13 Ways To Upgrade Store-Bought Yogurt

Anyone thinking yogurt is a wallflower relegated to the world of breakfast dining should reconsider the ways in which this delightful dairy creation can be adapted to suit almost any appetite. Though some types of flavored yogurt can be considered unhealthy where sugar and fat content are concerned, plain yogurt provides an empty palette waiting to be painted with a flurry of fantastic flavors. Even well-chosen reduced-fat yogurts made with minimal sugar can accommodate a few well-chosen upgrades that reveal a flashier personality hiding behind the low-key refrigerator case façade.

How many different ways can you improve upon basic yogurt and turn it into an unexpected superstar dish? The possibilities are vast and varied, ranging from simple options like working fresh fruit mix-ins into the bowl to borderline gourmet strategies like incorporating Greek yogurt into easy and delicious bread recipes. From sweet to savory and neutral to nutty, no flavor is off-limits when you're going for a phenomenal yogurt makeover. If you usually cruise your shopping cart past the yogurt section thinking it was too tame or too lame to tempt your taste buds, this collection of ideas for easy upgrades will have you thinking about yogurt in a whole new light.

Honey and yogurt are a partnership as perfect as peanut butter and jelly, but with the potential for being a little healthier, thanks to reduced fat content and a lower glycemic index. Having a wide variety of honey strains available gives you an adaptable sweetener from nature that skips the refinement process in favor of a more organic presentation, though you'll want to choose a pure honey with flavor notes that you'll appreciate. Adding a clover base honey will create a more floral essence, while working in Manuka honey will introduce rich caramel notes and earthy nuttiness while bringing a hearty dose of antioxidants along for the ride.

Maybe the best aspect of adding honey to your yogurt is your ability to dial in the sweetness to your taste. Add a drop or a drizzle until you find the right balance and enjoy your custom yogurt creation. It's the perfect way to create a foundation for incorporating other ingredients into the mix, especially if you're aiming for an elegant creation that tends toward the more gourmet side of the balance. If you're creating a parfait or breakfast bar for your table, provide a jar of honey with a dipper that lets your guests add just the proper amount.

The understated sweetness of real maple syrup can give plain or vanilla yogurt just enough of a boost to change a characterless cup into a source of genuine pleasure. If you've never tried the real stuff, be prepared for something more new and subtle than what you find in pancake houses and waffle huts. True maple syrup is a study in restrained flavor that counters the tangy nature of the yogurt with a more authentic essence. Like honey, it's a fantastic option for preparing a base yogurt that's ready to welcome other elements like fruit or granola. And if you're a purist, it'll give yogurt in its simplest form just the right amount of magic.

There's a spectrum of maple syrup available in the grocery store, offering everything from light, elegant elixir to bolder, darker nectar. Sampling a few forms will give you an idea of which syrups are ideal for your ideas. If you've never shopped for real maple syrup, you should be aware that the cost difference between real maple syrup and more familiar pancake syrup is considerable, with premium brands selling for upwards of $20. But if you're hoping to ramp up the taste factor in your yogurt without pouring in a glob of corn syrup, it's worth considering going natural and grabbing a less-processed bottle.

If you're sinking your spoon into a bowl of any form of yogurt, you might want something on the crunchy side to lend substance and variety, and toasted almonds are a prime candidate for the job. Not only do almonds come with their own subtle flavor, but they become woodsy and wonderful in their toasted form. They also help you deliver an even bigger protein boost to your cells to promote muscle building and exert control over your appetite. The toothy texture is fantastic for helping counteract the overwhelming smoothness of yogurt, which can sometimes be a hindrance for discerning eaters who prefer more varied textures.

You may notice in your grocery store that the raw almonds in the baking section or a produce section are slightly less expensive than the pre-roasted nuts in the snack food section. Buy a bag of these uncooked nuts, spread them on a foil-lined pan and toast them in your range or toaster oven set at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for five to seven minutes, keeping a close eye on them to prevent burning. Let them cool and chop them up before dropping them into your yogurt for a nutty and natural upgrade. And if you happen to drop in a few dark chocolate chips, you can enjoy a healthy alternative to classic Rocky Road ice cream.

There's practically no yogurt flavor that won't be enhanced by the presence of shredded coconut, whether you are a mixed berry fan or favor lemon or lime. Keep a bag on hand to have a ready topper for your yogurt breakfast or snack, and be sure to choose sweetened or unsweetened to make certain you get the variety that works best. Superfans can even find bags of larger coconut flakes in the baking section of the grocery store. And of course, the diehards can crack open a fresh coconut and slice off sheaths to get the most authentic yogo-nut experience possible.

