Low Calorie Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Recipes

Nothing says “it’s summer” like ice cream, sundaes, frozen yogurt, sorbet and sherbet. Yum! But full-fat, calorie-laden frozen confections can derail even the most diligent dieter. Stay on track and indulge your frozen-treat desires guilt-free with these ice cream, sundae, frozen yogurt, sorbet and sherbet recipes.

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Brown Sugar & Toasted Almond Ice Cream

Start to finish: 4 hrs

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In a world of designer ice creams, sometimes the simplest can be the best. The full-bodied flavors of brown sugar combined with nutty toasted almonds are all it takes to give this easy-to-make frozen treat a sophisticated distinction. The alcohol in the base mixture acts like an “anti-freeze,” reducing the icy texture sometimes associated with lower-fat ice cream. For a little extra indulgence, try topping a scoop with some crumbled gingersnaps.

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Peach Frozen Yogurt

Start to finish: 10 mins

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We like to use chopped frozen peaches, but you can use frozen berries or whatever frozen fruit you have on hand in this ultra-quick frozen yogurt that is made without an ice cream maker.

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Avocado Ice Cream

Start to finish: 1 hr 40 mins

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This is a creamy, refreshing dairy-free dessert Rick Bayless has served in his restaurant Frontera Grill for years.

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Chocolate Malt Ice Cream

Start to finish: 3 hrs 45 mins

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Malted-milk powder and powdered nonfat dry milk add most of the body to this unbelievably creamy but low-fat ice cream. Stir in 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or crushed chocolate wafer cookies for a chocolate-lover's delight.

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Watermelon-Yogurt Ice

Start to finish: 1 hr

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Inspired by creamy watermelon sherbet, our light and refreshing dessert captures the essence of summer.

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Roasted Peach Sundaes

Start to finish: 30 mins

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This easy dessert satisfies a sweet tooth while adding another serving of fruit, contributing vitamins and antioxidants.

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Strawberry Sherbet

Start to finish: 2 hrs 50 mins

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Buttermilk gives this sherbet tanginess and complements the fresh sweet strawberries. If you prefer a sweeter result, add a touch more sugar.

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Strawberry-Chocolate Ice Cream

Start to finish: 2 hrs 45 mins

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Chopped strawberries and cocoa nibs are a colorful addition to vanilla ice cream.

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Blueberry-Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream

Start to finish: 2 hrs 45 mins

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Blueberries and cinnamon add flair to homemade vanilla ice cream.

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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Start to finish: 2 hrs 45 mins

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Here's a simple recipe for low-fat vanilla ice cream. Our version has all the richness you'll need but about 90 fewer calories than store-bought premium ice cream and a whopping 15 grams less total fat and 10 grams less saturated fat per serving.

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Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Start to finish: 2 hrs 45 mins

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Here's a simple recipe for low-fat chocolate ice cream. Our version has all the richness you'll need but about 90 fewer calories than store-bought premium ice cream and a whopping 15 grams less total fat and 10 grams less saturated fat per serving.

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Raspberry-Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

Start to finish: 35 mins

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Jammy raspberries and rich chocolate combine for a delicious, tart frozen yogurt. It is quick and easy to prepare, but plan ahead if you're using fresh berries--they take a little longer to freeze. Mini chocolate chips give you the most chocolate in every bite, but any kind of chip will work--dark-chocolate lovers should try bittersweet chips.

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Strawberry-Raspberry Sundaes

Start to finish: 10 mins

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Nothing says summer like fresh berries. Try this simple sundae sauce over frozen yogurt for a scrumptious summertime treat.

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Peach-Lime Sorbet

Start to finish: 5 hrs

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This tart, refreshing sorbet makes an elegant end to a summer meal. Always smell peaches before you buy them to make sure they're sweet and ready to eat.

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Sicilian Granita

Start to finish: 4 hrs 15 mins

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This is a traditional Sicilian dessert for the hot weather. It starts with an icy espresso granita (“little grains” in Italian). The crystals are scraped up with a fork and served with a dollop of whipped cream.

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Papaya-Lime Sorbet

Start to finish: 40 mins

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In Mexico, papayas are served with a wedge of lime and a pinch of salt. This sorbet honors the sweet-tart combination and transforms it into an elegant dessert. It's like a tropical vacation in your mouth.

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Roasted Mango Sorbet

Start to finish: 4 hrs 30 mins

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Switching from ice cream to sorbet is an excellent way to reduce saturated fat. This recipe, contributed by Diana Dalsass of Teaneck, New Jersey, has an exceptionally creamy texture, thanks to the banana and roasted mango.

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Chocolate-Earl Grey Sorbet

Start to finish: 4 hrs 15 mins

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Earl Grey tea is flavored with the peel of bergamot, a small citrus fruit grown in Italy. Bergamot flesh is very acidic, but the peel is prized for its fragrant oil. The tea adds a hint of citrus and tannins to make this cool chocolate sorbet even more refreshing.

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Pineapple-Coconut Sorbet

Start to finish: 2 hrs

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A touch of coconut milk--infused with fresh ginger for a subtle kick--complements sweet pineapple and creates a luxurious consistency in this sorbet.

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Zingy Tea Granita

Start to finish: 2 hrs 15 mins

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Granita, a sweet Italian ice, is characterized by its grainy texture. Lemon Zinger tea, which gets its distinctive flavor from hibiscus flowers, gives this one an exquisite garnet hue and refreshing taste.

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Tropical Fruit Ice

Start to finish: 30 mins

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This super-simple recipe makes an exotic ice with intense flavor. To turn it into a showstopper dessert, garnish with sliced fresh tropical fruit and toasted coconut. Welch's frozen passion fruit concentrate can be found in supermarkets. Substitute the same size can of other frozen juice concentrates for endless variations.

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Key Lime Ice

Start to finish: 4 hrs

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This frozen treat features the sweet-tart flavor of a Key lime pie--but with a fraction of the calories. It's festive scooped into hollowed-out lime or lemon halves; freeze until ready to serve.

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Watermelon Sorbet

Start to finish: 3 hrs 30 mins

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This incredibly refreshing icy dessert is made without using an ice cream maker.

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Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Start to finish: 2 hrs 45 mins

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An ice cream maker allows you to create your own frozen desserts with wholesome ingredients like fruit and yogurt. This one is a terrific alternative to commercial ice cream. It is fat-free and, even though it contains some sugar, it is very low in calories. When strawberries are not in season, frozen are a fine alternative.

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Toasted Hazelnut Frozen Yogurt

Start to finish: 30 mins

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Toasted hazelnuts and hazelnut liqueur jazz up plain frozen yogurt in this quick dessert.

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Creamy Chocolate Gelato

Start to finish: 4 hrs 30 mins

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This ultra-chocolaty, dairy-free Sicilian-style gelato--made without eggs or cream--is relatively lean but still creamy-smooth and flavorful. The coconut milk used for the base gives it a silky, rich mouthfeel and a subtle coconut flavor.

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