Icy Froyo Is Depressing. Here's How To Make Your Next Batch Ultra-Creamy
Ice-cold and velvety smooth with delicate yet exciting flavors, frozen yogurt is a heart-melting treat that brings utter happiness to your taste buds. Nowadays, with a myriad of utensils and ingredients at our disposal, you don't even need to run to the store every time the craving hits. Simply make it at home to always have a little bit of goodness waiting in your fridge at the end of the day. However, a common problem many encounter when home-making froyo is the icy, chunky consistency — a result of its low-fat but high-moisture nature.
To combat this, simply use rich, high-fat cream products as a base or add it to your base. A higher fat content helps the yogurt absorb more air and prevents the formation of ice crystals during the freezing process, minimizing any unwanted ice or grainy texture. This will give your yogurt a smoothness that perfectly balances between scoopable and soft. Another trick to incorporate with this for the best possible result is adding a proportionate amount of sugar (or inverted sugar like corn syrup, honey, etc.) to your mixture.
What cream products should you use?
Heavy cream and cream cheese are practically pantry staples at this point thanks to their texture-thickening magic and fatty, milky notes that give dishes an irresistible richness — and froyo is no exception. Other classic choices to go for are whole milk, sour cream, and crème fraîche. However, keep in mind that it's quite easy to go overboard and add too much. This may result in an abundantly heavy texture, so it's best to consider their ratio and add in small amounts first, then gradually increase as you're mixing.
That said, you don't always have to limit your options to just familiar products. There's a world of possibilities out there to explore. For those who want their froyo to be velvety smooth without compromising its distinct tangy taste, Greek yogurt and labneh (a type of Middle Eastern strained yogurt) are right up your alley. On the other hand, if you're looking to experiment a little, how about a cheesy twist with something like mascarpone or ricotta? You'll have a spectacularly luscious, creamy smooth froyo that tastes just like a decadent, indulgent cheesecake.