It doesn't take much coconut to create a flavorful island effect in your bowl or cup; just a sprinkle or two stirred into the yogurt will create a sweet enhancement that lends texture as well as flavor. If you're handy with your toaster oven, you can also toast your coconut for even more flavor, but watch it carefully as it tends to turn from toasted to scorched in seconds.

The most obvious upgrade to give your yogurt a blast of flavor is the inclusion of fresh fruit. Though many brands come with fruit already included, they're often accompanied by a sugary syrup that could work against both your palate and your dietary goals. If this happens to be your preference but the fruit seems to be a bit lacking, you can always add more of the fruit included to bulk it up without betraying the flavor. Contrasting fruits like grapes dropped into strawberry yogurt or bananas cut up into peach yogurt also create intriguing taste blends you might not have imagined in other dishes.

Experimentation is key in finding the fruits that suit you best for your yogurt mix, but juice factor is a consideration, as juicy fruits like pineapple and watermelon can add more liquid to the yogurt than you're expecting. The result could be runny and unpleasant. Dry fruits like apples, cherries, and peaches seem almost custom designed to adorn yogurt without ruining the texture.

Of all the things you didn't know Greek yogurt could do, maybe the most fascinating is that it can become a convincing homemade bread. This creation has become a darling of the Internet baking set, one that conscious consumers look to for a cleaner experience. It's an entry-level bread that produces foolproof results without requiring you to mess with yeast, which can be a bit off-putting if you've never used it before. Anyone who eschews store-bought bread due to its never-ending list of additives and preservatives can get back in the swing of the bread-loving thing, with a hat-tip to yogurt's handy, helpful properties.

The recipe literally features only two ingredients in the mixing bowl: self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, which replaces the other liquid and fat-containing ingredients found in traditional breads. The result is a fluffy yet hardy loaf that incorporates the high protein goodness of Greek yogurt into your choice of flour for a custom bread that you don't have to be a professional baker to create. Toss in your favorite herbs or seasonings to give the basic bake a bit more personality. Being a stand-in for traditional yeasted dough, it can also be used to make delicious handcrafted bagels, fluffy dinner rolls, chewy pizza crust, and even soft pretzels.

You may have heard that you should never put yogurt in the freezer, due to the wacky things that can happen when you thaw it out (spoiler alert: it tends to separate into liquid and solid). But that little chestnut probably came from someone who didn't plan to make delicious freezer pops out of their yogurt. With climbing grocery prices added to the litany of thickeners that can make store-bought pops less than ideal health-wise, creating homemade yogurt pops gives this humble dairy representative a direct path to Deliciousville.

Having access to and more calorie and sugar-controlled version of ice cream and traditional frozen yogurt that tastes great means mixing things up. Folding in fruit, nuts, and candy into vanilla yogurt lets you create a creamy sweet treat that sets up nicely in a freezer pop mold. Don't be basic with your flavors and mix-ins, either; go deluxe with triple citrus yogurt popsicles or stir in a little coffee and drop some chocolate chips and almonds in to create a latte-like freezer goodie that's sure to soothe when the summer heat is on.

Anyone who's ever thought about how similar yogurt is to sour cream already knows that it's a perfect foundation for delicious dips. Unlike having a tub of dedicated sour cream in your fridge waiting to be used, you can dip into the carton of yogurt you keep on hand for your personal enjoyment and save time and money when you need a tasty dip to top your table. Creations like cooling yogurt dip served with fiery corn and jalapeño fritters and modified yogurt-based crema with a tangy lime kick let you introduce yogurt-based dips into your dining life in ways that may not even be noticed by the eaters at your table. That's how easy it is to sneak healthy yogurt onto the menu!

Why stop at savory dips when you can create sweet options like vanilla fruit dip to turn your dessert table into a yogurt fest too? Combine plain or vanilla yogurt with instant pudding mix and you have instant indulgence that can be ready to dazzle your guests in minutes. Traditional onion dip becomes a new sensation when yogurt enters the scene as well. Swap out sour cream and keep the packet of onion soup mix to whip up a chip dip partygoers would be foolish to refuse!

