How to Flavor Plain Yogurt

Flavor up plain yogurt with fruits and natural sweeteners.

A serving of plain nonfat yogurt can be classified as health food, since it contains a full 13 grams of protein and nearly half of your recommended daily intake of calcium. Of course, if your family dreads the words "health food," make a delightful and refreshing combination of fruit and sugars or syrups to flavor up the yogurt. This dairy product can be expensive or commercially flavored with additives you do not want in a prepared serving size. As an alternative, start with the plain variety and add your own extras.

Things You'll Need

• Strawberries or cherries, canned mandarin oranges, bananas and apples
• Thick flavored syrups
• Crushed crunchy topping
• Quart plain yogurt with active cultures
• White, brown or raw sugar to taste

Instructions

1. Purchase a good-quality plain yogurt in a large size. This will save you money over individual servings that cost more, and you can control the added sugar, syrup or fruit to make your own favorite combination.

2. Flavor your plain yogurt. Plain yogurt can be a bit of a shock when you first taste it without any additives. Experiment with 4 ounces and add sugar by the half teaspoon until you get the proper combination desired. Do the same experiment with any syrup if that will be used as well, or instead of, the sugar. Measure the total amount of plain yogurt you will need to serve and mix in your additions, multiplying the total amount by the number of 4-ounce yogurt servings. Make certain that the sugar or syrup combination will work with the fruit to be added. Then return it to the refrigerator to stay chilled while you prepare the fruit.

3. Chill your fruit after washing, but do not chill bananas. Canned fruit can be chilled in an unopened can and well-drained right before serving. Fruit should be peeled, chopped, added immediately and served. Serve whole or sliced strawberries or other fruit on top and/or garnish with a spoonful of granola or other crunchy topping.

4. Do not tell anyone yogurt is a health food, or is good for them. If your children see you enjoy it as dessert after dinner, hint that for special occasions it could also be a treat.

Tips & Warnings

• Well-drained canned fruit will prevent runny yogurt.

• Serve yogurt immediately after additions to prevent accumulation of liquids or browning of fruit unincorporated in yogurt. Immediate serving will also ensure that any additions of granola, crushed cookies and pretzels will be crisp and crunchy at serving.

• Use canned pineapple.

• Add only syrups that are thick and mixable and that complement the fruit and other additions.

• Be certain that young children are able to eat the size of the chopped fruit without choking. Young children may be satisfied with just flavoring or a small amount of very finely chopped fruit.

References

• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Limit Sugar