Greek yogurt is a dynamic ingredient in many different healthy snacks. Credit: Public Domain
Greek yogurt treats can add an interesting and tasty dimension. The country’s famous yogurt, once hard to come by outside of Greece, is now available in hundreds of flavors and varieties in supermarkets around the world.
And that’s understandable, because the distinctively thick yogurt has long been praised by doctors and nutritionists for its health benefits.
Many specialists recommend it as a healthy and nutritious alternative to normal, thinner yogurt.
Why? Quite simply, Greek yogurt has a lot more protein and a lot less sugar than regular yogurt.
Here are 3 easy-to-make recipes to keep you cool and give you a healthy alternative to Greek yogurt.
Frozen yogurt with frozen yogurt
Tart Cherry Frozen Yogurt is a delicious, guilt-free palate cleanser. Credit: Public Domain
Ingredients:
¾ cup of frozen sour cherries
2 cups full fat Greek yogurt
1 can of full-fat coconut milk (chilled so you can only use the solid part)
⅔ cups of cane sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon sea salt
Coverings:
Extra sour cherries
Toasted flaked almonds
Instructions:
1. (If you are using frozen cherries, let the cherries thaw on your countertop while mixing your yogurt base).
In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, coconut milk solids, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until everything is well mixed, then pour the mixture into an ice maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Carefully chop the sour cherries with a fork or a potato masher. Add them to your ice cream maker near the end of the whisking time so they’ll spin but not completely crumble.
Eat it right away as a soft ice cream or pour it into a container and freeze it for 30 minutes to firm up, then enjoy your healthy, cool treat!
Frozen Greek Yogurt Coated Blueberry Kebab Treat
Blueberries go great with Greek yogurt, especially frozen! Photo credit: Jody Kaufman, CC BY 3.0
Ingredients:
yogurt
Blueberries
Wooden skewers
Instructions:
1. Stack the blueberries on the skewers, leaving enough space on one side to touch them.
2. Roll the skewer filled with blueberries over a bowl of Greek yogurt to cover it completely.
3. Place them in a jar or parchment paper in the freezer. Once frozen, enjoy!
Vanilla cheesecake popsicles
Vanilla cheesecake popsicles are a rich, decadent treat. Credit: Public Domain
Ingredients:
8 ounces of light cream cheese
1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt or vanilla
1/2 cup 2% milk (or other low-fat milk)
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out
Instructions:
1. Put all ingredients in a food processor. Note: To scrape the seeds off the vanilla pod, cut a layer vertically with a paring knife, then use the back of the knife to scrape the inside of the vanilla pod to remove the seeds. Add seeds to the mixture and discard the rest of the bean. In addition: The addition of a little fresh cardamom gives the bars a great taste of vanilla and fragrance. You can add a pinch of ground cardamom, but remember, a little goes a long way!
2. Pulse until the ingredients are completely mixed. Divide the mixture among eight popsicles and add sticks just like you would for popsicles. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours until set.
3. Take out of the shape and enjoy!
