Homemade Yogurt Tubes & Pouches
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Homemade yogurt tubes and pouches will have you feeling like the smartest parent on the block! These DIY yogurt snacks are made in just 5 minutes with minimal ingredients and are budget-friendly. For babies 9+ months, toddlers, and kids.
Easy Yogurt Tubes
Looking for an easy DIY to the store-bought yogurt tubes?
Then this recipe is perfect for you!
Don’t get us wrong, buying store-bought yogurt tubes and pouches can be convenient – but when you figure out the cost per serving compared to making your own, you might reconsider. Plus, store-bought brands are often filled with excess sugar, added flavors, and preservatives.
In just 5 minutes, I’ll show you how to make homemade yogurt tubes and pouches that are easily customizable, healthy, and will save you money. Yogurt tubes and pouches are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or as an easy on-the-go snack.
If you are looking for more easy and healthy yogurt recipes for your little one, then be sure to check out my Strawberry Yogurt, Fruit-Filled Yogurt Parfait, Favorite Yogurt Toppings, or these delicious Yogurt Pancakes or Muffins. You can also find more recipes and information in my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.
Featured Yogurt Video
Reasons to Love these Yogurt Tubes
- Comes together in just 5 minutes
- Good source of calcium, protein, healthy fats, and probiotics
- Easy to make using fresh or frozen fruits and veggies
- Budget-friendly
- Customizable – create different flavor combinations depending on what you have on hand in your kitchen and your family’s preferences
- No added preservatives or flavors compared to store-bought yogurt tubes or pouches
- Perfect to have with breakfast, lunch, or snack
- Great recipe for kids to help out with in the kitchen
Ingredients
- Yogurt: plain whole milk yogurt is best, either regular or Greek style. For a dairy-free version, you can do any plain plant-based yogurt you prefer – almond, cashew, oat, etc.
- Fruit: you can use fresh or frozen; if using frozen, thaw first. You can also use simmered peaches, blueberries, strawberries, or mango.
- Maple Syrup or Honey: for toddlers and kids (optional)
- Vanilla Extract or Cinnamon: for added flavor
Recipe Tip: Feel free to substitute other spices, such as nutmeg, cloves, or vanilla bean.
Flavor Ideas
Fresh or frozen fruit works equally well for these easy yogurt tubes and pouches. You can get creative with a few different fruit blends. You can even put together a combination of fruit + veggie, using frozen veggies or pureed veggies.
Fruit Flavors
- Strawberry Banana
- Mixed Berry
- Peach
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Blueberry
- Banana
- Strawberry
- Cherry
Fruit and Veggie Combos
- Strawberry & Cauliflower – can use frozen riced cauliflower
- Blueberry & Spinach – use a small handful of baby spinach
- Mango & Carrot – can use shredded carrots or a carrot puree
- Pineapple & Spinach – use baby spinach
- Mixed Berry & Cauliflower – can use frozen riced cauliflower
- Peach & Sweet Potato – use frozen riced sweet potato or sweet potato puree
- Banana & Pumpkin – use store-bought or homemade pumpkin puree
Nutritional Boosters
- hemp seeds
- chia seeds
- peanut or nut butter
- ground flax seeds
Benefits of Yogurt
Yogurt has many health benefits for babies, toddlers, adults, and everyone in between. It provides many of the nutrients our bodies need for different functions in every stage of life.
- Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, which is needed for bone growth and development. One cup has almost half of the recommended daily value for adults.
- If yogurt contains live active cultures, these are probiotics, which are helpful for a healthy gut and digestion.
- Whole milk yogurt, recommended for kids 2 and under, has fats necessary for brain development.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Put yogurt and fruit (fresh, thawed from frozen or simmered) into a blender.
- Blend until everything is combined.
- Using a funnel, pour the yogurt into tubes or pouches.
- Place in the freezer and let freeze.
Tip: I like to store the tubes and pouches in rectangle Tupperware in case of any leaks.
Tools Needed
- Blender
- Reusable Tubes – a small funnel is also helpful, my package of tubes came with one.
- Reusable Pouches
What Yogurt is Best
The best yogurt for toddlers and kids is whole milk (full fat), plain or unsweetened, and those with live active cultures. Full-fat yogurt is essential for brain development in babies and toddlers.
Frequently Asked Questions
It really depends on your preference. However, pouches seem to work better for toddlers, while tubes tend to work better for older kids.
