Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (2024)

This thick and creamy soft serve chocolate frozen yogurt recipe is the perfect low calorie dessert for a hot summer day!

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (1)

Easy dark chocolate frozen yogurt recipe

With just five ingredients, it’s almost too simple to make this recipe at home.

And the best part is that there’s no heavy cream or condensed milk, and no ice cream maker required for the homemade chocolate froyo.

It turns out ultra rich and smooth, and the recipe can be dairy free, egg free, gluten free, vegan, sugar free, nut free, low carb, low fat, and keto friendly.

Also try this Pineapple Dole Whip Recipe

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (3)

Healthy chocolate frozen yogurt ingredients

Here’s what you need for the diy chocolate recipe: plain yogurt, cocoa powder, salt, sweetener of choice, and pure vanilla extract.

The cocoa powder: This can be regular unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch cocoa powder, or even hot cocoa or hot chocolate mix. I recommend using Dutch if you want the most authentic and rich chocolate taste.

The yogurt: Pretty much any regular or Greek yogurt works here, including dairy free yogurt like almond milk or coconut milk yogurt. If you wish to use vanilla yogurt, omit the vanilla extract in the recipe. Or for a fun twist, try blueberry or strawberry yogurt.

Sweetener of choice: Use your go-to all purpose granulated or liquid sweetener. Regular sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, pure maple syrup, honey, or agave all work. To lower the calories or for sugar free frozen yogurt, you can use erythritol or xylitol.

Optional ingredients: Change up the flavor and pack in added nutrition with a mashed banana, a few tablespoons of peanut butter or Homemade Nutella, or a scoop of plain or chocolate protein powder.

For a vegan recipe, choose plant based yogurt. For keto chocolate frozen yogurt with no sugar, choose your favorite keto yogurt and sweetener.

Use leftover cocoa powder to make Chocolate Banana Bread

Above – watch the homemade chocolate frozen yogurt recipe video

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (4)

How to make the best chocolate frozen yogurt

In a large mixing bowl or a blender, whisk or process the yogurt, cocoa powder, salt, sweetener, and pure vanilla extract.

Also add in the optional banana and peanut or almond butter, if using.

Once evenly mixed, transfer the chocolate yogurt mixture to either a frozen ice cream machine or a chilled large airtight container.

(The ice cream machine yields a creamier texture, but I’ve tried both methods, and they are both super tasty. There’s also a blender method included below.)

Stir the yogurt in the container or churn in the machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. Then swirl in about a third cup of mini chocolate chips if you wish.

You can eat the chocolate fudge frozen yogurt immediately as chocolate soft serve or freeze for up to an hour for a firmer texture.

If not using an ice cream maker, place the bowl of chocolate yogurt in the freezer. Stir the contents every half hour for two or three hours total.

Store leftover froyo in the airtight container for up to a month. Thaw for about fifteen to thirty minutes before enjoying.

I have a Cuisinart ice cream maker. Other brands like KitchenAid are also good choices. As mentioned, you can easily make the recipe without an ice cream machine if you do not own one.

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (5)

How to make it in the blender

If you have a high speed blender, like a Blendtec or Vitamix, you can make the recipe without using either of the two methods above.

Pour the chocolate yogurt mixture into ice cube trays or a very shallow long container and freeze until solid.

Pop the chocolate ice cubes into the blender, and blend with the tamper until it reaches a smooth soft serve texture.

This option will only work in a blender that is strong enough to fully blend and pulverize hard foods like frozen fruit and ice cubes.

While the blender is out, make Brownie Batter Dip or Protein Pudding

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (6)

More chocolate ice cream recipes

Oat Milk Ice Cream

Protein Ice Cream

Almond Milk Ice Cream

Chocolate Sorbet

Coconut Ice Cream

Banana Ice Cream

Keto Ice Cream

Avocado Ice Cream

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (7)

The recipe was adapted from my Homemade Frozen Yogurt and Cherry Frozen Yogurt, and from this homemade Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt.

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Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

This thick and creamy soft serve chocolate frozen yogurt recipe is the perfect easy dessert for a hot day.

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (8)

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Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Yield 5 servings

5 from 39 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups plain yogurt (dairy free works too)
  • 1/2 cup Dutch or regular cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup sweetener of choice
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • optional 1/3 cup peanut butter or almond butter
  • optional add-ins, such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a mashed banana

Instructions

  • Mix everything in a large bowl or a blender. Transfer to either an ice cream machine or a chilled large airtight container. If using an ice cream machine, churn according to manufacturer’s instructions, then serve and enjoy. If using a container instead, place the bowl in the freezer. Take it out to stir every half hour, for a total of two or three hours, until chilled and creamy. Natural homemade chocolate frozen yogurt is creamiest the day it's made because it freezes solid, so thaw leftovers for fifteen minutes or so before serving.

    View Nutrition Facts

Notes

Readers also love these Sweet Potato Brownies.