If you keep wrestling with which creamy dressings you should and shouldn't eat, you can give yourself an advantage by making your own at home using yogurt instead of full-fat milk or mayonnaise. The rich texture lets you tailor your dressing to your preference for either a heavy pour or a lighter drizzle. Tossing in a packet of powdered ranch mix is the perfect way to get a feel for how yogurt becomes a workable substitute for a buttermilk dressing, especially if you thin it down with a little apple cider vinegar. You can also conjure up your own ranch blend at home by combining onion powder, garlic powder, dill, parsley, and thyme.

The versatility of yogurt also lets you craft sweet and creamy dressings you might not otherwise consider. Try adding a little orange juice and honey with a sprinkle of poppy seeds or sunflower seeds for something unique to glam up your greens and veggie sticks. For a topping that aligns with your favorite international dishes, blitz your yogurt with avocado or garbanzo beans and shake in your favorite seasoning blends to create a customized pour-over for greens and veggies.

Yogurt and cream cheese are essentially the same substance with more of the liquid removed. If you're an enterprising food scientist looking for a homemade version of a cream cheese-like spread, all you need is a carton of yogurt, a piece of cheese cloth and a little bit of acid from lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Drain the yogurt over the cheese cloth in a bowl to release the excess liquid until you have the curd at a suitable consistency. Then, stir in your acid and shake in sweet or savory seasonings to craft an artisanal cheese dip that's really humble yogurt in a gourmet disguise.

Don't play small when it comes to flavoring your cream cheese spread. Try caramelized onions and roasted garlic to replicate deli flavors, mash in bits of smoked salmon and chives for a bagel shop blend, or slap in a scoop of Nutella or peanut butter for a luxurious schmear. Because it's dairy-based, your spread won't last any longer than your yogurt would, so be sure to store it in an airtight container and plan to use it pretty quickly.

If cream cheese can expire to become a delicious frosting, yogurt can have the same dream. Transforming plain or Greek yogurt into a supreme spread for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies is as easy as substituting these dairy alternatives in a standard recipe for cream cheese frosting. Full-fat versions work best, as they provide enough solidity to hold up when spreading while offering a flavor and mouthfeel comparable to real cream cheese. By using maple syrup or honey as a sweetener, you can keep your frosting in a natural realm, bypassing the palm oil and stabilizers found in canned frostings.

Creating a frosting that's thick and silky enough to spread requires straining your Greek yogurt through a cheese cloth for at least two hours to eliminate the extra liquid. An easy-to-remember ratio of two parts yogurt to one part sweetener with a teaspoon of flavored extract added in will produce a smooth frosting you can spread or pipe onto your favorite baked goods or use as a topping for fresh fruit.

Anyone who's too busy to sit and enjoy yogurt can give it a sippable glow-up by turning it into a delicious smoothie. Not only do you get the calcium, vitamins, and creamy flavor that would be in a milk-based smoothie, you also get a dollop of extra protein — even more if you opt for Greek yogurt as your starter. The consistency is bound to be too thick to drink when you start the blender, so remember to add a splash of juice, milk, or water to thin it down to the proper texture. Tossing in ice cubes will also help you achieve a slushy drink that's easier to pass through a straw.

If you're new to the idea of working yogurt into a beverage, start with a simple drinkable yogurt recipe that will get you over the starting line with a simple blend. Once you know what you like, you can play around with fruits and vegetables to add more nutrients and flavor than you may have thought possible in a health drink. Pro-level folks are likely to know that a scoop of protein powder will maximize the nutritional content of any powerful potable yogurt, but it doesn't hurt to mention it again as a helpful reminder.

Take a second look at your jam collection and see if there are any flavors that might jazz up your yogurt. You may find options that don't exist in the yogurt world, possibilities like boysenberry, apricot, and Concord grape just waiting to jump into the bowl to make your yogurt experience more exciting. If you find your sweet spread selection is a little lacking for flavors that tempt and entice, this is your chance to go shopping to find the flavor that's just your "jam" (insert groan here).

If jam isn't your thing, you can always use jelly, marmalade, or preserves. Any of these jarred elements are similar enough to the fruit mix-in that comes in many of the cups with fruit and flavor — at the bottom — that you can replicate your favorite or tinker with a few different options to make a thoroughly bespoke yogurt concoction to call your own. For the enterprising culinarians in the house, making your own jam out of whole strawberries, blueberries, or blackberries is a great way to make sure what you're adding into your yogurt meets your standards for freshness and flavor.