Disclosure: By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the National Honey Board and I am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside.” Winnie the Pooh
In today’s post I am showcasing honey’s culinary versatility in response to the National Honey Board‘s challenge to Recipe Reduxers. I have developed a tempting treat perfect for outdoor entertaining that uses my favorite natural sweetener, honey. In my recipe, honey compliments the taste of fresh peaches and is also a substitute for sugar in baking. The result is a refreshing Peaches ‘N Honey Frozen Yogurt Cookie Sandwich, bursting with flavor and sure to be one of the most memorable foods you’ll eat all summer! This dessert has less calories, fat and refined sugar than traditional ice cream sandwiches. The fat free frozen yogurt, sweetened with peaches ‘n honey, is sandwiched between soft golden cookies flavored with honey and reduced in fat.
Before I share my recipe, I ‘d like to share some tips and benefits of using honey in the kitchen that go beyond its obvious use as a natural sweetener. (Note that because honey is slightly sweeter than sugar, less can be used.)
• Honey adds a unique versatile flavor that is compatible with sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory flavors.
• Honey attracts and holds moisture, enhancing freshness and shelf life of baked goods.
• Honey is a natural emulsifier: the perfect ingredient to thicken and add body to sauces and dressings.
• There over 300 varietals of honey in the United States! The National Honey Board has made it easy to find varietals by creating a website honeylocator.com.
And now for my amazingly delicious recipe using the goodness of honey to complement the fresh peach crop now in season in North Carolina! Don’t wait to enjoy this recipe; the peach season is short! You don’t have to be a Pooh Bear to want more healthy and delicious ways to use honey. Please check out what my fellow Recipe Reduxers have created via the links at the bottom of this post.
Peaches ‘N Honey Frozen Yogurt Cookie Sandwich
(makes 2 dozen)
by
Ingredients
for the honey cookies
- 2 3/4 cups sifted flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup low fat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
for the peaches ‘n honey frozen yogurt
- 4 medium Eastern yellow ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
- 2 cups nonfat vanilla yogurt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon freshly grated cinnamon
Instructions
for the soft honey cookies
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In small bowl combine flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, cream butter and honey until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients.
3. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 7-10 minutes or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet 2 minutes before removing to cool on wire rack.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies, depending on size
for the peaches ‘n honey frozen yogurt
1. Puree the peaches in a blender. (You should have about 1 1/2 cups of pureed peaches).
2. Add yogurt and honey to a bowl and combine the pureed peaches. Mix well.
3. Pour into a freezer bowl of an automatic frozen yogurt-ice cream & sorbet maker. Turn the machine on and let mixture thicken, about 20-25 minutes.
4. Stir in cinnamon by hand.
Makes about 4 cups frozen yogurt, enough to fill 32 sandwich cookies.
to assemble peaches ‘n honey frozen yogurt cookie sandwiches
Once the cookies have thoroughly cooled, place 1 ice cream scoop of frozen yogurt onto a cookie and gently press a second cookie on top. Use a knife to trim the sides of excess yogurt. Repeat with remaining cookies and frozen yogurt. Eat immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze up to 2 weeks.
