This summer I am determined to put my ice cream maker to good use. I re-discovered the ice cream maker a few weeks ago with my creamy mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I have been dreaming up all sorts of new frozen desserts ever since!
Since Memorial Day is right around the corner, I thought I’d share a quick and easy recipe for vanilla bean frozen yogurt with you. If you ask me, there is no more perfect dessert for a cookout than some ice cream or frozen yogurt… There’s just something about being outside in the warm weather that makes me crave ice cream!
The good news about this frozen yogurt recipe is that it’s very simple… You can mix everything up in one bowl, straight from the fridge, and you’ll be churning in no time. There’s no need to prepare a custard and wait for it to cool. Not only is this an easy recipe to prepare, it’s also a bit healthier than my mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe!
I must say that the frozen yogurt does have an undeniably “yogurt” taste to it, which I like… But, if you’re not a yogurt fan, this recipe might not be for you. If you do like yogurt, though, I think this is a perfect frozen dessert! I piped some of the yogurt (very carefully, right out of the ice cream maker) onto some chocolate chip and cranberry oatmeal cookies to make ice cream cookie sandwiches. I plan to have some of the leftovers with fresh strawberries, too!
Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
- 18 ounces Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- 1/2 cup of half and half
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
Combine the sugar and milk in a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until the sugar dissolves in the milk and the mixture no longer feels gritty between your finger tips. Add the Greek yogurt, half and half, and vanilla bean paste. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Transfer to an ice cream maker, freezing until soft serve consistency is reached (about 25 minutes). Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for a few more hours until hardened.
To make cookie sandwiches, transfer the soft frozen yogurt to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the ice cream onto one cookie and top with a second cookie. Freeze the cookie sandwiches on a tray until the ice cream has hardened.
I love vanilla bean ice cream! I am not usually a plain vanilla fan, but if it is vanilla bean, I am all over it. This looks so delicious. I love the cookies – mouth watering!
true vanilla bean ice cream is fabulous…i love your recipe for it! and the photos are amazing…’specially the ones with the ice cream sandwiched in the cookies!
I’m a HUGE yogurt fan and a HUGE vanilla fan so I would LOVE this!!!! And in cookies, well, what’s not to love?!
I REALLY want an ice cream maker. This looks so good!
That looks amazing! I adore fro-yo but seldom make it at home. That may have to change!
Wow, looks delicious! I still remember when frozen yogurt was the thing to get when I was a kid. My grandma always took me to get some. Its made a come back and I’m loving it! I usually have all of the ingredients needed so I plan to try making it sometime. Thanks!
Everyone’s pulling out their ice cream makers it seems. Must be summer!
Your frozen yogurt looks delicious!
Looks great. Love the photos with the cookies.
Carmen
Looks delicious and beautiful. Mmm. Perfect smashed between two cookies.
Wonderful! I was looking for a recipe like this to make my own vanilla frozen yogurt. Thanks for sharing!
I have been looking for a good homemade frozen yogurt recipe. Since I make my own Greek yogurt, I always have plenty of it on hand. Can’t wait to try it.
Fabulous Jen – I am wondering whether getting an icecream maker is the way to go but we have so little storage space I would need to use it A LOT to justify… This looks amazing and like you could eat it for any meal. Love those cookie sandwiches!
Wondering about the Greek yogurt – would it still be a good finished product if I used the 0% fat kind?
Josephine – Yes, I actually used the 0% fat yogurt in mine, and it turned out pretty well. It might not be as creamy as with 2% or regular yogurt, but the taste is great!
Is vanilla bean paste something that can be purchased? I have never seen that, and always just scrape the beans myself, but I think I might have to take out a mortgage to buy enough beans to make a tablespoon of paste! If the paste is a product that can be purchased, where do you buy yours? Thanks!
April – Yes! I buy it at Williams-Sonoma… But, I think you can get the same stuff from other online sites like Amazon, too. You really can’t beat it, and the price is very reasonable compared to vanilla beans. I find that it works well as a substitute for vanilla extract in a lot of recipes.
I am making this for Memorial Day! Thanks!
Yum those frozen yogurt sandwich cookies look amazing!
Oh the frozen yogurt sounds delicious! Especially the ice cream sandwich.. mmm… Love it!
Frozen yogurt of real vanilla beans..mm. It sounds irresistible!
Like you I’ve also discovered my ice cream maker and will be finally putting it to much use this summer. I may just start with this vanilla frozen yogurt.. then move on to more traditional Caribbean ice cream desserts.
happy cooking
chris…
I have just discovered how easy it is to make my own homemade yogurt (which is not tangy!) and now want to make some frozen yogurt ~ This is the first time I have ever heard of vanilla bean paste! Thanks for the recipe!