As a Gemini, I apparently have the right to change my mind at a moment’s notice. I can suddenly enjoy something I’ve previously disliked. For example: yoghurt.
In my defense, I still detest the majority of yoghurts available in supermarkets (thin-runny-mucus-like-gloopy-overly-sweetened travesties). I once found myself lured by a Fat-Free No Sugar Cheesecake-Flavoured yoghurt, and I’m almost certain a fairy lost its wings the moment I peeled back the plastic lid. I ate it, because I’d paid for it, but that was a sad day in the life of Hannah. (See also: canned chicken.)
However, this is not a post about disgusting yoghurt. This is a post about Chobani, the thick, creamy, enjoyable yoghurt I used to buy in America (I particularly liked the pomegranate flavour, which sadly isn’t sold here).
I was very kindly sent a box of 14 Chobani yoghurts after expressing excitement on Twitter about their arrival in Australia. And then I was sent another 14 when I mentioned offhand that I’d forgotten to try baking with them. (The Chobani folk are nothing if not passionate about their yoghurt and determined that we Australians enjoy it too.) Here are my thoughts on Chobani’s flavoured yoghurts:
Strawberry 0%: Pleasant flavour, generous fruit swirl. I like that none of Chobani’s flavours are sickly-sweet. Found myself dreaming of a raspberry flavour though.
Blueberry 0%: Not my favourite. I found the flavour a bit watery, and put this down to it being fat-free. I liked it best when mixed with cacao nibs or desiccated coconut (yay fat!).
Peach 0%: Surprisingly, I found the Peach [also 0% fat] Chobani richer in flavour than its blueberry cousin, and therefore enjoyed it more.
Pineapple 2%: My equal favourite; I really like the tanginess. It also seemed thicker somehow. I always mix this flavour with cinnamon, and would happily buy it again.
Mango 2%: Liked this one in a smoothies and when topped with muesli or granola.
Vanilla 0%: Can’t lie, I didn’t like this at all. The vanilla tasted medicinal and chemically, and I couldn’t eat it straight. However, I did use it to make the below Vanilla Craisin Muffins, and they turned out really nicely. So my advice: bake with the Vanilla if you know what’s good for you.
Passionfruit 2%: My other equal favourite. Really loved the rich creamy yoghurt mixed with vibrant tangy passionfruit. Would buy this again, and am half-planning to invent passionfruit cornbread with it. Is that weird?
Overall, I’m thrilled that there’s a new Greek-style thick yoghurt in Australia, and I’ll happily buy the passionfruit and pineapple flavours in future. Sure, not every flavour is to my taste, but that’s to be expected with anything, really.
And hey, if I can bake semi-healthy muffin deliciousness with the flavours that don’t float my boat on their own, then I’m one happy calcium-filled girl.
Vanilla Craisin Chobani Muffins
Adapted from Chobani’s Honey-Scented Blueberry Muffins
Makes 12
- 1 1/2 cup (225g) wholemeal flour
- 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
- 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
- 1 tb (4 tsp) baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
- 1 large egg
- 3 tb canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (250g) Vanilla Chobani yoghurt
- 1/3 cup milk*
- Preheat oven to 180°C (375°F) and line a standard muffin tray with cases. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder and soda, spices, salt, and craisins.
- In another bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, vanilla, yoghurt, and milk.
- Add the yoghurt mixture to to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. This is a very thick batter so you’re probably going to have to stir a lot, thereby defying the whole “mix muffins lightly” mantra bestowed upon us by Ye Olde Bakers of Ye Olde Times Ye Olde Olde. These are hearty muffins. Go with it.
- Fill the lined muffins cases with batter and bake for around 18 minutes, until a skewer stuck in the centre comes out clean.
- Feed to family, work colleagues, and yo’ own fine self.
* I added the milk because, without it, there wasn’t enough liquid to turn the dry ingredients into a batter. Even with the milk, the batter was almost scone-like in density, but hey, it worked in the end. Just don’t expect a thin runny batter, okay? Okay. We’re cool.
