Summertime is here, and so is the heat.
Nothing is more refreshing in this Southern heat than a frozen summertime yogurt bark. Not only will it cool you down, but it will satisfy your sweet tooth while still being healthy. You can use it to impress your friends and family at the annual summer barbecue or picnic, or you can just use it as a cool-down treat. This snack is so easy to make, it can hardly be called a recipe!
I know what you are thinking. What the heck is yogurt bark? It is as simple as it sounds. It’s your favorite yogurt spread smoothly across a baking sheet and frozen until solid. It’s that easy. But we have to spice it up, because just a frozen slab of yogurt is not as eye-catching as your grandma’s homemade pie.
How do we spice it up, you ask? You can do whatever your heart desires. Usually it involves covering the yogurt in your favorite summertime fruit and nut, but the possibilities are endless. You can do whatever you want. You want chocolate drizzle? Do it. Shredded coconut? Do it. Spicy mustard? Well, no, do not do that. We do have some boundaries.
To get started, here is a quick and straightforward summertime bark that will be the talk of your town this summer.
How to make Summertime Bark
- Pick any choice of yogurt you desire. You can also add honey or maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.
- Spread the yogurt mixture on a baking sheet (I try and get it nice and thin for that perfect snap).
- Sprinkle with any toppings you desire.
- Transfer to the freezer and leave until nice and solid.
- Slice into any shapes you like (I prefer stars for the Fourth of July).
- That’s it! You are done!
Key Ingredients
- Plain or Greek Yogurt (Your personal preference).
- Berries or any fruit of your choice.
- Nuts or any type of dried fruit (I love cranberries).
Honorable Mentions
- Maple Syrup or Honey: These are not needed, but if you want to kick up that sweet factor, just add about 3-4 tablespoons of syrup or honey to the yogurt. It helps to add one or two tablespoons at a time so you can sample it until you have reached your preferred level of sweetness.
- Vanilla: Vanilla is another great way to add sweetness to your dish. You would only need to add ½ teaspoon to your yogurt or until you reach your preferred level of sweetness.
- Chocolate or Shredded Coconut: My all-time favorite are coconut strips or shredded coconut. Coconut adds that perfect sweetness to your summertime bark. And let’s not forget a perfect chocolate drizzle.
- Nuts: Any type of nut works perfectly with summertime bark: pecans (or pea-can, depending on who you are talking to), pistachios, almonds. Any would work perfectly. My favorite are coconut-flavored almonds, finely cut and spread over a chocolate drizzle. Yum, yum!