How to Make Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: Learn How to Make Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt, and your summer just got way cooler (and sweeter)! I love this quick and clever recipe: it works like magic, tastes so fresh, and is delectably smooth and frosty. 

• Sweet and tangy: There’s nothing like that signature refreshing fro-yo tang.
• As easy as making ice! To make the fro-yo base, simply heat the mixture briefly, then cool it and pour into ice cube trays. No churn, soft serve machine, or ice cream machine necessary!
• Versatile: Use the frozen yogurt base to create four individual soft-serve yogurt servings to order!
• Pick your flavor: This recipe makes plain, chocolate, and strawberry, but the options are endless.
• Irresistibly creamy: The texture is delightfully whipped and mousse-like.

We love taking George to our favorite local frozen yogurt place, but part of the fun of summer is making some frozen treats. And when you see how easy this recipe is, and how much money it will save you over (a cup of fro-yo will run you five times more than my DIY version), you’ll want to make it all year round. Be sure to check out all of our ice cream and frozen desserts, including my soft serve ice cream recipe.

As a mum of a 5-year-old who ADORES frozen yogurt, being able to make it at home is such a bonus. My tip to you is to double or even triple the recipe for the base, and put the yogurt cubes into a freezer bag. The cubes will last for up to two months in the freezer, allowing you to make frozen yogurt—whether for a single serving or a group—whenever you want.  Have fun getting creative with the recipe—start with fruit flavors like mango or summer berries. The soft-serve yogurt is amazing on its own, but adding my homemade toppings, like caramel sauce, raspberry, or chocolate sauce, makes it a real fro-yo shop experience.

Table of Contents

• What is Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutes
• How to Make Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
• FAQs
• More Frozen Treat Recipes

What is Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt?

• Soft-Serve Frozen Yogurt is a Greek yogurt-based treat made from a frozen base that is whipped with either additional yogurt or flavorings until it has a light, whipped texture.
  • The base, made with Greek yogurt, sugar, and plain yogurt, is frozen in ice cube trays.
  • Cocoa or strawberries are full-flavored, natural flavorings that complement the tangy Greek yogurt.
  • The frozen yogurt base cubes are pureed with either the flavorings or additional yogurt for a plain option.
• My Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt contains more protein than most commercially-made yogurts because it’s made with full-fat Greek yogurt, which has approximately 15 grams of protein per serving (twice the amount found in regular yogurt).
• When frozen yogurt was developed in the 1970s as a healthy alternative to ice cream, it was known for being tart and not very creamy. TCBY began selling a soft-serve version in the 1980s that was sweeter and creamier. Shops like Pinkberry brought back the froyo craze with creative flavors, syrups, and toppings, sparking DIY homemade frozen yogurt versions.

Tools You Need

• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups
• Heatproof measuring jug
• Kitchen scale (optional)
• Small saucepan
• Ice cube trays
• Food processor (optional) or blender
• Silicone spatula

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

Frozen Yogurt Base

Heavy whipping cream

• Using heavy whipping cream (with a fat content of at least 36%)  in this recipe ensures that it’s rich and creamy.
• Importantly, the fat in heavy cream keeps the mixture from being icy.
• Additionally, the clean flavor of the cream mellows the Greek yogurt, preventing the mixture from being too tangy.
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of chilled full-fat coconut milk instead of the heavy whipping cream.

Granulated sugar

• Granulated sugar sweetens the frozen yogurt.
• Heating the sugar with the cream dissolves it, preventing any graininess from forming.
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of coconut sugar.
  • Check out my sugar substitute guide for other sugar substitute ideas. Note that sugar-free substitutes do not prevent crystallization as effectively as real sugar.

Unsweetened Greek yogurt

• Greek yogurt is strained, making it luxuriously thick. This gives Chocolate Frozen Yogurt an amazingly creamy and rich texture.
• Additionally, Greek yogurt makes this froyo wonderfully tangy.
• Greek yogurt is high in protein, which helps keep ice crystals from forming in the mixture.
• Make your own Greek yogurt!
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of Skyr (Icelandic) yogurt. Note that it’s slightly tangier than Greek yogurt.
  • For a dairy-free option, use plain, full-fat coconut, almond, or oat Greek-style yogurt.

For Plain Frozen Yogurt

8 frozen yogurt cubes made from Frozen Yogurt Base

Unsweetened yogurt

• Whipping the frozen yogurt cubes with unsweetened yogurt alters the texture by loosening the frozen yogurt while maintaining its creamy consistency.
• Using unsweetened yogurt instead of a liquid helps prevent the mixture from becoming runny or icy.
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of plant-based (almond, oat, or coconut) full-fat regular yogurt.

For Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

8 frozen yogurt cubes made from Frozen Yogurt Base

Cocoa powder

• Cocoa powder provides a wonderfully intense chocolate flavor.
• The slightly bitter, rich cocoa is a good match for the boldly flavored Greek yogurt.
• Substitute: You can use an equal amount of carob powder. Note that it has an earthy, milder taste compared to cocoa.