Absolutely! Adding veggies to these yogurt tubes and pouches is a great way to work on subtly adding flavors of veggies to more foods, as well as providing added nutritional value.
Yes, frozen fruit works well for these yogurt tubes, just make sure to allow frozen fruit to thaw first.
Storage
These homemade yogurt tubes and pouches store well in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also store these in the fridge for up to 4 days, but depending on what yogurt and fruit you add, they can be thinner side.
How to Serve
To serve, take these homemade yogurt tubes out of the freezer and serve them as a cool, refreshing snack. If the tubes are too hard right out of the freezer to push up, let them sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes. You can also pack it into a lunch box, and the yogurt tube will be thawed by lunchtime.
Tubes vs. Pouches
Both tubes and pouches are a great way to serve yogurt. You can find reusable pouches as well as reusable and disposable popsicle molds in a tube shape that work well storing and serving. In general, pouches seem to be a better fit for the little hands of toddlers, while older kids seem to enjoy drinking yogurt out of tubes.
Recipes Tips
- Whole milk Greek yogurt provides the creamiest texture, although regular yogurt also works.
- If your mixture is a little too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk until you reach your desired consistency.
- Add honey or maple syrup to taste (for little ones over 1 year old) after blending ingredients.
- These yogurt tubes and pouches can easily be made dairy-free. Just use a plant-based yogurt, like almond or coconut milk yogurt.
- Use up leftover baby food veggie or fruit purees by using these in this recipe.
Get the recipe: DIY Yogurt Tubes & Pouches (5 minutes)
Ingredients
Base Yogurt Tube
- 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt, regular or Greek Style
- 1 cup fruit, fresh or frozen and thawed, simmered
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup or honey (for babies over 1), optional
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or cinnamon
Fruit Options – pick one
- 1 cup strawberries,
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup mango
- 1 cup peaches
- 1 cup pineapple
- 1 cup mixed berries
- 1 banana
Instructions
- Blend: place the yogurt, fruit, sweetener, and vanilla into a blender. Turn the blender on medium-low and blend until the fruit is incorporated.
- Pour: using a small funnel, pour the yogurt mixture into the reusable tube or pouch to the fill line – 1/2" from the top. Seal well. IMPORTANT: make sure the tubes or pouch are completely sealed.
- Freeze: place the tubes or pouches in the freezer I like to store mine in a small kitchen tupperware in case of leaks. Freeze for at least 5 hours or until frozen.
Notes
Fruit Flavors
You can use fresh or frozen then thawed fruit.- Strawberry Banana
- Mixed Berry
- Peach – fresh, frozen or simmered
- Mango – fresh, frozen or simmered
- Pineapple
- Blueberry –fresh, frozen or simmered
- Banana
- Strawberry – fresh, frozen or simmered
- Cherry
Fruit and Veggie Combos
- Strawberry & Cauliflower – can use frozen riced cauliflower
- Blueberry & Spinach – use a small handful of baby spinach
- Mango & Carrot – can use shredded carrots or a carrot puree
- Pineapple & Spinach – use baby spinach
- Mixed Berry & Cauliflower – can use frozen riced cauliflower
- Peach & Sweet Potato – use frozen riced sweet potato or sweet potato puree
- Banana & Pumpkin – use store-bought or homemade pumpkin puree
Nutritional Boosters
- hemp seeds
- chia seeds
- peanut or nut butter
- ground flax seeds
Equipment
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7 Comments on “Homemade Yogurt Tubes & Pouches”
Has anyone made with freeze dried berries before?
When I made this recipe it was completely liquid. Is that normal? Is that why you freeze them? Do you serve them frozen or thawed? Thank you!
You can add more fruit to make it a bit thicker. Freeze them and then take one out about 10-15 minutes before serving to soften up. Hope this helps! 😊
You are the best. I’ve recently discovered you and I’m totally in awe of everything you do. You have quickly become my go to for food for my baby and toddler. Sending you best wishes and lots of light x
Thanks for making my day, Maidaa! 💕 So happy you are enjoying my content and recipes! All off those best wishes right back at yah! xo, Michele
Hi! Just curious, why thaw the frozen fruit first if blending and freezing the pouches?
I have found that when you thaw the fruit first, they release its natural juices and this makes the yogurt tubes taste better (more fruit flavor). But you can definitely just add the yogurt and frozen fruit to the blender, blend and then freeze if you are short on time. Either way will work great!