20 of CFC’s Best Yogurt Recipes
Yogurt is a great snack, but did you know it also offers an incredible amount of health benefits? It may seem like an easy and quick food to give your kids after school or for you to eat for breakfast, but everyone really should be eating yogurt at least once a day!
A dairy product, yogurt is made via a bacterial fermentation process of milk. This produces lactic acid and causes the milk to curdle, which gives yogurt its unique, slightly sour taste. Of course, other flavors can be added to yogurt to make it less sour, from vanilla or berry to dessert options like key lime pie. While that adds some sugar content, for the most part, yogurt is super healthy for you.
From its high calcium and protein levels to its natural digestive aids and heart health benefits, yogurt is a great staple to keep in your house. It can also be a great food to help weight management, as the elevated levels of protein help to produce appetite-reducing hormones.
Plus, yogurt is incredibly versatile! Check out these 20 recipes that include yogurt:
1. Matcha Yogurt Breakfast Bowls
Yogurt is a common breakfast food, as it pairs well with fresh fruits and granola, and can give you energy from the protein to last through the day. But pairing it with matcha will give you an incredible boost of antioxidants and caffeine, ensuring focus all day long.
2. Fruit Fries + Yogurt Dip
This yummy yogurt dip is made with real vanilla beans, peanut (or almond) butter, cinnamon, and honey! It makes for a sweet, but healthy dip for your fruits, which in this recipe, are cut into fun “fry” shapes for easy dipping.
3. Frozen Cherry Yogurt Clusters
Made with fresh cherries, Greek yogurt, and high-quality dark chocolate, these bite-sized treats are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. You can customize the sweetness level to your personal taste with pure maple syrup or raw honey!
4. Heirloom Tomatoes + Pesto Yogurt
This recipe is great for a picnic or lunch on the patio in the summer. Refreshing, healthy, and filling, the yogurt is combined with pesto, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste, then paired with fresh heirloom and cherry tomatoes. Quick and easy!
5. Chocolate Chip Muffins
These yummy muffins are everything you’d want in a sweet breakfast treat, but without all the sugar that’ll make you crash later. You’ll mix the yogurt directly in with your eggs, vanilla, and coconut oil, which adds a punch of protein and nutrients to your sweet muffins!
6. Chocolate Yogurt Parfaits
Use cacao in this recipe if you can, rather than its cousin, cocoa powder. Cacao is an excellent source of antioxidants and has a high number of flavonoids. Cacao is higher in protein, fiber, magnesium, and iron compared to cocoa.
7. Breakfast Fruit + Yogurt Bake
This protein-packed pan bake is so delicious and perfect for those who love something a little sweet in the morning. But with its ingredients of fresh yogurt, naturally sweet fruits, and honey, the sweetness is natural, not artificial, and will leave you feeling satisfied instead of sluggish.
8. PB & Jelly Yogurt Bark
Love a good peanut butter & jelly sandwich, but want to cut out the bread? Try this yogurt bark instead! You’ll get all the yummy flavors of a PB & J, but with the added health benefits of yogurt and fresh raspberries on top. Kids will LOVE it!
9. Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops
Another great option for your kids this summer, these yogurt fruit pops are delicious enough that your kids will think they’re just basic popsicles, but your heart will be happy knowing they’re not eating artificial dyes and sweeteners. A win-win!
10. Yogurt Berry Breakfast Cake
Who says you can’t have cake for breakfast? This naturally sweetened vanilla cake is made with fresh berries baked right into the batter and is layered with a delicious, nutty, crisp-crumb topping, then served with more fresh berries and a dollop of yogurt or whipped coconut cream.
11. Roasted Baby Peppers with Yogurt Pesto
Each time I make a batch of homemade pesto, I ask myself why I don’t make it more often! It’s just SO good, and brightens up any dish. Paired with the creamy taste of yogurt and the roasted flavor of baby bell peppers, this side dish is sure to impress!
12. Easy Yogurt Parfaits
Yogurt parfaits are a great option for quick, on-the-go snacks or breakfast when you don’t have time to actually cook something. Just mix your favorite yogurt – flavored or plain – with fresh fruit, granola, and honey/syrup for added sweetness.
13. Tuna Fritters + Creamy Yogurt Dill Sauce
You may not know it, but yogurt can be used as a savory dip as much as a sweet dip for fruits. This particular recipe blends Greek yogurt with dill, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, making a tangy sauce that perfectly pairs with tuna (or salmon or any fish) fritters!
14. Greek Yogurt Chocolate Mousse
Love chocolate pudding, but don’t love the sugar? Try this Greek yogurt chocolate mousse instead! I love that this FULLY tastes like dessert, yet we get the nice protein boost from the Greek yogurt. This mousse does require 4 hours of refrigerator time for best results, so plan ahead!
15. Herbed Yogurt Jalapeno Slaw
Need a unique take on classic coleslaw to spice up your carry-in game? Try this! The entire salad can be made the day ahead, refrigerated, then tossed together immediately before serving, which cuts out SO much prep time.
16. Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers are composed of about 96% water, so they’re a great snack to help keep us hydrated! They contain vitamin C and other antioxidants and nutrients that can help protect our skin from sun damage, so load up on this salad this summer!
17. Strawberry Chocolate Chip Granola Yogurt Bark
Bark is SO much fun to make, especially with your kids! It’s a great snack food, especially because of the yogurt’s many nutritional benefits, plus it has the added fun of chocolate and fresh raspberries, making it a great option in the summertime as well.
18. Yogurt Parfait
Not all yogurt parfaits are made the same! This one uses pulsed pineapple as an added kick of flavor, directly at the base of the parfait. It’s then topped with chunks of pineapple and berries for that classic parfait look. Add fresh mint for garnish!
19. Green Smoothie Bowl
I love a good smoothie bowl, and this one is super colorful! You’ll get that vibrant green color from freshly mixed kiwi and spinach, with a dash of lemon juice and honey for flavor as well. The creamy texture comes from the yogurt, and is adorned with fresh blueberries and coconut flakes!
20. Frozen Yogurt Berry Bites
Need a quick, healthy snack for after school/work or right before bed when those cravings hit? Try these cute little frozen yogurt berry bites! The great thing about these (besides their taste) is that they can last in the freezer for up to 6 weeks!
Yogurt really is such a versatile food to keep handy. Whether you prefer it plain, use it as a sweet or savory dip, or like to add it to foods for an extra creamy texture, figuring out a way to incorporate it into your diet is a great health-conscious choice.
What’s your favorite way to eat yogurt? Have you tried any of these recipes? Let me know!
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