Healthy Homemade Cherry Frozen Yogurt
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Make my famous healthy homemade Cherry Frozen Yogurt that we made at my bake shop! This homemade frozen yogurt uses real cherries for a cool summer treat that’s a little healthier than the yogurt shop!
If you’re looking for more frozen dessert recipes, check out Olive Oil Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches, Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, or my favorite Bone Broth Chocolate Milkshake.
When you’re craving a cool treat, but also want something a little healthy this Cherry Frozen Yogurt hits all the notes. This healthy frozen yogurt uses real whole milk and yogurt along with fresh cherries.
Free of artificial colors, this naturally pink frozen yogurt is summer in a cup (or cone!). When I opened my bake shop we made frozen yogurt from scratch daily. And now you can make one of our most popular flavors at home.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 4 Ingredients: This homemade frozen yogurt has only 4 ingredients, making it simple and easy!
- Uses Real Cherries: I make a homemade cherry syrup to flavor this, but you can also take a shortcut and use organic cherry flavor if you prefer. I provide a simple substitution below.
- Healthy Frozen Yogurt: This homemade frozen yogurt is much healthier than hitting up the local yogurt shop. Most all fro yo shops contain artificial colors and flavors — and some even use mixes that don’t even have real milk!
- Real Milk: I use organic whole milk and yogurt. This gives you the health benefits of probiotics, healthy fats, and omega-3s in this healthy frozen yogurt.
Ingredients
- Cherries: I use organic fresh cherries for this. Frozen also works if you don’t want to pit them, this is a great way to go. But, you can take a shortcut and use an organic cherry flavor instead. I provide notes in the tips below on that.
- Milk: I use organic whole milk, while most fro yo places use nonfat milk (if any real milk at all)! But, low fat milks have less fat (more water) which can make frozen yogurt icy. So for the creamiest frozen yogurt, use whole milk.
- Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar which is less processed than granulated white sugar.
- Yogurt: I use organic plain yogurt because we are adding sugar to the milk and cherries, so we don’t need it in the yogurt too!
Tools Needed
- Scale: I always use a digital food scale for the best results.
- Small Pot: You’ll need a small pot to cook the cherry syrup and also heat the milk and sugar.
- Whisk: I use a whisk for both the cherry syrup and the milk.
- Mixing Bowl: You’ll need a large mixing bowl to mix up the yogurt and milk mixture. It's nice to have one with a lid so you can store the milk mixture in the fridge to chill.
- Strainer: I use a fine mesh strainer to strain the cherry compote.
- Ice Cream Maker: I use my ice cream maker attachment for my stand mixer. But you could also use a Ninja Creami or a Dessert Station too! It just makes a lot more liquid than these smaller machines can hold at one time so you could churn it two or three times maybe.
- Ateco Tip #804: I use Ateco tip #804 for pitting cherries. Totally optional, but definitely a game changer for pitting cherries easily and fast (make sure to watch the video!). We used this in my bakery to pit cherries.
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Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Place your ice cream maker in the freezer and let it chill for 24 hours.
Step 2
To make the cherry compote: Pit the cherries. My top trick for this is using Ateco decorating tip #804 (see video). But, if you don’t have this, you can use a small pairing knife to cut in half and remove the pits.
Add the cherries, 226 grams cane sugar, and water to a small pot. Put over low/medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Then turn the heat up to medium/high and bring to a gentle boil. Continue to cook until the mixture has reduced by half.
Strain the cherry liquid into a large mixing bowl and reserve the cooked cherries.
Step 3
To make the frozen yogurt: In a small pot, add the milk and 113 grams cane sugar. Put over medium/high heat and heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture reaches 140°F on a drink thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer, just ensure the sugar is dissolved and the milk does not boil or burn (as that burned flavor will transfer to the fro yo).
Step 4
Add the milk to the cherry juice mixture. Allow this mixture to come to room temperature or place in the fridge to chill completely.
Once the milk and cherry mixture has cooled, add in the plain yogurt and whisk to combine completely.
Step 5
Turn the ice cream maker on and slowly pour in the cherry mixture.
Churn for 20 minutes (or follow the instructions on your ice cream maker if not using the KitchenAid attachment).
Transfer one third of the fro yo mixture to a 1-pound loaf pan and spread evenly. Top with one third of cherry compote and swirl it in. Repeat with another third of fro yo and compote and then again until it’s gone.
Transfer the frozen yogurt to the freezer and freeze overnight. It’s best to store frozen yogurt in an airtight container once made.
Baker’s Tips
- Use whole milk and whole yogurt for the creamiest frozen yogurt. While you can use low fat options, it can become icy with lower fat options.
- I use real cherries and make a homemade cherry syrup, but you can use organic cherry extract or flavor instead. Just add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cherry extract or flavor to the milk mixture and just taste the milk mixture before churning. You can adjust to your liking as all flavors or extracts will be a little different. At my bakery we used Frontier Co-Op Cherry Flavor, which has been discontinued, unfortunately. I have found this organic black cherry extract that we like though!
- Folding in the cooked cherries is optional. If you want a smooth fro yo, just leave them out.
- Be sure to store in an airtight container in the freezer.
FAQ’s
Yes, you can definitely use frozen cherries in place of fresh. You don’t even need to thaw them as the excess moisture will evaporate when you cook them.
Yes, you could use strawberries, raspberries, or even blueberries.
Craving More?
Healthy Homemade Cherry Frozen Yogurt
Equipment
- Stand Mixer (or ice cream maker)
- Ateco Tip #804 (optional, for pitting)
Ingredients
Cherry Compote
- 226 grams cherries (pitted)
- 226 grams cane sugar
- 1 cup water
Frozen Yogurt
- 2 cups milk
- 113 grams cane sugar
- 454 grams plain yogurt
Instructions
- Place your ice cream maker in the freezer and let it chill for 24 hours.
- To make the cherry compote: Pit the cherries. My top trick for this is using Ateco decorating tip #804 (see video). But, if you don’t have this, you can use a small pairing knife to cut in half and remove the pits.
- Add the cherries, 226 grams cane sugar, and water to a small pot. Put over low/medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Then turn the heat up to medium/high and bring to a gentle boil. Continue to cook until the mixture has reduced by half.
- Strain the cherry liquid into a large mixing bowl and reserve the cooked cherries.
- To make the frozen yogurt: In a small pot, add the milk and 113 grams cane sugar. Put over medium/high heat and heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture reaches 140°F on a drink thermometer. If you don’t have a thermometer, just ensure the sugar is dissolved and the milk does not boil or burn (as that burned flavor will transfer to the fro yo).
- Add the milk to the cherry juice mixture. Allow this mixture to come to room temperature or place in the fridge to chill completely.
- Once the milk and cherry mixture has cooled, add in the plain yogurt and whisk to combine completely.
- Turn the ice cream maker on and slowly pour in the cherry mixture.
- Churn for 20 minutes (or follow the instructions on your ice cream maker if not using the KitchenAid attachment).
- Transfer one third of the fro yo mixture to a 1-pound loaf pan and spread evenly. Top with one third of cherry compote and swirl it in. Repeat with another third of fro yo and compote and then again until it’s gone.
- Transfer the frozen yogurt to the freezer and freeze overnight. It’s best to store frozen yogurt in an airtight container once made.
Video
Love this cherry fro yo as it’s flavored with real cherries!
This is recipe is a SWEET 🍒 easy treat! You can only make so many luxardo cherries 😜
Love this recipe! So easy and tastes better then any store bought froyo!