Copycat Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt

By Alexandra Caspero on August 17, 2017

Copycat Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt! If you love the original, you’ll love this copycat tart frozen yogurt recipe. Just three ingredients enjoyed as-is or topped with fruit.

Friends! I did it.

I present to you, my version of tart frozen yogurt. If you love pinkberry froyo, then you’ll love this simple recipe.

One of the best parts about our St. Louis house is that we are literally two blocks away from a frozen yogurt stand. Two blocks or less than 4 minutes for me to grab a bowl of tart frozen yogurt, a spoonful of fruit, and lots and lots of mochi. As much as I like trying new foods, I’m a one-trick pony when it comes to my fro-yo.

Obviously, this has been both a blessing and a curse during these hot pregnant months. I’ve been trying to reduce my evening snacking (thank you, heartburn) but oftentimes the thought of ice-cold fro-yo on a warm day is enough to willingly suffer through the potential of not feeling so great afterward.

I don’t know why it took me so long to finally create my own version, but here we are. With just three ingredients, you too can have homemade tart fro-yo.

two bowls of pinkberry frozen yogurt recipe

I read an article in Food Network a few months ago that promised homemade frozen yogurt with just a bit of sugar and greek yogurt. Naturally, I was intrigued. While I make endless versions of homemade ice cream, none have been this easy.

Ingredients for Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt

  • Greek yogurt
  • sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • salt

How to Make this Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt

  1. Whisk the ingredients together

    Mix together the yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Continue to whisk until the sugar is ‘dissolved’ in the yogurt mixture. It will seem really thick at first, but keep whisking. It may take 2-3 minutes to get it very smooth and not grainy.Mixture for tart frozen yogurt

  2. Chill ingredients

    Place in the fridge for 30 minutes – 1 hour to chill. While you don’t have to do this step, I find it helps create a creamier product when processing the fro-yo.

  3. Process

    Place into ice cream maker of choice and process according to manufacters directions.

frozen yogurt recipe

Tips and tricks for the BEST tart frozen yogurt

The trick is to whisk the sugar enough into the yogurt until it’s completely dissolved. Get your biceps ready, this can take 1-3 minutes depending on how thick your yogurt is. As a vanilla purest, I added a bit of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. However, I think this could be the base for your favorite flavor.

You will need an ice-cream maker for this. I know that no-churn ice cream recipes are gaining in popularity, but I think that an ice-cream maker is still a kitchen appliance essential. In my opinion, the creamy, custard-like texture of churned-ice cream is so much better than any no-churn version.

I bring mine out almost weekly in the summertime, especially when I have overflowing fresh fruit. Once you get the hang of making plain vanilla or chocolate, you can easily adapt the recipe to feature whatever add-in ingredient you fancy. For my completely dairy-free friends, an ice cream maker makes killer vegan coconut ice creams and sorbets.

Because we are using granulated sugar, this one will need to be eaten somewhat soon. I like to enjoy a bowl as soon as it’s done, with a texture similar to soft serve. Then, I’ll place it in the freezer to enjoy within the next week days, a week tops.

For easy scooping, leave the tart frozen yogurt out on the counter at least 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy plain or with your favorite topping, like this incredible plum-compote sauce.

FAQs

Is Pinkberry Actually Healthy?

While I’d consider this tart yogurt recipe a dessert, it is lower in fat and higher in protein and calcium than most desserts.

Can you reduce the sugar?

You’ll need some sugar to reduce the freezing point and make for a creamy yogurt taste. I recommend keeping the amount listed here, but you could lower it to 1/2 cup if desired.

What should I top tart frozen yogurt with?

I love this froyo with my plum sauce or with fresh chopped fruit– like mango!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 

Print
frozen yogurt recipe

Copycat Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt

  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 quart 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Copycat Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt! If you love tart frozen yogurt, you will love this recipe! Just three ingredients! Enjoy as is or topped with fresh fruit.


  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 quart 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 quart 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Scale

Ingredients

  • 32 ounces Greek yogurt (see notes)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Whisk together the yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Continue to whisk until the sugar is ‘dissolved’ in the yogurt mixture. It will seem really thick at first, but keep whisking. It may take 2-3 minutes to get it very smooth and not grainy.
  2. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes – 1 hour to chill. While you don’t have to do this step, I find it helps create a creamier product when processing the fro-yo.
  3. Remove the mixture from the fridge and place in the base of an ice cream maker (I love this one). Process according to manufacturer’s directions until thick and creamy. Since I used all greek yogurt for this, it was thick within 10-12 minutes.
  4. Enjoy as is for soft-serve consistency, or place in a freezer-safe container and freeze for an additional 2-4 hours before serving.

