yogurt into an ice-cube tray. Tap it several times against the countertop to flatten the yogurt and remove air bubbles. Place it in the freezer for at least 8 hours or until completely frozen.
Note that if using plant-based yogurt, it will turn yellowish once frozen. The taste and texture are not impacted and the yogurt will turn white and creamy again while blending.
STEP 2: Add the frozen yogurt cubes with the milk, vanilla extract and maple syrup to a blender (see video).
STEP 3: Blend until smooth. If your blender has an ice-crushing setting, it's perfect to break down the frozen yogurt cubes. Then, continue blending on low-medium and gradually increase the speed to prevent cavitation. If necessary, stop blending, scrape down the sides and start blending again.
STEP 4: Optionally, adjust flavor and consistency. Add a splash of milk if you'd like a thinner texture. Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you want it tarter and more maple syrup if you like it sweeter.
Equipment
A high-speed blender is great to make frozen smoothies. It's powerful enough to break down solids and provides incredibly smooth textures. It also has more resistant blades compared to smaller blenders.
As someone who makes smoothies, nut butter and sauces on the regular, I can say that this KitchenAid blender has been one of my best investments. I find that it's extremely performant while being a little cheaper than its equivalents.
Watch the video!
Variations
- Fruity frozen yogurt - replace some of the frozen yogurt cubes with frozen fruit (e.g., mango, strawberries, banana). You can also use fresh fruit.
- Chocolaty frozen yogurt - add two teaspoons of cocoa powder to the blender and stir in cacao nibs.
- Nutty frozen yogurt - add a heaping tablespoon of almond or peanut butter when blending.
Frequently asked questions
Frozen yogurt is made of yogurt (from cultured milk) and sugar, while ice cream is made of heavy cream, eggs and sugar. Overall, ice cream is higher in fat but store-bought frozen yogurt can be high in added sugars. Flavor-wise, frozen yogurt tends to be tangier than ice cream.
Frozen yogurt is usually churned in an ice cream machine, which gives it its thick and creamy texture. If you would freeze a tub of yogurt, you would end up with a solid block. The trick to making creamy frozen yogurt without churning is to freeze it into ice cubes and blend these with a little milk.
It all depends on the ingredients. Homemade frozen yogurt that uses plain, unsweetened yogurt and a little to no sugar is healthy. Some frozen yogurt may also contain live and active probiotic cultures that are beneficial for the gut. However, store-bought brands may contain added sugar and flavorings.
If stored in an airtight container, you can keep yogurt ice cubes for up to 1 month.
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The recipe
Frozen Yogurt Smoothie
Equipment
- Ice cube tray
Ingredients
- 1 cup yogurt plant-based
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) vanilla-flavored milk plant-based
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Spoon the yogurt into a clean ice cube tray. Place it in the freezer for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Add the frozen yogurt cubes to a blender with the milk, vanilla extract and maple syrup.
- Break down the frozen yogurt cubes using the ice-crush setting of your blender if it has one. Then, start blending on low-medium and gradually increase the speed. If necessary, stop blending from time to time to scrape down the sides (see video).
- Add your toppings of choice and serve right away.
Video
Notes
- A high-speed blender is ideal to make this frozen smoothie. It's powerful enough to break down solids and provides an incredibly smooth texture. It also has more resistant blades compared to smaller blenders. This KitchenAid blender is the one I've been using for over 2 years and one of my best purchases!
- You can leave out the maple syrup if you're yogurt and/or milk are already sweetened.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you want it tarter.
- Store leftover frozen yogurt cubes in an airtight container (or silicone bags). This prevents the yogurt flavor from getting altered in the freezer.
Nutrition
More smoothie recipes
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