Frozen yogurt is a delicious dessert that is loved by adults and kids of all ages. It has the same taste and consistency of ice cream, but doesn't have as much fat. When compared to other desserts, it becomes clear that it is a much healthier option. You can buy this healthy treat at most grocery stores and many restaurants, or you can make it yourself at home. It easy to make, and can be whipped up in a manner similar to that of homemade ice cream. As a matter of fact, most frozen yogurt machines are also capable of making ice cream.

When first learning how to make fro-yo, as fans affectionately call it, it's best to start with the basics. Learn how to make vanilla first, since it's the easiest one to master. You'll use vanilla as a base for many of the advanced flavors, so it's important you perfect it first. It's easy to make, requiring only 3 cups of plain yogurt, a half cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix them all together until the sugar is complete blended in. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator until the mixture is chilled. Once chilled, all you have to do is put it in the frozen yogurt machine and let it run until it's done. This usually takes about 20 minutes, so it won't be long before your tasty treat is done.

There are a few alterations you can make to the recipe above to make it healthier. You can put less sugar in the mix, which will result in a tangier tasting, but more healthy, treat. Some people like the tangier taste, while others don't care for it. You can also try replacing the sugar with varying amounts of honey.

Once you've perfected your recipe, it's time to start experimenting with other flavors. You can add chocolate syrup or melted chocolate to the mix. There are various fruits and fruit syrups you can add. One of my personal favorites is to add lemon extract or lemon zest to the mix to give it a tangy lemon flavor similar to that of sherbet. Banana, strawberry and pineapple are other popular fruit flavors. Use your imagination and don't be afraid to try new things.

Another area that is open to interpretation is the topping you put on your frozen yogurt. Chopped peanuts or almonds go well with most flavors. Most kids love chocolate fudge, butterscotch or caramel syrup, just remember that this adds more sugar to the mix. It's OK for a treat once in a while, but they shouldn't be allowed to use these syrups every night. Other toppings that are good for a treat every once in a while include gummy bears, crushed candy bars and M&M's.

As you can see, frozen yogurt is similar to ice cream. It's made the same way, and tastes the same. What it doesn't have is the fat. It's much lower in fat than ice cream, so you should substitute it whenever possible.