This thick and creamy soft serve chocolate frozen yogurt recipe is the perfect low calorie dessert for a hot summer day!
Easy dark chocolate frozen yogurt recipe
With just five ingredients, it’s almost too simple to make this recipe at home.
And the best part is that there’s no heavy cream or condensed milk, and no ice cream maker required for the homemade chocolate froyo.
It turns out ultra rich and smooth, and the recipe can be dairy free, egg free, gluten free, vegan, sugar free, nut free, low carb, low fat, and keto friendly.
Also try this Pineapple Dole Whip Recipe
Healthy chocolate frozen yogurt ingredients
Here’s what you need for the diy chocolate recipe: plain yogurt, cocoa powder, salt, sweetener of choice, and pure vanilla extract.
The cocoa powder: This can be regular unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch cocoa powder, or even hot cocoa or hot chocolate mix. I recommend using Dutch if you want the most authentic and rich chocolate taste.
The yogurt: Pretty much any regular or Greek yogurt works here, including dairy free yogurt like almond milk or coconut milk yogurt. If you wish to use vanilla yogurt, omit the vanilla extract in the recipe. Or for a fun twist, try blueberry or strawberry yogurt.
Sweetener of choice: Use your go-to all purpose granulated or liquid sweetener. Regular sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, pure maple syrup, honey, or agave all work. To lower the calories or for sugar free frozen yogurt, you can use erythritol or xylitol.
Optional ingredients: Change up the flavor and pack in added nutrition with a mashed banana, a few tablespoons of peanut butter or Homemade Nutella, or a scoop of plain or chocolate protein powder.
For a vegan recipe, choose plant based yogurt. For keto chocolate frozen yogurt with no sugar, choose your favorite keto yogurt and sweetener.
Use leftover cocoa powder to make Chocolate Banana Bread
Above – watch the homemade chocolate frozen yogurt recipe video
How to make the best chocolate frozen yogurt
In a large mixing bowl or a blender, whisk or process the yogurt, cocoa powder, salt, sweetener, and pure vanilla extract.
Also add in the optional banana and peanut or almond butter, if using.
Once evenly mixed, transfer the chocolate yogurt mixture to either a frozen ice cream machine or a chilled large airtight container.
(The ice cream machine yields a creamier texture, but I’ve tried both methods, and they are both super tasty. There’s also a blender method included below.)
Stir the yogurt in the container or churn in the machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. Then swirl in about a third cup of mini chocolate chips if you wish.
You can eat the chocolate fudge frozen yogurt immediately as chocolate soft serve or freeze for up to an hour for a firmer texture.
If not using an ice cream maker, place the bowl of chocolate yogurt in the freezer. Stir the contents every half hour for two or three hours total.
Store leftover froyo in the airtight container for up to a month. Thaw for about fifteen to thirty minutes before enjoying.
I have a Cuisinart ice cream maker. Other brands like KitchenAid are also good choices. As mentioned, you can easily make the recipe without an ice cream machine if you do not own one.
How to make it in the blender
If you have a high speed blender, like a Blendtec or Vitamix, you can make the recipe without using either of the two methods above.
Pour the chocolate yogurt mixture into ice cube trays or a very shallow long container and freeze until solid.
Pop the chocolate ice cubes into the blender, and blend with the tamper until it reaches a smooth soft serve texture.
This option will only work in a blender that is strong enough to fully blend and pulverize hard foods like frozen fruit and ice cubes.
While the blender is out, make Brownie Batter Dip or Protein Pudding
More chocolate ice cream recipes
The recipe was adapted from my Homemade Frozen Yogurt and Cherry Frozen Yogurt, and from this homemade Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt.
Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups plain yogurt (dairy free works too)
- 1/2 cup Dutch or regular cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sweetener of choice
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional 1/3 cup peanut butter or almond butter
- optional add-ins, such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a mashed banana
Instructions
- Mix everything in a large bowl or a blender. Transfer to either an ice cream machine or a chilled large airtight container. If using an ice cream machine, churn according to manufacturer’s instructions, then serve and enjoy. If using a container instead, place the bowl in the freezer. Take it out to stir every half hour, for a total of two or three hours, until chilled and creamy. Natural homemade chocolate frozen yogurt is creamiest the day it's made because it freezes solid, so thaw leftovers for fifteen minutes or so before serving.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
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Healthy Chocolate Recipe Ideas
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Or this Keto Chocolate Mousse
Barbara Turner, Chesterfield, VA says
Can’t wait to try this! All of CCK’s recipes have been awesome, at least all the ones I’ve tried. So yeah, def gonna make this soon! Will be good after the big task project I have planned this weekend into next week.
Patty Youngcourt says
I would like to make the frozen yogurt but I make my own yogurt can I use it in your recipe?
CCK Media Team says
Hi, we have never tried so can’t say for sure, but we do not see why it wouldn’t work!
Cynthia McLaughlin says
I can’t eat alternative sweeteners. Can I cut the sugar in half and get the same results?
CCK Media Team says
You can always halve the sugar. But this recipe already has less sugar than traditional chocolate frozen yogurt, so decreasing the sugar even more will taste quite tart.
Robynne says
This is my new favorite chocolate summer treat!! I made the recipe exactly as written (including the pb and banana), but poured it into popsicle molds. I’ll have to run hot water over the bottoms to get them out, but I’m sure they’ll be frozen solidly enough that they won’t melt before I get them out of the molds.
Licking the bowl was delightful! ☺
I just have to tell you that your avocado chocolate mousse is probably the richest, most chocolaty, most decadent dessert ever. It’s fantastic, even if I do have to serve it in tiny dishes – it’s so rich, but so elegant with a swirl of whipped cream on top.
Thank you for such fun and yummy chocolaty goodness! 😁🥰
CCK Media Team says
This makes us so happy. Thank you so much for trying the recipes 🙂
Marlene says
I have made so many different batches of keto ice cream, but every one of them turns out hard as a rock. I’ve tried adding vodka, letting ice cream sit out for a while, and a few other tricks. Nothing works – always hard as a rock. I have a Cuisinart stand mixer and use the ice cream attachment. Will this frozen yogurt really stay somewhat smooth (I.e. not stone quarry hard)? Do I need to do anything special? I SO miss good ice cream and the Rebel brand is very good, but VERY expensive. Please help this poor ice cream-aholic!