{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
I got so excited the first time I read about this yoghurt and its availability in Australia that I went straight to the website to find out where they were selling it so I could go and buy some … only to find they’re only selling it in Sydney stores! Not happy
These muffins sound delicious though. I’m going to have to try them, even if it is Chobaniless.
No no! That’s not right! It’s for sale in Woolworths here in Canberra, so definitely not only Sydney. You could tweet them and ask where their stockists are near you?
Shhh, I didn’t say it, but you could definitely make these with other yoghurt
Interesting, their website map only shows Sydney shops. I will check next time I’m near a Safeway/Woolies (took me years to get used to calling it Safeway when I moved to Melb and now they’ve changed it again … grrrr). I would tweet them to find out but it would mean signing up and I refuse to be a Twit … Twitterer?
Wait, what, sorry I didn’t hear that? You didn’t say what now?
Hey, CheezyK! Sorry to jump in, but I thought I could help. Email me at fans[at]chobani.com and we’ll happily look up your neighborhood. There’s bound to be a Chobani-carrying Woolworths near you. (And we’ll just ignore that last part… ;D)
Emily, Chobani
Ignore what part? I didn’t say anything! Chobani is the only yoghurt in existence, right?
Emily, no need to apologise – I ‘met’ Hannah by jumping in on a conversation she was having with someone else on another blog. Plus, you’re actually offering to help, I was just butting in with a stupid suggestion
E-mail on its way, thanks.
Hannah – I seriously need to remember to not read your posts or comments with a mouthful of food, that was nearly ugly!
I heart you in all your spluttering glory.
0 % youghurt?
Doesn’t sound too appealing to me. Hope this went well with your tummy!
Yoghurt is generally find for we lactards because the bacteria eats the lactose
(And yes, that’s the scientific way of describing it 
)
Ah okay, so that’s probably why yoghurt went better with me than milk.
But it still has the casein, sheesh. 
Perfectly described, Hannah!
Truth be told, it’s a balance thing for me. I’ve been not eating much dairy at all lately and I’ve been feeling much better… if only I could remember that when I start endlessly eating Werther’s Caramels!
This fine self ain’t neva seen the passion fruit flava flav before. Le yum, you lucky yogurt eater, you.
I can’t stand vanilla-flavored yogurt, and never veer from plain unless said yogurt is Greek in thickness – particularly the Greek Gods’ honey-flavored yogurt. I started a love affair with plain yogurt when I lived in France, lugging home 24-packs, along with my other groceries (including value packs of pain au chocolat!), all the way from the store.
Ye Olde Olde !
Swap you a passionfruit for pomegranate Chobani? It’s totally last the flight.
I would happily lug anything home from a store in France. And, in fact, I did. Oh how I miss my grocery story hostel feasts in Paris.
Ye Olde Olde!
I would lug *most* anything. Probably no French men, though. Their pants were so tight, their hair was so oily, their demeanors so cocky… Montpellier street-fellas definitely seemed skewed toward the sleazy end as far as the French go.
Oh and what is this Featured Foodie bidness? The link (and the whole website) won’t load for me. Does Australia hate me?
I want to bask in the glow of your stardom !
Oooh, you spotted it!
I didn’t know when it was going up, which is why I haven’t mentioned it in this or any other posts, though will try to get a post written for tomorrow night so I can. The link is working when I click on it, so I don’t know what’s going on?! I’ll email it to you, hang on…
I must admit, I’ve tended to fall for American boys and German boys, not tight-panted-oily-haired French boys. But give it time?
Wow I hadn’t realised this was such a cult yoghurt brand. I love Greek yoghurt so will have to look out for it.
It totally is a cult. They made me shave my head and worship at the altar and everything.
Oh wow, these look delicious!
Ive never tried this yoghurt, im very interested to try it now. I usually like the really thick, sour greek yoghurt, I can’t stand sweet yoghurt’s.
