Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream

Published on May 8th, 2025

YOLO, SO FRO-YO YOUR WAY TO HAPPINESS FOR DESSERT

In the battle of delicious frozen desserts, frozen yogurt often takes a back seat to gelato, frozen custard, and ice cream. And that’s too bad, because frozen yogurt is delicious! It’s the perfect treat for hot summer nights when you want something a bit lighter and a bit more refreshing. (Plus, the self-serve places have all those fun mix-ins, and you can’t beat that.) But do you know exactly what fro-yo is? When it comes to frozen yogurt vs ice cream, here’s what the differences actually are.

What is frozen yogurt?

Although the name might make you think it’s possible, you actually can’t just throw a pint of yogurt into the freezer and call it frozen yogurt. Frozen yogurt the dessert is actually made from a mixture of yogurt, milk, and sugar. First, manufacturers mix the milk and sugar together and pasteurize it, then they add the yogurt. Once it’s all blended, it rests for several hours and then goes into the freezer to become the dessert we know and love. If the frozen yogurt isn’t flavored with anything (like chocolate, strawberry, mint, cookie dough, or anything else you can find to use), the flavor will be tangy and sweet, with a delightfully creamy texture.

What is ice cream?

Ice cream is similar to frozen yogurt, except it’s made with cream instead of yogurt. Manufacturers blend together milk, sugar, cream, and sometimes egg yolks before freezing it. The United States actually has a requirement that all ice cream must have at least 10% milkfat, so expect a creamier texture and more fat content than frozen yogurt.

History of frozen yogurt

Yogurt itself may be an ancient food, but frozen yogurt is much younger — it was invented in the 1970s, under the unfortunate name of “frogurt.” The creator was a company called HP Hood, now known as Dairy Foods. Bloomingdale’s had asked HP Hood for a low-fat frozen treat they could bring into stores, and frozen yogurt was born. By the end of the 1970s, fro-yo was being sold across the country. The first frozen yogurt chain opened in New York, then another opened in Massachusetts, and we haven’t turned back since.

Is frozen yogurt healthier than ice cream?

Honestly, it depends! On the surface, it seems so — frozen yogurt has less calories and less fat than ice cream. But it probably also has more sugar. And if you pile on toppings like you would at a self-serve fro-yo spot, you’re probably scaring any health benefits away. From a probiotic standpoint, frozen yogurt is better for your gut health. Regardless, though, either ice cream or frozen yogurt can be enjoyed in moderation and be a perfectly fine and healthy snack.

So what is a healthy ice cream alternative? Gelato has a lot less fat, but that needs as much moderation as ice cream and frozen yogurt. Sorbet and Italian ice could be good options, too, but watch for the sugar content. Your best bet is to make faux ice cream using bananas, where you freeze banana slices and then use a food processor to transform them into a creamy dessert similar to ice cream. You can add mix-ins like dark chocolate and peanut butter, or make it a little creamier by adding plant-based milk. Either way, it’s a delicious low-calorie dessert that scratches that ice cream itch.

Which is better for diabetics, ice cream or frozen yogurt?

It may come as a surprise, but the best dessert for diabetics between ice cream and frozen yogurt is good old ice cream. Frozen yogurt sounds like — and often is touted as — a healthier alternative, but producers need to jam it full of sugar to offset the tartness of the yogurt itself. Ice cream generally has less sugar and less carbs. That being said, ice cream should certainly be eaten in moderation. It still has sugar in it, too! And if you add toppings like hot fudge and whipped cream, you could be creating a diabetic disaster zone.

If ice cream is the winner in your mind for the epic ice cream vs frozen yogurt battle, you’re in luck. Goldbelly can deliver your favorite ice cream pint straight to your door.

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