Greek Yogurt & Chive Twice-Baked Potatoes with Optional Bacon (2024)

FAQs

What does Greek yogurt do in baking? ›

I use Greek yogurt in place of much heavier, higher fat or more calorie dense ingredients – like butter, sour cream, oil, or buttermilk. Using yogurt in your baked goods will make them incredibly moist, while adding yogurt to savory dips and soups gives them creaminess with a touch of tang.

For topping baked potatoes, combine Greek yogurt with a pinch of salt, fresh pepper, and chives or parsley. Make a straight substitution — If you want to create healthier baked goods or just want a simple substitution, use an equal amount of yogurt in place of the sour cream.

Do not wrap the potatoes in foil before baking. It softens the shells and will make them fall apart. Baking them unwrapped makes the skins crispy and stronger, which will help keep the potatoes together when scooping out the flesh and filling them.

Greek yogurt is a great alternative to cream cheese. It also gives your favorite dishes a healthy twist because it's rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 ( 3 ). Use an equal amount of Greek yogurt in place of cream cheese to make dips, spreads, frostings, and baked goods.

Greek yogurt can substitute milk, sour cream and heavy cream. Milk: If you're short on milk, half and half or light cream, Greek yogurt can be used to make up for the difference. If your recipe calls for one cup of milk, use three-quarter cup of milk and one-quarter cup of Greek yogurt instead.

Icelanders have been making skyr for centuries. Technically a strained cheese, this yogurt is thicker than Greek-style yogurt and has plenty of acid and a bold, tangy flavor. Our editors prefer Siggi's plain whole-milk skyr, which can take the place of crème fraîche or sour cream in most recipes.

Tips for Perfect Twice Baked Potatoes

Prepare any filling ingredients while your potatoes are baking such as cooking meat, veggies, etc. Mix the filling when the potatoes are warm so it doesn't get gummy. For fluffy filling, use a hand mixer but don't overmix.

Versatile – These easy twice baked potatoes or “potato boats” as we call them make a great side with almost any meal. Serve them with something fancy like Prime Rib, or a simple Baked Ham or Pork Tenderloin.

Visual signs: The potato skin will start to wrinkle when over cooked. The potato, when wrapped in foil or placed on the bottom of a pan will have a dark brown spot on the bottom, a sure sign of over cooking. Foil traps the moisture in the potato causing the skin to be wet and the inside flavorless or gummy.

Additionally, yogurt is typically lower in fat and calories than sour cream, making it a healthier choice for those watching their weight or heart health. However, sour cream has its benefits too. It's rich in calcium and vitamin A, making it a nutrient-dense addition to your diet.

Does Greek yogurt bake like sour cream? ›

The substitute works in baking, too, but use whole fat Greek yogurt, the hosts agree. That's because you'll need the butterfat. If the recipe calls for just a ¼ cup of sour cream, it doesn't matter as much whether you use full or nonfat yogurt.

When you really need to thicken a dish, Greek yogurt gets the job done — in fact, it's much thicker than heavy cream. Combine equal parts Greek yogurt and milk for a substitute closer to heavy cream's thickness. Be sure to add it while your dish is off the heat to avoid curdling, and don't use it for whipping.

Yogurt lends itself beautifully to breads, biscuits, muffins, and cakes, providing a slight tanginess and a light, fluffy texture. You can substitute yogurt for several dairy products like sour cream and kefir in many recipes, or bake up a recipe that specifically uses yogurt.

The thick yogurt makes for a “denser, tighter crumb” and makes the case more “luscious,” she says. “That is a unique ability of yogurt.” Its inherent sour tang also nicely mellows out the sweetness of the cake. And yes, it just so happens to be more nutritious than, say, sour cream.

GREEK YOGURT

If you're using a cup of butter or less, replace the butter with 1 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt. If your recipe calls for more than a cup of butter, you'll need to tweak the flour in your recipe by adding about ¼ cup more to compensate for the yogurt's extra moisture.