There are many easy alternative ways to use yogurt. It is kind of like a cure-all for recipes. Don’t have oil or butter on hand for baking? Use yogurt. Need a topping or mix-in on your oatmeal bowl? Use yogurt. Want to spice up your smoothies? USE YOGURT.
You can make cream sauces (think Alfredo and mac & cheese galore), smear it on fish to create a yogurt crust, add fluff to pancakes, swirl it into soup. Seriously. Yogurt usage is endless.
And guess what? With Lavva Plant-Based Yogurt , dairy-free friends can join as well! Each product contains zero sugar (relying only on the natural sweetness of real fruit and young plantains) and is made from a blend of better-for-you ingredients including fair-trade pili nuts, coconut, cassava, lime juice and real fruit. None of the sugar filled alternatives that usually fill the market. Just real, wholesome foods here.
1. Replacing Oil with Yogurt
You can substitution 1 cup of oil for 3/4 cup of yogurt typically without seeing any major differences in your baking.
2. Replacing half cream cheese with yogurt
This is the perfect hack to lighten up all of your icings and sauces that may require cream cheese. You can also use yogurt instead of cream cheese for toast… it’s delicious. 1/2 cup cream cheese = 1/2 cup yogurt + 1/2 cup cream cheese or other dairy free cheese. Pro-tip: if you’re opting for an icing, try using Lavva Vanilla Yogurt for a dairy-free alternative.
3. Replacing buttermilk with yogurt
Nothing is more of a bummer than baking and realizing you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, yet you have everrrythinnnggg else. With this simple replacement, you won’t notice any differences! 1 cup buttermilk = 2/3 cup yogurt + 1/3 cup milk. Pro-tip: Use Lavva’s Plain yogurt for a dairy free option for this one!
4. Replacing sour cream with yogurt
You can do a 1:1 substitution for anything that may call for sour cream. Think… mashed potatoes, baked goods, etc. Pro-tip: Use Lavva’s Plain yogurt for a dairy free option for any recipes requiring sour cream. You can even make a yogurt-tzatziki sauce!
5. Adding yogurt to smoothies
I didn’t love smoothies until I started adding some kind of protein to them, whether that be nut-butter based or yogurt based, because it was only then I would feel satisfied after. Yogurt based makes smoothies so dreamy and delicious, adding the perfect punch of protein for your day as well.
And since it’s Fall, I would be ashamed if I didn’t share at least ONE pumpkin recipe with you all. Lavva’s brand new Pumpkin Spice smoothie recipe is a great alternative to the PSL. Their Pumpkin Spice Smoothie contains Lavva Vanilla Yogurt, pumpkin puree and spice for your simple smoothie goodness. I would add a frozen banana to this and call it the best pumpkin smoothie of the year.
Lavva Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Makes one 12oz serving
Ingredients
1 5.3oz container Vanilla Lavva
3 Tbsp. Pumpkin, canned
1/4 cup Coconut Water
1 Tbsp. Coconut Nectar (or date or maple syrup)
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/3 cup crushed ice
Directions
1. Blend all ingredients, except ice, on low for 20 seconds.
2. Add ice, and blend on medium for 20 seconds and then high for to seconds until smooth and creamy.
3. Top with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, and enjoy!
6. Adding yogurt as a topping to pretty much anything
Topping sweet potatoes with yogurt is something new I tried this past year and I can definitely say I will never go back. Combined with some nut butter, fruit, and cinnamon this creation makes for the perfect snack, breakfast, or even dessert. I love baking a Japanese sweet potato until tender, but you can use yams or other varieties as well!
7. Replacing butter with yogurt
Not only is this a great baking hack, it’s also the perfect replacement for Mac and Cheese! You can do a 1:1 substitution ratio and the recipe will turn out great.