Simple Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt – Honey Sweetened Recipe
When ice cream feels a bit too indulgent, vanilla bean frozen yogurt is the perfect go-to. This easy vanilla bean frozen yogurt recipe offers a lighter, tangier alternative to ice cream without compromising on flavour or creaminess. It’s smooth, slightly sweet, delightfully tangy, and packed with gut-friendly probiotics! With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this delicious frozen treat in no time, making it the perfect dessert for any occasion.
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I love homemade ice cream, but sometimes it can feel a bit too rich, especially when I have a surplus of homemade yogurt that needs to be used! That’s when homemade vanilla bean frozen yogurt comes to the rescue!
It’s the perfect way to use up any leftover yogurt, while creating a light, sweet, and tangy dessert that’s both refreshing and satisfying. The vanilla bean adds a touch of luxury, making it feel like an indulgence without being overly heavy. Plus, it’s packed with probiotics, offering a gut-friendly treat that you can enjoy guilt-free.
I also enjoy sweetening this frozen yogurt with honey but you can substitute for can sugar as well.
Why You’ll Love This Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt
- It only requires 5 simple ingredients
- It’s as easy as making homemade ice cream
- It is a light, tangy, refreshing, lightly sweet frozen treat
- It uses up your excess homemade yogurt!
The Health Benefits Of Homemade Yogurt
Homemade yogurt is rich in probiotics. Probiotics are essential for supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
Homemade yogurt is rich in protein. Protein is essential for so many bodily functions, muscle maintenance, and increase satiety.
Homemade yogurt is rich in calcium and other vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals are essential for immune health, digestive health, cognitive function, bone health, and more.
How To Make Homemade Yogurt
Making homemade yogurt is as simple as heating up milk, letting it cool down to the right temperature, adding yogurt culture, and letting it ferment in a warm place for 12-24 hours. After that, just let it set in the fridge for another 12 hours, and voilà! You have delicious, creamy homemade yogurt ready to enjoy or make frozen yogurt with!
Learn more about how to make homemade yogurt here!
What Kind of Ice Cream Maker Should I Use?
For this recipe, I’m using a vintage manual ice cream maker I found at the thrift store for $8. There is a newer version of our manual ice cream maker but it’s pricey, we lucked out.
I prefer a manual ice cream maker because I like using things that don’t require a plug or batteries. Manual means there are fewer things to break, replace, or burn out. The insert needs to be frozen solid but other than that, your arms do the work.
Can You Make Frozen Yogurt Without an Ice Cream Maker?
Yes, you can make frozen yogurt without an ice cream maker!
Before I found the amazing manual ice cream maker, I was making frozen yogurt by hand. It took longer and turned out icy when fully frozen but it works! All you have to do is make your mix and place it in your freezer-friendly dish.
After about 2 hours, fold in the frozen edges every hour until soft serve frozen yogurt is made. If you prepare it in the morning, it should be done by the evening for dessert!
3 Frozen Yogurt Flavour Variations To Try
Lemon Frozen Yogurt:
Lemon is another favourite of ours! The tartness of the lemon beautifully complements the tangy yogurt, creating a light and refreshing dessert. Simply swap vanilla extract for lemon extract, then add the zest of one lemon and a bit of juice for that perfect citrusy kick!
Strawberry Rhubarb Frozen Yogurt:
For a fruity twist, stew about 1-2 cups of strawberries and rhubarb, then fold the mixture into your vanilla bean frozen yogurt. This combo adds a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavours!
Maple Pecan Frozen Yogurt:
To make a cozy, nutty version, replace vanilla extract with maple extract, and use maple syrup instead of honey to sweeten the base. Toss in chopped pecans—around 1/2 cup—and you’ve got yourself a rich and comforting frozen treat!
Why Use Egg Yolks?
Egg yolks help this frozen dessert from forming ice crystals when frozen. Egg yolks are also very nutrient dense and safe to eat raw for a good source. If you don’t want to use raw egg yolks, you can use 1/4 cup heavy cream instead.
Either egg yolks or heavy cream will help create the creamy, smo
How Long Does Homemade Frozen Yogurt Store in the Freezer?
This homemade frozen yogurt will store well in the freezer for 2-3 months. However, it probably won’t last that long as it tastes the best the first few days!
Materials You’ll Need
Ice Cream Maker: You can use manual or electric, just make sure the insert is fully frozen. Ignore if you plan on mixing it by hand.
Medium Mixing Bowl: To mix your ingredients in.
Whisk: The whisk together your ingredients.
Freezer-friendly Container: To store your frozen yogurt in, it should be large enough to hold 1 quart. Opt for a wide and shallow dish – glass, plastic, or stainless steal will work. A tall and narrow container will work but it will take longer to freeze and will freeze less evenly. I like stainless steel for frozen yogurt but glass would be my second option, it just takes a bit longer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Yogurt: Any kind of yogurt. Thick, greek or homemade yogurt would be best but use whatever you have on hand!
Egg Yolks: We won’t be cooking the mixture so the highest quality egg yolks you can get your hands on. You can use whole eggs but using only egg yolks increases the fat ratio, making a smoother end product. I was using whole eggs but it freezes harder and icier.
Honey: The smoothest, local-est honey you can afford.
Vanilla Bean: The paste of half a vanilla bean for hella depth of flavour. Or you can use vanilla extract if you can’t get whole vanilla beans.
Salt: A bit of sea salt to bring everything together.
How To Make Homemade Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt
Prep: Ensure the ice cream maker insert has been frozen for at least 24 hours.
Mix the Base: Whisk together egg yolks and honey in a bowl. Add yogurt, vanilla bean and salt, mixing until smooth.
Churn: Set up your ice cream maker with the frozen insert. Pour the mixture in and churn to your desired consistency. This step will take 20-30 minutes.
Combine: Scoop the frozen yogurt out of the ice cream maker into your dish for freezing. Enjoy immediately as soft serve or freeze in a covered container for firmer ice cream.
Simple Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Equipment
- Ice Cream Maker
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Freezer-friendly Container
Ingredients
- 4 cups Yogurt
- 2 Egg Yolks
- 1/4 cup Honey or Cane Sugar 85g
- 1/2 Vanilla Bean Pod or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Prep: Ensure the ice cream maker insert has been frozen for at least 24 hours.
- Mix the Base: Whisk together egg yolks and honey in a bowl. Add yogurt, vanilla bean and salt, mixing until smooth.
- Churn: Set up your ice cream maker with the frozen insert. Pour the mixture in and churn to your desired consistency. This step will take 20-30 minutes.
- Combine: Scoop the frozen yogurt out of the ice cream maker into your dish for freezing. Enjoy immediately as soft serve or freeze in a covered container for firmer ice cream.
Notes
Do I have to add raw yolks?
No, you don’t. It does add more natural fat to your frozen yogurt, making it creamier, but you can replace it with 1/4 cup of heavy cream instead.
How do I keep the frozen yogurt from freezing hard?
Without the added anti-freeze in homemade frozen desserts, they will freeze harder than store-bought. However, you can add 1/4-1/2 cup extra of heavy cream for more creaminess or simply pull your frozen dessert out 15 minutes prior to scooping, it will soften slightly.
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