Milk

• Milk adds moisture to the cocoa powder, allowing it to blend smoothly into the yogurt.
• Substitute: You can use an equal amount of unsweetened plant-based milk in this ice cream yogurt recipe.

For Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

8 frozen yogurt cubes made from Frozen Yogurt Base

Fresh strawberries

• Fresh strawberries add sweet seasonal flavour to the yogurt.
• Because they’re so soft, strawberries incorporate perfectly into the frozen yogurt mixture.
• Substitute: Use an equal amount of your favorite berry, or a mix of berries.

How to Make Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt

To Make the Frozen Yogurt Base

1. Mix cream and sugar: Place the heavy cream and granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Heat mixture: Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved (about 5 minutes).

3. Cool: Pour into a medium, heat-proof jug with a pour spout and let cool for 10 minutes.

4. Add yogurt and pour into trays: Stir in the Greek yogurt until smooth, then pour into 2 ice cube trays and freeze for at least 4 hours (and up to 4 weeks).

To Make Plain Frozen Yogurt

5. Blend yogurt cubes and additional yogurt: Add 8 frozen yogurt cubes to a food processor along with 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Process until you have a soft serve consistency. (You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.)

6. 6. Enjoy or freeze: For a soft serve texture, enjoy immediately or freeze for no longer than 1 hour.

To Make Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

7. Blend yogurt, cocoa, and milk: Add 8 frozen yogurt cubes to a food processor along with cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of milk. Process until you have a soft serve consistency. (You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.)

8. Enjoy or freeze: For a soft serve texture, enjoy immediately or freeze for no longer than 1 hour.

To Make Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

9. Blend yogurt and strawberries: Add 8 frozen yogurt cubes to a food processor along with 2 or 3 fresh strawberries. Process until you have a soft serve consistency. (You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.)

9. Enjoy or freeze: For a soft serve texture, enjoy immediately or freeze for no longer than 1 hour.

FULL (PRINTABLE) RECIPE BELOW!

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• Sweet options: If you want to make this without refined sugar, you can replace the sugar with a ½ cup (5 oz/142 g) of honey or agave. It will give the yogurt a flavor compared to the neutral sweetness of sugar, but you might like the taste.
• Easy storage: Once the cubes are frozen, they can be transferred to a different container or plastic bag for easier storage.
• Made to enjoy soon: Once the frozen yogurt flavors are made, they should be consumed fairly soon, as they will melt quickly. After making the frozen yogurt, you can keep it in the freezer for up to an hour. After an hour, it will become quite hard.
• Make it a smoothie: You can make frozen yogurt shakes by blending the cubes with an extra ¼ cup (2 oz/57 g) of yogurt for plain tart, ¼ cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) of milk for the chocolate or 2-3 extra strawberries for the strawberry and blend long enough for the yogurt to melt enough to be drinkable but still thick.
• Perfect for a party: Learn how to make frozen yogurt, and you can easily double or triple this recipe for a crowd. Set up a fun bar with candy, fruit, and sauce toppings for your guests!

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

• Make-ahead tips: You can prepare the frozen yogurt base cubes ahead of time, transfer them to freezer bags or an airtight container, and freeze for up to one month before using.
• How to store leftovers: Store leftover Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt in the freezer (not the fridge!) for up to one hour.

FAQs

Can I make this Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt dairy-free?

• Yes, you can make the Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt dairy-free.
• In place of the heavy cream, use an equal amount of full-fat coconut milk.
• Instead of Greek yogurt or regular yogurt, use the same amount of a plant-based type.
• In place of milk, use a plant-based substitute.

What’s the difference between soft-serve frozen yogurt and soft-serve ice cream?

• While Soft Serve Frozen Yogurt and soft serve ice cream have similar textures, there are differences in ingredients, texture, and flavor.
• Soft-serve ice cream is made with milk and cream, and is smooth, creamy, and airy, with a sweet, mild flavor.
• Soft serve frozen yogurt is made with yogurt and cream or milk. It’s lighter in texture, tangier, and more refreshing than soft serve ice cream.

What are some good flavoring ideas for this soft serve yogurt recipe?

To 8 frozen yogurt cubes, add:

• 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) peeled, diced stone fruit such as peaches or nectarines
• 1/2 cup (4 oz/115 g) peeled, diced mango
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of almond butter, peanut butter, or Nutella
• A teaspoon of fresh lemon zest plus one tablespoon of honey
• 2 tablespoons of crushed Graham crackers, Oreo cookies, Biscoff cookies, plus 1 tablespoon of milk

In addition to a dish of yogurt, how can I serve this frozen Greek yogurt?

• Serve it in cones
• Add homemade sprinkles
• Top with crushed Graham Crackers, Chocolate Graham Crackers, Digestive Biscuits, Biscoff Cookies, or Oreos
• Enjoy with sliced bananas and nuts
• Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or coconut whipped cream
• Serve with macerated fruit

More Frozen Treat Recipes

• Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream
• Ice Cream Cake
• Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream (No Ice Cream Maker!)
• Homemade Sorbet in 5 Minutes

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