Have you made this recipe?

Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram

Healthy Chocolate Recipe Ideas

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Black Bean Brownies

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

Or this Keto Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Keto Brownies

Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt - Creamy, Healthy Soft Serve Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier soft-serve ice cream or frozen yogurt? ›

Significantly, frozen yogurt can also contain probiotics, or live active cultures. These healthy microorganisms can boost your immune system and improve the health of your digestive tract. Ice cream and gelato do not have probiotics, potentially making frozen yogurt a healthier choice.

Can frozen yogurt be soft-serve? ›

A frozen yogurt is not a cultured yogurt product that is then quiescently frozen but rather a non-standardized soft-serve type frozen dessert to which some quantity of yogurt or acidulant might have been added to alter the pH of the final product.

Which is creamier frozen yogurt or ice cream? ›

Frozen yogurt does not use cream, but sometimes uses more sugar to compensate for its tart flavor. Some frozen yogurts contain very beneficial bacteria for numerous health benefits. Frozen yogurt can be “healthy” for you! Ice cream contains the most cream out of the three because of its 10% milk fat minimum.

How do you freeze yogurt and eat it like ice cream? ›

For soft-serve-style fro-yo: Churn until the yogurt reaches the consistency of soft-serve ice cream and serve it right away. For scoopable fro-yo: Once it's finished churning, pack it into a freezer container, or cake pan; cover it with parchment paper; and freeze it until hardened.

What is healthier soft serve of ice cream? ›

Ultimately, it depends on the recipes being used, but, generally speaking, soft serve tends to be the healthier choice between the two. This is due to the fact that soft serve contains around 3%-6% of milk fat, while ice cream must contain at least 10% by federal law.

Is soft-serve frozen yogurt healthy? ›

Frozen yogurt makers often claim it is a healthier alternative to ice cream, but that depends on the ingredients. It's usually lower in fat and calories than ice cream, but it can be just as high in sugar.

What is soft-serve frozen yogurt made of? ›

Frozen yogurt usually consists of milk solids, some kind of sweetener, milk fat, yogurt culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are common cultures), natural or artificial flavorings, and sometimes natural or artificial coloring. Milk fat comprises about 0.55-6% of the yogurt.

Will yogurt be like frozen yogurt if you freeze it? ›

It may look grainier or thinner, but its flavor and nutritional benefits will be unchanged. But you may want to check the ingredients to decide which yogurt is best for eating after freezing.

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

The fermentation process of frozen yogurt may reduce the amount of lactose in the final product. For this reason, people with lactose intolerance may digest frozen yogurt better than ice cream ( 19 ).

Is gelato healthier than frozen yogurt? ›

Frozen yogurt is lower in fat than gelato. Is gelato or frozen yogurt healthier? While both desserts are high in sugar, frozen yogurt is more nutritionally balanced. No matter which one you prefer, there are ways to cut calories and get more nutritional bang for your buck.

What makes the creamiest ice cream? ›

As you churn ice cream, individual water molecules turn into ice-crystal seeds — which is what makes cream freeze. The higher the fat content, the more time you have to churn before these ice crystals congregate, resulting in creamier final texture.

What is frozen yogurt ice cream called? ›

Frozen yogurt (also known as frogurt or by the tradename Froyo; /ˈfroʊjoʊ/) is a frozen dessert made with yogurt and sometimes other dairy and non-dairy products. Frozen yogurt is a frozen product containing the same basic ingredients as ice cream, but contains live bacterial cultures.

Does frozen yogurt count as ice cream? ›

Frozen yogurt is made with cultured milk, and ice cream with cream,” says Oskian. Generally, regular ice cream provides more total fat than frozen yogurt. “For ice cream to be called ice cream, it must have at least 10% milk fat. Frozen yogurt can have anywhere from 2% to 6% milk fat.

Can you freeze creamy yogurt? ›

Yes, you can freeze yoghurt but you should be mindful that its texture will change, becoming thinner and less creamy.

What's better soft serve or frozen yogurt? ›

Their major differences come down to their fat, added sugar and probiotics. Regular ice cream is richer in fat, while frozen yogurt has more added sugar. If you're watching your fat intake or added sugar intake, that may help guide which is a better choice for you.

Is frozen yogurt more healthy 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!

Is frozen yogurt any better for you than ice cream? ›

“Ounce for ounce, frozen yogurt has about 25 fewer calories than ice cream—and only a third of the fat and saturated fat,” she says. So while frozen yogurt can be healthy, it's not always much better than a pint of Ben & Jerry's in the end. It all depends on how much you down—and what you eat it with.

Is DQ soft serve healthier than ice cream? ›

Is soft serve ice cream lower in calories? Yes, usually. Soft-serve is lower in fat than traditional ice cream, and has air whipped into it to give it that soft, airy texture. The air creates volume, which makes it have less actual calories than the same visual amount of scooped ice cream, as well.

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