Easy Cherry Frozen Yogurt ~ Here’s an essential kitchen hack to have in your back pocket for the summer. This frozen yogurt doesn’t require an ice cream maker, If you’ve got a good food processor or one of those super duper blenders, you’re home free.
You can use store bought frozen fruit, but I prefer to freeze my own at peak season.. Berries, peaches, bananas…almost any fruit will work, but fresh cherries are the ultimate luxury.
To freeze fresh fruit, peel, slice or pit it if necessary, and spread it out on a baking tray. Set it in the freezer until frozen solid. Then you can put it in a zip lock freezer bag to keep for later, or use for this recipe. Fresh cherries are a luxury partly because the season is short, and partly because pitting them is a chore. I love my little cherry pitter, it’s an inexpensive and indispensable tool if you love fresh cherries. I use this one.
Ingredients
- 1 lb cherries
- 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt (you can use vanilla yogurt if you like it sweetened)
- 1 Tbsp Amaretto (optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
Instructions
- Pit the cherries and lay them out on a baking sheet. Put the pan in the freezer and freeze until solid.
- Freeze the yogurt along with the fruit before processing. Spoon it into a large zip lock bag, close the zipper, and then lay the bag flat on the same tray with the fruit. Flatten the yogurt out. When ready to use, cut open the bag, and break apart the yogurt.
- Process the frozen cherries until they are well chopped. Scrape down the sides of the machine as necessary. Work rather quickly so the cherries remain frozen.
- Immediately add the yogurt, Amaretto, if using, and flavoring. Process just until smooth and thick. Don't over-process or the heat of the machine will start to melt the mixture down.
- Eat right away, (best) or spoon the yogurt into a container and freeze until firm.
- Remove from the freezer and let soften a bit before serving.
Notes
Keep baggies of prepped fruit, and yogurt, in the freezer so you can make this when the mood strikes.
19 Comments
Gray
July 23, 2014 at 5:57 pmMade this two nights ago. It makes four delicious servings. I can’t wait to make it again and I am eager to try other fruits as well. Since I buy local yogurt the entire dish was locally grown.
Sue
July 23, 2014 at 6:00 pmWow, all locally grown, that’s the benefit of making it yourself! I think it’s a lot of fun to experiment with other fruits, I want to try apricots, and plums, and maybe concord grapes….
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Donalyn@TheCreeksideCook
June 10, 2014 at 7:33 amWe are freaks about fresh cherries and go through pounds of them when they are in season. I also freeze a lot of them for smoothies for the winter months. Lat year I got one the hopper-fed cherry pitters and I love that darned thing – so fast and easy! I love this frozen yogurt recipe – one of my favorite tricks for a dessert in a hurry ;)
Sue
June 10, 2014 at 7:36 amI love my cherry pitter! <3 But I’ve wondered about the mass pitter, good to know it works :)
Kitchen Belleicious
June 10, 2014 at 6:07 amyep! I need this. my kids need this. I love that it is so easy!
Jeanna
June 9, 2014 at 6:41 pmThis sounds delish! I’ll give this recipe a try for sure. Healthy option for dessert.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea
June 9, 2014 at 5:00 pmI love recipes like this!! Thank you for posting it I pinned it.
Eileen
June 9, 2014 at 2:42 pmThis frozen yogurt sounds so good! I’m going to have to give it a try with some of our backyard plums–which are all exactly ripe right this second. :)
Abbe@This is How I Cook
June 9, 2014 at 2:18 pmIf it would ever warm up here in Denver, I know I would love to make this! Yesterday it rained all day and this morning it was still in the 50’s!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
June 9, 2014 at 11:56 amIt was 106 yesterday and today’s forecast is triple digits too – this yogurt is just what I need!
Sue
June 9, 2014 at 1:25 pmOh gosh! I’ve been in MA for the week for my daughter’s graduation, and it’s been lovely. I’m sure I’m in for some high temps when I get back to Los Angeles…
Barbara
June 9, 2014 at 10:28 amHi Sue!
Wow…this really IS easy! And looks wonderful. I love cherries…don’t know why I don’t own a cherry pitter! Went right to Amazon and ordered one. I’ve had some mighty sore fingers in the past. :)
(Also had to wink at the Smokey Bear warnings on your sidebars…There’s a terrible fire in the Everglades today, the air is thick with smoke, in the 90’s, no wind, high humidity. In other words, not a day to be outside. It happens here, fortunately not too often. We need rain. Just heard warnings and saw some yard workers wearing masks.)
Sue
June 9, 2014 at 1:26 pmOh wow, that sounds terrible. The fires are really bad out in California, too. Stay safe!
Amy @ Elephant Eats
June 9, 2014 at 10:19 amMmmm, so creamy and delicious!
Mary
June 9, 2014 at 10:13 amIt looks so good – and I LOVE that you don’t need an ice cream maker – we will be enjoying this!
Mary
cheri
June 9, 2014 at 10:08 amCherries are my favorite, I will be making this Sue, I absolutely love little sweets like this. Pinned!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
June 9, 2014 at 9:12 amWe are on the same page today Sue! Love this simple recipe. Cherries are one of my personal favorites. Happy Monday!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
June 9, 2014 at 7:10 amHad some made with frozen strawberries last week…so delicious…better than ice cream!