Passionfruit seems like the one for me
Oh and yes, Passionfruit Cornbread is weird, but thats why I love you Hannah <3
Teehee! Well, now I simply *have* to make it, don’t I?
I do love unsweetened plain thick yoghurt! Although, let’s be honest, I often add a drizzle of maple syrup.
yes, yes, honey, maple syrup, nuts, cinnamon, berries, geez i could go on forever with what I add to yoghurt hehe
Definitely nuts
Cheesecake-Flavoured yoghurt sounds ‘interesting’ to put it politely. Did you make up the word craisins?
Nope, it says “Craisins” right there on the packet! They’re dried cranberries
I almost couldn’t believe it when you said that you didn’t really like yogurt until you described those truly awful yogurts with gross gloppy fruit jams in them or chemically recreated flavors as your reason why. Yes, those are evil and should be destroyed. Chobani is definitely good stuff though, and I’m betting yogurt muffins are even better stuff.
Yep, I was totally painting all yogurt with the evil fake chemical yoghurt brush
We do have some wonderful thick natural/naturally sweetened Australian yoghurts too, but I felt I shouldn’t blog about those in a post about Chobani 
Chobani coming to Australia!!!!?!?!? I’m so excited for you. Ooo they’re going to do SO well. I’m really loving the passionfruit right now. But I definitely mostly buy the plain and add a bit of my own jam to it, since the flavoured versions are rather sweet,
Yes, that’s usually my modus operandi too (switching maple syrup for jam), or simply mixing it with a cereal that has some inbuilt sweetness. I’m really enjoying having Chobanis at work though! Easy snack
I can’t believe you’re just getting Chobani in AUS! Wow. Too bad you didn’t like the vanilla… but nicely done finding a tasty-looking use for it.
I like the plain so I can add my own toppings. Their black cherry isn’t bad though!
Waste not, want not!
Eeep, I don’t think I could do black cherry, but oh how I miss the pomegranate!
Never heard of chobani (actually I sat reading the title thinking your muffins had chocolate banana and something ending in ‘i’ because I love creating new words and I thought that was what you were doing)
I am glad it is vegetarian – had to check the website as so many yoghurts here have gelatine – but shame it is american – I quite like the gippsland yoghurt. BTW I think I saw a raspberry yoghurt on their website – would love a taste of that and will keep my eye out for it
Teehee, can’t blame you for thinking that as I have been known to create the odd word over here
That website is the American one, so I’m not surprised to hear they offer more flavours! As far as I can tell, there’s no unique Australian website yet. I didn’t realise gelatine was something used in yoghurts. Bah humbug!
Chiming in again… there is indeed an Australian website! http://chobani.com.au- hope that helps. And, Johanna, we look forward to producing locally very soon. We’re making the investment now. Hooray! Thanks.
Emily, Chobani
Only available in NSW? So upsetting
I do quite like the Jalna yogurts though..mmm…creamy
No no! It’s for sale in Woolworths in Canberra, so it’s definitely not just NSW!
Ah yes, I’ve been known to partake in a bit of Jalna action in my time
At any Woolworths in Canberra??? Brilliant, I’ll pick some up when I’m home in April, mwahahah.
I should warn them to stock up for you
What is caster sugar? Can I just use real sugar? That looks delicious. And I have a huge bag of craisins because my son decided he loved them, then as soon as I bought them, he wanted nothing to do with them anymore. UGH.
Caster sugar is real sugar! I think, in America, it might be called superfine sugar? Any normal sugar will do fine (and even an abnormal sugar, probably. I’m equal opportunity like that). Teehee, craisin changeability! Is he a Gemini too?
Nom nom nom nom
Baby you got it!
I’ve heard great stuff about this yoghurt, must give it a try – although I really only eat the plain greek yogurt mixed with muesli.
