Today, I finally got out to the farmer’s market. I was kind of sad to see that there wasn’t anything overly exciting (that’s Buffalo in June for you), but I did splurge on some fresh strawberries. AND I got some hard cider for the weekend – they sell wine now at the farmer’s market (!!) – since my sisters are coming to visit. It was hot and sticky today while I was out; it started to rain almost as soon as I got inside. Since I kept feeling hot and sticky, I decided to make something to cool me down.
Coffee flavored frozen kefir! Kefir is cultured milk. Think liquid yogurt with more probiotics. Kefir is one of my favorite things to drink right after a workout – quick shot of protein and carbs. It makes my belly happy, too. Just like with yogurt, kefir is something that Mr. Bear (the kitty, Tesla) also enjoys with me. Since he had some issues with the bacteria in his gut as a kitten, I like to think that I’m helping him out by giving him some extra probiotics every day. 
I felt a little bad about making this frozen kefir coffee flavored, since that meant Tessy couldn’t eat it. He sure was mad at me as I was eating some tonight, although I did give him some plain kefir in his dish. I was really excited to make something with the coffee concentrate I made, though, so I had to start out with coffee flavored. It was worth it. Even if I did have an angry kitty on my hands.
This frozen kefir has the tangy tartness you would expect from frozen yogurt, and the coffee flavor kind of smooths that out. If you can’t find kefir (my favorite is Lifeway, which you can now find at most grocery stores), you can easily use yogurt and milk to make this frozen treat.
Once you put this into the freezer, it’ll freeze pretty rock hard, but if you leave it out on the counter for about 10 to 15 minutes, it’ll soften right up so it’s easy to scoop. This is especially good with a drizzle of chocolate syrup. I’m sure butterscotch would be excellent, too.
This frozen kefir is a great pick me up during the day from the boost of coffee, and it’s the perfect summer treat! I used an unrefined cane sugar and a bit of stevia to sweeten this, but I’d like to think it’s a far cry better than the frozen yogurt you’ll find at your local frozen yogurt/ice cream shop. I’m definitely okay with eating it anytime!
What’s your favorite summertime treat to cool off?
Coffee Frozen Kefir (or Coffee Frozen Yogurt)
- 1 cup coffee concentrate (or brewed espresso), cold
- 2 cups plain kefir (or 1 cup greek yogurt + 1 cup milk)
- 1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar
- 1/4 tsp liquid stevia
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp finely ground coffee (optional)
In a large bowl, stir all ingredients together. Freeze according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer. Allow to soften slightly before scooping once frozen solid.
https://cookingalamel.com/2013/06/coffee-frozen-kefir-or-coffee-frozen-yogurt.htmlRecipe by Melinda Novak, owner of cookingalamel.com