Notes

I tried this recipe a few times and preferred using 4% fat greek yogurt for this best. However, it’s possible to mix and match, using 16 ounces 0% fat and and 16 ounces 4% if desired. I did not like using 0% yogurt for the entire recipe, but I think 0% fat yogurt sometimes taste chalky.

The greek yogurt will seem really thick at first. Keep stirring it, it will thin out a bit.

did you make this?

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

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    1. Sel
      February 28, 2023 AT 11:27 pm

      I can’t wait to try this recipe! Is it possible to use a sweetener that isn’t sugar? I have gestational diabetes and have been craving froyo so bad! Thank you!!

      1. Alex
        March 3, 2023 AT 2:52 pm

        hi Sel, like an artificial sweetener? I haven’t tried that, but it could work– would just need to adjust to taste. You could also try decreasing the sugar– that would work too, would just be more tart!

    2. mona issa
      May 10, 2022 AT 4:50 am

      can we freeze the yogurt ice-cream for a couple of days in freezer without it changing texture and taste

      1. Alex
        May 10, 2022 AT 6:27 am

        Yes, it will freeze! Thanks

    3. Kaiya
      April 8, 2022 AT 12:26 pm

      do you have to use an ice cream maker

      1. Alex
        April 8, 2022 AT 5:21 pm

        Hi Kaiya. Yes, for best results you’ll need an ice cream maker.

    4. Jody
      July 22, 2021 AT 3:23 pm

      How big of a ice cream maker do you need to have for this recipe?

      1. Alex
        July 27, 2021 AT 9:54 am

        I have a 1.5 quart maker that works perfectly. I don’t recommend any smaller. https://amzn.to/3BKHClV

    5. Lori
      August 18, 2020 AT 8:02 pm

      Love finding this…I ate so much Pinkberry during my last pregnancy my hub said we should name the baby …Pinkberry.

    6. Nathan Griffin
      March 5, 2020 AT 4:32 pm

      The yield says 1 pint but I actually got 1 quart. Calls for 32 oz of yogurt which is 1 quart.

    7. Carmella Rodenbucher
      September 6, 2019 AT 6:49 pm

      I am a Pinkberry fan as well!
      So for a substitute.,I look for plan tart at any yogurt store has to be tart fat 0%
      then I get the POM 100% pomegranate juice
      They also have cherry and blueberry/pomegranate
      Pour that over my plain tart that I located at a yogurt shop.
      So that is what I been treating on, until my next trip out of here.,that will bring me closer to a Pinkberry.

      1. Vanessa
        April 7, 2020 AT 6:32 pm

        Hey could you explain this a little better please , what is “plan tart” and “tart fat” as I’d like to try your recipe but I didn’t understand what you meant haha. Also did you whisk the POM juice into the bowl before you put into the ice cream machine , and how much POM did you add ? Thanks !

      2. Alex
        September 16, 2019 AT 7:26 am

        That sounds delicious as well!

    8. Emily
      July 2, 2019 AT 7:23 pm

      This was delicious, but didn’t taste like Pinkberry to me, at least when using Chobani whole milk plain. I’m a Pinkberry fiend, so I am still on the hunt for something that will truly copy their original tart.

      1. P.
        January 28, 2021 AT 10:28 am

        What if you added some citric acid to the mixture? That might give you the tartness you’ve been looking for!

    9. Cassandra
      December 1, 2018 AT 8:56 pm

      Sounds simple enough, but do you know why a mixer cannot be used on low speed instead of whisking or can it?

      1. Alex
        December 3, 2018 AT 8:21 am

        Hi Cassandra, you can use a mixer on low speed!

    10. Fatma
      June 11, 2018 AT 9:25 am

      Hi i want to ask you which is better to use in the frozen yogurt ice cream , sugar or sweetened condensed milk ?

      1. Alex
        June 12, 2018 AT 6:34 pm

        Hi Fatma, I haven’t used sweetened condensed milk in this, so I’d recommend sugar.