Frozen Yogurt

1. Stage

Begin by lining a strainer with four layers of cheesecloth and placing it over a bowl. Fill the lined strainer with the Greek yogurt, covering the yogurt with extra cheesecloth. Refrigerate for two to four hours. This step will help remove any extra liquid from the yogurt, which creates a creamier, richer final product. If you don't have cheesecloth on hand, use a single coffee filter. Just be sure to cover the yogurt with a bit of plastic wrap, waxed paper or a reusable wrap. Once thoroughly drained, discard the extra liquid. Then stir in the sugar and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved. As tempting as it is, don't skimp on the sugar! You may want to remove some of those less healthy ingredients when making better-for-you alternatives, but the sugar in this recipe serves an important purpose besides adding sweetness. Sugar helps give frozen yogurt its soft, creamy texture. Too little sugar and you'll end up with rock-hard fro-yo—yikes!

2. Stage

In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine cold water and lemon juice; sprinkle with gelatin and let stand for a minute. Once the gelatin has absorbed a bit, pop into the microwave for 30 seconds on high. After heating, give the mix a stir and let it cool slightly. Along with sugar, gelatin helps keep your frozen yogurt soft and scoopable.

3. Stage

Stir the gelatin mixture in with the yogurt and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until completely chilled—at least 40 minutes. The colder your frozen yogurt base, the silkier the texture will be.

4. Stage

Before starting, make sure the cylinder of your ice cream machine is completely frozen. With your canister ready, add the yogurt mix to your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions. You'll want to keep the yogurt mixing until it becomes thick and the temperature drops to 22ºF.

5. Stage

When the yogurt is done churning in the machine, transfer your frozen yogurt into a freezer container. Freeze for two to four hours, until it's firm enough to scoop. If you're antsy, you can definitely give your fro-yo a test right away, though it will have a texture more like soft serve. But having patience pays off. Once frozen, this dessert is craveably creamy.