Frozen Yogurt Bark with Berries & Nuts
Plus, the red, white, & blue color combo makes it perfect for patriotic holidays like the 4th of July or Memorial Day!
This recipe is fantastic for getting your kids involved & designing different variations to fit everyone’s taste buds. They’ll never guess it’s rich with nutrients & packed with powerful protein. The hardest part will be waiting for your concoction to freeze, but everyone has to practice patience at some point, right? 😉
What type of yogurt should I use?
Greek or regular yogurt will work, I used vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt for this recipe. Greek yogurt has a thicker consistency compared to regular yogurt, so it’s completely based on preference. You can also use a fruit-flavored yogurt as your base if you want your treat to have a strong fruity flavor.
Should I sweeten the yogurt?
When using a flavored yogurt, as I did, there’s no need to add additional sweeteners. Be cautious when choosing a flavored yogurt, tons of extra sugar can be added. Look at the ingredients & try to aim for less than 10g of added sugar per serving. This helps to reduce our sugar intake & avoid increased inflammation in the body.
If using plain yogurt you’ll want to incorporate a sweetener, either 2 tablespoons of honey or pure maple syrup & 1 teaspoon vanilla. By adding the natural sweetener & vanilla you’ll alleviate any sour taste the plain version provides.
Before laying your mixture out on the pan, taste it to see if it is sweet enough for you. You can adjust the sweetness level to your liking.
If it comes out too sweet, just add a little yogurt to dilute it.
What Toppings Can I Add?
I love recipes like this where the possibilities are truly endless! Personally, I love the combination of nuts & berries for a sweet & savory mixture. That’s why this makes for the perfect family creation – everyone can choose a section to sprinkle with toppings they adore & voila everyone’s happy!
- Fruit: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, bananas, pineapple, mangoes, kiwi, & the list goes on!
- Chopped/Sliced Nuts or seeds: almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, etc.
- Granola: Want an added crunch? Added granola can be a great option; just make sure to peek at the ingredients to find a low-sugar option.
- Peanut or Nut Butter: All flavors & varieties can work here; you can even drizzle on a little Nutella!
- Coconut flakes: add a different spin & chewy texture to your yogurt bark.
- Chocolate chips: sprinkle on your favorite chips for a personalized touch.
- Crushed graham crackers: haven’t tried this ingredient yet, but sounds like a scrumptious add-on.
Any & all toppings are welcomed; feel free to go wild & experiment with many variations!
How do I avoid freezer burn?
If you leave your yogurt bark uncovered in the freezer for an extended time, it will most definitely get freezer burnt. So here are some ways to combat this issue:
- Cover your sheet pan with foil or parchment paper when freezing.
- Once your yogurt becomes firm, roughly after 3 hours, cut & serve immediately.
- If you’re not ready to serve after your yogurt becomes firm, cut & transfer your yogurt bark into a freezer-safe ziplock bag or container. To lessen your chances of freezer burn, wrap the interior of the ziplock bag in wax paper on both sides.
- It’s also a good idea to place parchment paper in between pieces to avoid yogurt bark sticking together.
- The yogurt bark will keep for one month in the freezer.
Helpful Tips:
- Line the baking sheet with wax paper. Make sure the wax paper goes above the sides of the sheet tray for the easiest cutting.
- Sprinkle the ingredients evenly into the pre-frozen yogurt.
- Cut the yogurt bark with a sharp knife. I had to let my frozen yogurt bark sit for a few minutes on the counter before I could cut it.
- Prior to serving, let the yogurt bark sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes so that it can slightly soften.
- Do not leave the yogurt bark at room temperature for too long because it will melt.
