Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients

• 3 cups cherries fresh pitted
• 2 Tbsp juice of lemon 
• 0.8 cup sugar sweet frozen (more or less depending on how the cherries and how you want your yogurt to be)
• 0.3 cup milk whole for creamier version (can substitute half-and-half or cream )
• 1.5 cups full fat yogurt low-fat (if you are using non or yogurt, add 2 Tbsp heavy cream)
• 2 Tbsp almond liqueuer such as amaretto 

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• pot
• blender
• potato masher
• ice cream machine

Directions

1. Place the pitted cherries, lemon juice, and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
2. While the mixture is heating, use a potato masher to mash up the berries in the pot which will release some of their moisture.
3. When all of the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
4. Place the cherry mixture in a blender and pulse until smooth.
5. Mix cherry purée, milk, and yogurt together in a bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour; the longer the mixture chills the better (can chill overnight).
6. Process in ice cream maker: Right before processing in an ice cream maker, add the almond liqueur if using. The alcohol in the liqueur will help keep the frozen yogurt smooth, but it is not necessary.
7. Process the mixture in your ice cream maker for 25 minutes.
8. You can eat it right away (it will be rather soft) or put it in the freezer for a few hours to harden up a bit.