Homemade Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt

During summertime I ALWAYS crave ice cream and frozen yogurt, however, I do not always like all the ingredients in the lighter/low fat versions and well full fat premium is pretty darn scary.  I LOVE breaking out my ice cream maker and making my own.  It is so easy and you can definitely make a healthy version that you don’t have to feel bad about.

Homemade Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt

  

3 cups good quality lowfat Greek Yogurt or make your own Greek Yogurt using 6 cups lowfat plain

1/2 c Agave Nectar OR 3/4 c Sugar

1 vanilla bean scraped with 1-2 tsp pure vanilla extract

If not using Vanilla bean, 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

Combined all the ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Freeze according to your ice cream makers instructions.

Makes about 1 quart.

Here is everything you need to make fantastic homemade froyo

Vanilla beans are expensive but they add an amazing flavor.  Simply slice them in half and scrap the beans out of the middle.

Add your vanilla extract to your yogurt, sugar and vanilla bean mixture. 

About an hour later, it’s all done!  You still should freeze it to harden for about an hour though.

Tadah!  Check out the VANILLA BEANS ~ Yum!  It’s really creamy since you use lowfat versus fat free.  Fat Free can tend to make it a bit icy.

This recipe is fantastic with different flavors as well.  Another one of my favorites is to make strawberry by adding 3 c of fresh strawberries and omitting the vanilla bean.  The options are endless ~ mint chocolate chip (1 tsp mint extract and 1-2 c mini chocolate chips stirred in at the end in place of the vanilla).  Use your imagination and you can create just about any flavor you like using the greek yogurt agave combo above.