How To Sweeten Greek Yogurt (11 Ways)
Although incredibly delicious and nutritious on its own, Greek yogurt can be sweetened in several ways to tone down its mouth-puckering tartness.
It’s very easy to balance out the sourness with some sweetness and make it go from good to great! Let’s find out how.
So, how to sweeten Greek yogurt? Some of the best ways to sweeten Greek yogurt include adding some delicious honey, maple syrup, nut butter, granola, berries, mashed bananas, sweetened protein powder, sugar or sweeteners, applesauce, vanilla and other extracts, and sweet spices such as cinnamon.
Read on to find out some of the best ways to sweeten Greek yogurt so that you can fully enjoy this versatile and highly nutritious food!
Best Ways To Sweeten Greek Yogurt
Here are some of the best ways to sweeten Greek yogurt!
1. Honey
This one is a classic! Honey has been used since ancient times to sweeten foods and beverages and is one of the most common ways to sweeten Greek yogurt.
Full of antioxidants and vital nutrients, honey is naturally very sweet, even more than sugar, which is why you must be mindful when adding it to your Greek yogurt!
All you have to do is add some to the yogurt and give it a nice mix. You can also add some chopped nuts to the mix to give it a nice crunch.
There are several varieties of honey with different colors and flavor profiles based on the type of flower it is made from. Some of the most popular ones include clover honey, wildflower honey, and acacia honey.
2. Maple Syrup
Maple syrup isn’t just for pancakes and waffles. A natural sweetener that comes from the sap of maple trees, maple syrup is recently being called a superfood and is a great choice for sweetening Greek yogurt.
With special antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, you will love the addition of maple syrup to your Greek yogurt if you have a sweet tooth.
We like to swirl some maple syrup on top of the yogurt for the aesthetic, then mix it so that it is well incorporated!
3. Nut Butter
Nut butters like peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter are all naturally sweet and can add not only sweetness but a great depth of flavor to your Greek yogurt.
While these may not add as much sweetness as honey and maple syrup, they can certainly add richness, crunch, and a whole lot of flavor. When paired with fruit, it can balance out all the flavors and make the yogurt sweet, savory, and tangy!
Some nut butters are creamy and can stir well in the yogurt while others have a thicker consistency. Regardless, they are a great addition!
Just make sure to buy nut butters without any preservatives or artificial flavors or use homemade nut butters.
4. Granola
A toasted mixture consisting of rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit, puffed rice, chocolate chips, and sweeteners such as honey or brown sugar, granola not only adds sweetness to the Greek yogurt but also texture and nutrition.
You could either top your yogurt with a bit of granola or if you want something more filling, you could fill your bowl with granola and put a dollop of Greek yogurt on top.
The creaminess of the Greek yogurt pairs wonderfully with the sweetness and crunch of the granola and is a great and healthy way to start your day or enjoy it as a midday snack.
Just make sure you use granola without any artificial sweeteners for maximum health benefits!
5. Berries
Everybody loves berries! Not only are they super delicious, but they can also be used to sweeten Greek yogurt. From raspberries to blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries (even cranberries!), you can use any berry you’d like!
A perfect way to add some natural sweetness and flavor to your yogurt, you can use fresh berries, frozen berries, or even cooked berries.
You may experiment with different flavor combinations and pair different types of berries for an exciting twist. One of the most popular combinations is strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
You can use the berries on their own with Greek yogurt or pair them with some honey, maple syrup, nut butter, or granola for additional flavor and texture.
6. Mashed Bananas
Bananas are healthy, sweet, and easy to mash, making them the perfect sweetener for Greek yogurt!
Depending on the quantity of your Greek yogurt, you may use either half a banana, or if you want it to be extra sweet, you can go for a full banana as well.
Full of nutrients vital for your body, bananas help improve metabolism, immune function, cognitive development, and more!
It is a quick and healthy breakfast that can provide you with a good amount of energy. There are few things as easy to prepare as mashed banana Greek yogurt. All you have to do is mash the bananas using a fork and stir in your yogurt.
7. Sweetened Protein Powder
Protein powders are not reserved for athletes and bodybuilders! Anyone can enjoy them, and if you are someone who does, you can use the sweetened protein powder to make your Greek yogurt sweeter.
Not only will it add a sweetness factor to the Greek yogurt but also increase the total amount of protein you’ll be having. What’s great about these protein powders is that they are flavored and add to the overall taste of the yogurt.
You can grab a scoop of your favorite sweetened protein powder and make a delicious protein dessert for you to enjoy.
It may require a bit of blending to ensure there are no lumps in the yogurt, but it shouldn’t be too difficult or time-consuming.
8. Sugar Or Sweetener
If you don’t want the sweetener to overpower the natural flavor of the yogurt, you can opt for something basic as sugar or a simple sweetener.
You could go for white sugar, although it is not the healthiest option. Brown sugar is also great and will give the yogurt a molasses or toffee-like flavor.
Natural sweeteners such as stevia powder or monk fruit sweeteners are great options that not only dissolve easily but are much better health-wise.
You may choose whatever you prefer and simply mix the sugars or sweeteners into the Greek yogurt and enjoy! You may even use it as a base for other toppings such as fruit, granola, nuts, and more.
9. Applesauce
Applesauce is the perfect sweetener for yogurt, whether it is store-bought or made at home. It is incredibly sweet and delicious and can turn your Greek yogurt into a dessert!
It is low in calories, contains 2 grams of fiber per ½ cup, and is a common item usually found in people’s kitchens.
To make sure you get the most benefit out of it, stew some apples yourself at home. If you’re buying readymade applesauce, steer clear of brands with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrates, and other forms of sugar.
To make it even more delicious, you may add some granola on top of the applesauce Greek yogurt and sprinkle some cinnamon on top!
10. Flavor Extracts
Extracts are a great ingredient used in a ton of recipes to add flavor. They can transform a boring bowl of Greek yogurt into something exciting, and what’s great is that you only need a few drops!
There are several extracts to choose from. Some of the most popular ones include vanilla, almond, banana, cinnamon, coconut, coffee, mint, maple, orange, and pumpkin pie spice.
These extracts taste incredible in yogurt smoothies as well and provide a natural flavor without the need for any artificial flavoring.
Since vanilla and almond extracts are naturally sweet flavors, you probably won’t need to add additional sugar or sweeteners.
11. Sweet Spices
Warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg have a natural sweetness to them which when added to Greek yogurt can help sweeten it as well.
Simply sprinkle a small amount of ground cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the yogurt and enjoy. If you want, you may add some sugar, natural sweetener, or honey to it.
Since these spices can be overpowering if added in too much quantity, be careful when using them to sweeten your Greek yogurt and not go overboard.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to sweetening your Greek yogurt, there are so many options to choose from.
While this list includes some great options, they are not the only ones. If you do not like any of the above-mentioned sweeteners, you can try a date puree, mango puree, jam, sweet potato, or blueberry sauce.
Greek yogurt is creamier than regular yogurt, and when sweetened, it makes for a great breakfast item and dessert. Since it is full of nutrition, you must incorporate it into your daily meals and enjoy its full range of health benefits.
Just be careful when choosing the right type of sweetener since it may have an impact on the nutritional profile of the final product. Try to opt for natural sweeteners that not only add flavor but are also a healthy option!
