While Mom usually bought mint chocolate chip, my brother and I always begged for cookie dough ice cream. She tried to serve us some vanilla with chocolate chips on top, or ice cream cookie sandwiches (if we kept the pleading to a minimum), but those just weren’t the same. Not even close.
On the rare occasion that she gave it, we snuck into the kitchen, scooped ourselves “Daddy-sized” bowls, and tiptoed up to our rooms with the spoons dangling out of our mouths. We slurped up all of the plain ice cream first and left the bits of cookie dough for the end. After popping a few in our mouths, we pressed the others into a round cookie-like shape and fantasized about baking it in the oven, all while nibbling off small bites and listening for Mom’s footsteps.
When the entire half-gallon disappeared in two days, she stopped buying us ice cream for a month.
As ad adult, I still can’t buy cookie dough ice cream at the store. I tried once. And treated the whole carton as my “bowl,” sticking my spoon straight in and pushing all of the cookie dough off to the side to save for later. Oops.
But… I thought that if I made my own, and used healthier Greek yogurt as the base, maybe I wouldn’t go quite so cookie-dough-crazy. (But I still tossed in extra cookie dough… Just in case!)
I’m sure my 7-year-old self would’ve saved the best bites for last, but I ate this bowl like an adult, combining the froyo and cookie dough in the same spoonful. Then scooped out a second serving. For old times’ sake!
And when you make your own, remember to snap a picture and share it on Instagram using #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photo itself! (That guarantees I’ll see your picture! 🙂 ) I’d love to see your healthier cookie dough frozen yogurt!
Cookie Dough Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480g) plain nonfat Greek yogurt (or regular, soy, etc)
- 3 tbsp (36g) 1-to-1 monk fruit sweetener or granulated sugar (very important — see Notes!!)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vanilla-flavored vodka (optional — see Notes!)
- 8 chocolate chip cookie dough bites (see Notes!)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together the yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract, and vodka (if using). Spread across the bottom of a metal 8”-square baking sheet, and place in the freezer for 45 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the freezer, and vigorously stir the semi-frozen mixture with a spatula. Spread the yogurt back over the bottom of the pan, and place back in the freezer. Repeat 3-4 more times, waiting 30 minutes in between each.
- During the last 30-minute mixing interval, cut each cookie dough bite into sixths or eighths. After aerating the yogurt with the spatula, stir in the cookie dough pieces. Transfer to a freezer-safe container with a lid and place back in the freezer for another 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The night before you plan on making your ice cream, place the bowl of an electric ice cream maker in the freezer. Freeze for at least 12-16 hours.
- Stir the Greek yogurt, sweetener, vanilla extract, and vodka (if using) together in a large bowl. Cut each cookie dough bite into sixths or eighths, and set aside.
- Working quickly, remove the ice cream maker bowl from the freezer. Place it on the ice cream maker, attach the paddle and the lid, and turn it on. With the ice cream maker turning, pour in the Greek yogurt mixture. Let the ice cream maker churn for 15-20 minutes or until the ice cream is frozen and has reached your desired consistency. Then sprinkle the cookie dough pieces into the ice cream maker, and gently press them down into the ice cream with a spatula if necessary. Let the ice cream maker churn for another minute until they're fully incorporated. For the best texture and taste, serve immediately.
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
That recipe looks amazing, cookie dough is my weakness too. Thanks for sharing! I just came across your site and it’s definitely going on my blogroll, I will be trying your recipes all the time! Haha.
Thank you Kate; you’re so sweet! I’d love to hear your thoughts if you try any of my recipes. Expect to see more cookie dough variations in the future too! 😉
HAHA YES! I do the SAME thing with cookie dough ice cream and PB cup ice cream where I will DIG out the chunks!! SO good. This looks delicious my friend, I LOVE cookie dough I need to make some STAT!
I’m glad I’m not the only one!!! I save all of the mix-ins for last with ice cream cones too… My family makes fun of me when I eat around the cookie dough or brownie chunks and let them fall to the bottom of the cone. It takes a little skill, but I’ve been working on that my whole life. 😉
Cookie dough was always my favorite as a kid too!! I would get it every time my dad took us to Thrifty’s, which later turned into Rite-aid, for 99 cent scoops of ice cream. 🙂 I need an ice-cream maker, because I’m drooling over here! Maybe you just need to make me some of this next time I visit?
No ice cream maker needed for this recipe, Andrea!! But I will definitely make you ice cream the next time you visit. Or we can make it together! 😉 Just name the date!!
P.S. Do you remember the Meadowlark Dairy?? That’s where we went for our cheap ice cream cones! Only vanilla, chocolate, or swirl though… No cookie dough!
Ok, I am a spaz because I missed the memo TWICE (once in the recipe, a second time in your comment to me) that this requires no ice cream maker! This is so cool!! I can’t wait to try it!!
No worries Andrea! I meant to use my ice cream maker… So you were just reading my mind instead! 😉
I love the vodka tip!! Such a great idea!
Thanks Dorothy! I felt so weird buying vodka and yogurt at Safeway. At least the checkout clerk didn’t look at me too strangely… That’s what I get for living in a college town!
LOVE meadowlark dairy!! That was our other go-to place. My brother and I usually preferred Thrifty’s due to their larger variety, but now that I’m a little older I adore the charm of the downtown dairy. I went with my parents last time I was in town! 🙂
How fun! I really need to go back. My grandma loves to tell the story of how I couldn’t finish my ice cream cones as a two-year-old, so she always got to eat 1½. That doesn’t happen anymore! 😉
Hey girl- I would love to try out this recipe! So, if i had an ice cream mixer I would throw everything in and let it freeze and then toss in the cookie dough pieces at the end? I have an ice cream maker that I am looking for more high protein recipes to try! Thanks!
You got it, Samantha! Just mix up the yogurt, sugar, vanilla, and vodka (if using), and put that into the ice cream machine. When it starts to look solid, toss in the cookie dough pieces. I would’ve used my ice cream maker, but… I kind of forgot to put it in the freezer the night before. 😉 Hope you enjoy the froyo!
All I can say about this recipe is that it look insanely good!! Got the new follower. Keep sharing and Many thanks for sharing.
Thanks Josie, so sweet of you to say so! 🙂