Homemade Frozen Yogurt

I've really missed soft-serve frozen yogurt.  You can never really be sure the stuff they serve at yogurt places is gluten-free, and you can be pretty sure there's cross-contamination.  I tried the obvious first:  put some store-bought yogurt into the ice cream maker.  Not only did it work, it only took a few more tweaks to make something so tasty, rich and creamy that you'll never be tempted by TCBY again.

I use the Publix store brand fruit on the bottom lowfat yogurt.  While it is fantastic straight out of the ice-cream maker, after a few hours it gets pretty hard.  I would need to thaw it out for a while (20 minutes or so) before serving once it has frozen overnight.  I could make it creamier straight from the freezer by reducing liquid and increasing fat.  That can mean using full-fat yogurt (or greek-style) or using all cream instead of cream and milk.  Added sugar will help (to a point), as will a small amount of guar gum.  Since we tend to finish it off pretty quickly, this isn't a problem. 

Homemade Frozen Yogurt

Freeze the bucket of your ice-cream maker according to directions (usually for at least 24 hours).  Leave it in the freezer until ready to process. 

Combine the following in a separate bowl:

12 ounces of sweetened/flavored yogurt (I use fruit on the bottom)
OR
12 ounces of plain yogurt plus jam, honey, or other sweetener to taste

AND
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar (optional, depending on flavor desired)
1 cup fresh berries or fruit, chopped small (optional) or nuts

Mix everything together
Process in ice cream freezer until slightly thicker than soft-serve

Serve immediately, or freeze up to two hours first.  After two hours, let thaw on counter for 20 minutes before serving to soften up.  

Serves 4 at 1-2 scoops each, or 2 at NOMNOMNOMNOM size servings. 

Gluten-Free Featured Product: Yoplait Yogurt

GLUTEN FREE FEATURED PRODUCT

A regular postings of gluten-free products that I use myself and are available in my local grocery store.  You can check your local store for these items, order them online, or ask your store to stock them. I do not have any relationship with the companies in question, nor do I receive any form of compensation for these reviews. Gluten-Free status is based on information from the manufacturer, the current Cecelia's Marketplace shopping guide and personal experience, and may change if the company changes formulation or manufacturing processes.

Yoplait Yogurt

Yoplait is a gluten-free hero in my book, because they actually label which of their yogurts are gluten-free.  Check the back of the container, near the middle.  The labels are there for their original and light yogurts, but I did not have one of their greek yogurts to check.  Even flavors you would expect to be off the table (like strawberry cheesecake) are actually gluten-free (and also now in my fridge...).  Remember to double-check the package, as they will remove the gluten-free label if their manufacturing processes change and it is no longer gluten-free.