Greek Yogurt Bark with Berries and Pistachios

Ten minutes of work, then the freezer does the rest. Use thick strained Greek yogurt rather than a thin Greek-style one, or the bark freezes icy and hard. Take it out five minutes before eating and it snaps cleanly.

Snack

Makes 12 pieces (6 servings of 2), plus 3 hours freezing

Pieces of frozen Greek yogurt bark topped with blueberries, raspberries, chopped pistachios and dark chocolate on a baking tray

Ingredients

500g thick Greek yogurt (2% fat or full-fat)
2 tbsp honey (30g)
1 tsp vanilla extract
150g mixed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries
30g shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
20g dark chocolate (70% or higher), chopped or grated
A pinch of flaky salt (optional)

Method

Line a baking tray, about 20 x 30cm, with baking paper. Make sure it fits flat in your freezer.
Stir the yogurt, honey and vanilla together until smooth.
Spread the yogurt over the paper in an even layer about 1cm thick. Thinner than that and it shatters; thicker and it is hard to bite.
Scatter over the berries, pressing them in lightly, then the pistachios, chocolate and a pinch of salt.
Freeze for at least 3 hours, until completely firm.
Lift the bark out on its paper and break or cut it into 12 pieces. If it is too hard to cut, leave it for 5 minutes first.
Store the pieces in a freezer bag or box, with baking paper between layers, for up to a month. Take them out 5 minutes before eating.

Why it works

Two pieces have about 10g of protein for around 140 calories, which makes this a genuinely filling snack rather than a treat that leaves you hungry. Strained Greek yogurt carries roughly twice the protein of ordinary yogurt, plus calcium.

Why the thick yogurt matters. Thin yogurt contains more water, and water freezes into ice crystals. Thick yogurt and a little fat keep the bark creamy. For the same reason, do not use fat-free yogurt with added water or starch.

The honest part is the honey. Honey is a free sugar, the kind the NHS says adults should keep below 30g a day. Here 2 tablespoons across six servings comes to about 4g per serving, plus the natural sugar in the yogurt and fruit. You can leave it out entirely if your berries are sweet.

Berries bring fibre and colour; pistachios add crunch, protein and unsaturated fat; and a little dark chocolate goes a long way.

For women around menopause, protein and calcium spread across the day both support muscle and bone: see bone health after menopause. For a snack you can eat straight from the fridge, try Greek yogurt with cherries and walnuts.

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