Tart Cherry Chocolate Chip/Shavings Frozen Yogurt

Well, I saw this recipe on Love and Lemons and had to try it. It uses maple syrup, so it goes with the maple sugar season. At the same time, the fruit reminds us of the summer to come. The coconut milk solid adds something to this and makes it a bit different from standard frozen yogurt recipes. I added dark Belgian chocolate chunks and savings, because why wouldn't I? Since making this, I've used raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries with some combination of dark, white, or no chocolate. It's becoming the go-to desert in this house.

The husband found the last of the frozen cherries in our freezer the other day. We thought they were long gone. Our cherry tree produced for the first time last summer, over 10 years since it was planted!

There is one challenge, when using your home-grown cherries--the pits. I had to pit every cherry, which was a fat hassle. In the end it was totally worth it. However, if the tree produces this summer, I am getting one of these pitters. I chopped the cherries into halves and quarters, so that there would be more cherry dispersed throughout the frozen yogurt. Do what works for you.

I have learned to keep a few cans of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator at all times, as I am using this recipe for other frozen yogurts. Chilling overnight separates the solid from the water, for the most part. (One time I stuck a can in the freezer for an hour, and that worked, too.)

I simply chopped a Belgian chocolate bar for the chunks. A vegetable peeler made some nice shavings pieces to add. Short, quick movements with the peeler were best. If you do longer peels you get curls, which don't do much for frozen yogurt. Or, if you don't want to use a peeler, take a refrigerated bar of chocolate and carve down the sides with a sharp knife for shavings.

This was delicious. Tart and sweet. It brought a little brightness into this never-ending winter we are having.