Lighter Frozen Dessert Recipes

August 27, 2019
If you're all about the low-calorie frozen ice cream trend, no need to buy a pint of Halo Top. These healthy recipes help satisfy your ice cream craving all for under 225 calories per serving. Not only will these save you calories, many are made with fruit and use less sugar. Try our mango frozen yogurt, chocolate-covered frozen bananas, or ice cream pies made with Greek yogurt.Watch Video
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Coconut Yogurt Pops

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Who doesn't love popsicles? In these coconut yogurt freezer pops, yogurt and coconut are blended together and frozen to make a cool, healthy snack or dessert.

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Raspberry-Pistachio Greek Yogurt Bark

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Mix Greek yogurt with sweet jam and crunchy pistachios and freeze so you can break into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible.

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Lime-Mango Sorbet

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It couldn't be any easier to make sorbet. Just combine fruit, sugar and juice and escape to the tropics with this mango sorbet recipe flavored with lime. For a fun presentation, sprinkle with toasted coconut before serving.

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Orange-Blackberry Sorbet

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This orange-blackberry sorbet recipe is a beautiful purple treat perfect for any hot day. While it may seem tedious, be sure to strain the blackberries and use a low pulp or pulp-free orange juice to make the smoothest sorbet.

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Instant Mango Frozen Yogurt

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It couldn't be simpler to make frozen yogurt in a food processor. In this quick Greek frozen yogurt recipe, frozen mango and Greek yogurt are blended in a food processor to create a luscious, healthy dessert. If you want to make this starting with fresh mango, dice enough to get about 4 1/2 cups and freeze in a single layer until frozen solid.

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Frozen Chocolate-Coconut Milk with Strawberries

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In this quick dessert recipe, fresh strawberries top nondairy chocolate “ice cream” for a cooling treat.

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Virgin Banana Piña Colada Pops

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The tropical flavors of a piña colada make for one delicious ice pop. Be sure to reach for ripe bananas to get the perfect sweetness (without any added sugar!) for this clean-eating-friendly frozen treat.

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Pink Grapefruit-Tarragon Sorbet

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Clean, fresh and icy-cold, this bracing tarragon-infused grapefruit sorbet is a perfect way to lift flagging spirits on a sultry day. Garnish with grapefruit zest and tarragon sprigs, if you like. Cranberry juice concentrate brightens the color, but can be omitted. Vodka helps smooth the texture, but it, too, can be left out if you prefer; just let the frozen mixture soften a bit before serving. This recipe also works well with 10 to 12 spearmint sprigs and 2 teaspoons chopped spearmint instead of the tarragon. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

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Turkish Coffee Float

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This is not your typical ice cream float. Instead, this coffee drink recipe packs a punch reminiscent of the notorious Turkish brew where the grounds are boiled right in the coffee. A pinch of cardamom adds a little Middle Eastern flavor and using low-fat frozen yogurt instead of full-fat ice cream keeps it on the lighter side.

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Cherry Sorbet

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Try this cherry sorbet recipe with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or some more chopped cherries on top.

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Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

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Lightly sweetened Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible.

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Frozen Chocolate-Covered Bananas

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Kids will love dipping bananas in melted chocolate and rolling them in coconut to make this tasty frozen treat.

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Cherry Ice Cream Pie with Chocolate Cookie Crust

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This cherry ice cream pie is a simple summertime sweet treat! If you use frozen cherries, the pie will have a fun purple hue.

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Raspberry-Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt

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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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Peach Frozen Yogurt

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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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Melon & Apple Granita

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This granita uses sweet ripe melon for flavor, apple juice instead of sugar and a touch of lime juice to perk up the flavors. Berries look beautiful on top; or if you can find fresh figs, add them. For a vibrant look, make with an orange-fleshed melon, such as cantaloupe, Charentais or orange honeydew.

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Strawberry Sherbet

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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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Chunky Peach Popsicles

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Make sure to reserve a portion of the peaches as you puree the mixture so the pops will be packed with icy cold, chunky bits of fruit. For a grown-up twist, try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint, lemon verbena or basil.

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Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

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You'll definitely want to make an extra batch (or 5) to have handy in your freezer in the summer. A great way to use up the last of that pint of sorbet or frozen yogurt. Kids will love them too!

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Strawberry-Lime Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy strawberry daiquiri-inspired ice cream pie recipe, graham crackers make an easy and tasty crust for the strawberry, rum and lime filling made with nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt. For a nonalcoholic “virgin” daiquiri pie, omit the rum.

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Strawberry-Raspberry Sundaes

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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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Mango-Coconut Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy ice cream pie recipe, crumbled gingersnaps make an easy and tasty crust for the mango and coconut filling made with nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt.

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Frozen Raspberry Pie

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This creamy, luscious pie is made by combining a fluffy cooked meringue with a raspberry puree, then pouring the mixture into a chocolate-cookie crust.

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Chocolate Malt Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Nothing conjures up childhood nostalgia like these frozen sandwiches--but forget the jangling bells on the ice cream truck and make your own for an even better treat. The ice cream needs to be firm enough to hold its shape before making the sandwiches. If it's too soft, let it chill in the freezer before assembling, but if it's too hard, let it sit out for a few minutes first.

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Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy grasshopper mint and chocolate ice cream pie recipe, you'll save about 150 calories and half the saturated fat per serving versus a traditional ice cream pie by using nonfat Greek yogurt and heart-healthy oil instead of butter.

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Blackberry-Lemon Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy ice cream pie recipe, crumbled gingersnaps make an easy and tasty crust for the blackberry and lemon filling made with nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt.

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Vanilla-Orange Freezer Pops

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These creamy vanilla-flavored orange juice pops will transport you back to the days of standing in line at the ice cream truck. Add a couple drops each of yellow and red natural food dye to give them a more vivid orange color.

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Mocha Ice Pops

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Get an afternoon pick-me-up with these mocha-flavored frozen treats. A little of the cocoa settles at the bottom as they freeze, making a special chocolaty surprise on the top once the pop is unmolded.

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Watermelon-Yogurt Ice

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

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Watermelon-Blueberry Ice Pops

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These were a staff favorite during the development process. The whole blueberries in these pops have the look of watermelon seeds.

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Zingy Tea Granita

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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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Frozen Raspberry Mousse

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Pamper your guests with this pretty, elegant dessert--no one will ever guess that it easily conforms to any healthy weight-loss regime. A fluffy meringue creates a sublime texture, while just a little real whipped cream delivers velvety richness. Straining the raspberries is a labor of love (consider delegating this task), but all the work is done well ahead and the results are absolutely worth the effort, guaranteed.

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Chocolate Cookie & Walnut Crunch Ice Cream

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Chocolate wafer cookies and toasted walnuts are a delightful way to jazz up chocolate ice cream.

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Mocha Ice Cream Pie

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In this healthy mocha chocolate ice cream pie recipe, crumbled chocolate cookies make an easy and tasty crust for the chocolate-coffee filling made with nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt topped with chocolate-covered espresso beans.

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Banana Pudding Pops

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These banana popsicles taste rich and decadent but are low-fat and really easy to make. We especially like them with some chocolate chips added. Cool the mixture to room temperature and divide 2/3 cup mini chips among the molds before freezing.

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