My Chobani contact (teehee, I feel like a spy writing that) told me that they’re hoping to bring the plain one here soon. Fingers crossed!
they sound really good with the yogurth and perfect for breakfast
Chobani yoghurt sounds nice. I have simple tastes and enjoy swigging down the occasional bottle of Yakult Light, produced in the Dandenongs, not far from your new favourite city Hannah. Not really a yoghurt I suppose, and probably hopeless with muffins, but very high in probiotics and low in sugar.
I remember drinking those as a teenager! Yakult and wheatgrass, back when I first decided to stop eating McDonalds
Oh dearie! I’ve been looking for some cooking inspiration to get me outa this flu-rut. Maybe these muffins will do the trick? Maybe back to the peanut butter choco slice? This is when I would really love to hear a cook clattering in the kitchen.
If you buy me a ticket to Italy and an escape from real life, I will totally be your clattering cook.
(PLEASE.)
Hannah darl let’s hope my book is a bestseller and you’re ON!!
If only I could buy enough copies to make it so! Of course, if I could do that, I could probably buy my own ticket…
As someone who *does* like yoghurt, but not the sickly sweet artificial runny ones, this post makes me very happy. Especially as I’ve never tried chobani and am now excited to do so
Except I haven’t seen them in WA…will have to look into that!
In Canberra, they’re only available in Woolworths so far, so I’d start your search there
Will definitely try your recipe. Luckily we have some terrific yoghurts here – local as well as Greek varieties. One thing about Switzerland: there’s little chance of developing osteoporosis!
Hmm… that’s a point in Switzerland’s favour for me, what with that terrible bone density scan I had as a late teen and all. At the same time, the fact that my feet turn blue in a Canberra winter makes me think that calcium might not be worth the frostbite…
Sadly I just didn’t love Chobani. I know it is 0% but the fruit flavours really remind me of Ski yogurt which I really don’t like. I prefer putting the fruit in myself too-who knew I was so independent!
Teehee, I kind of hinted in this post that I liked these best when I added my own extra mix-ins
And independent? My dear, you’re the epitome of that Destiny’s Child song! 
They are quite generous. I had a week of just eating yoghurt!
Like I said – determined
wow you got sent 14 greek yogurts? that is so neat! i wish i could be sent more free stuff too!
baking with greek yogurt rocks. i also like using it as a substitute for sour cream or mayo in recipes. the 0% plain greek yogurt one. 
You’re in the right country for that, then! It boggles my mind how much free stuff Americans get sent. I wish Chobani sold the plain one here, but no dice!
I got sent the same pack, and my faves were passionfruit and pineapple too!
High five for yoghurt solidarity!
Did you know that there is actually a raspberry version and it’s my FAVORITE? I still want to try the new passionfruit flavor though. Glad you liked it
Not in Australia there’s not, but I’m glad to hear my heart-dreams are taste-dreams in American reality-world!
aaaahhhh, the joys of being a Gemini. I too go through phases with liking or not liking particular foods. Yoghurt was one of them until I discovered Evia yoghurt. This is now the only yoghurt I will eat. The stuff they sell at the supermarkets is terrible, but I will keep an eye out for Chobani….
I’ve never heard of Evia yoghurt! …And now I know why, as the ACT Store Finder on their website says “Coming Soon”. I hope soon means SOON-soon, because I want to try this magical yoghurt that changed your Gemini mind…
I’m so keen to have this yoghurt here! I tried it in the states & loved the texture. Can’t wait to try all the flavours. ALL OF THEM! NOW. please.
Heidi xo
Teehee, you could always tweet them to see if they’ll send *you* some
I love yoghurt nearly all types of it
but like you I hate those that’s really runny, in HK I’ve had trouble finding good yoghurt! I’m so excited about trying the Chobani Yoghurt when I come back ~ I didn’t see it when I was in NYC last ~
I hope Chobani fulfills all your yoghurt dreams then!
I distinctly remember finding the pomegranate flavour at a little grocery store near my hotel on 51st St 
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