🥳 Get ready, get set… it’s almost National Frozen Yogurt Day! Celebrate with 16 Handles on Sunday, February 6th! Rewards members will receive 3 oz. of soft serve + toppings FREE when they visit any 16 Handles location and scan their 16 Handles app! *infomercial voice* But wait, there’s more! When you make a purchase on National Fro-Yo Day, we’ll send you another $3.00 credit to use anytime between February 7th and February 28th, in store or online. That’s more than $5 in free soft serve this month!

Let’s recap:

With a library of over 100 flavors of fro-yo, ice cream, sorbet, gelato, and vegan soft serve to choose from, 16 Handles is proud to offer the most delicious desserts near you.

Everyone has their favorites, whether the classic (you can never go wrong with vanilla) or the rare (remember spicy Chocolate Chipotle?), but here’s our list of the 16 most popular 16 Handles flavors ever created, all of which are still available today!

1) Tahitian Vanilla Bean

Tahitian vanilla beans are the best vanilla beans, not just because we say so, but because they mature fully before harvesting for the richest floral notes. If you’re a fan of that nostalgic vanilla swirl, look no further. It comes as no surprise that this flavor is our most popular: Tahitian Vanilla Bean is gluten-free, all-natural, and one of our very first 16 Handles Artisan recipes.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Ghirardelli™ caramel sauce, white chocolate chips, Mini M&Ms, almonds, Cap’n Crunch

2) Chocolicious

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! It’s like that Spongebob episode (if you know, you know). Chocolicious is a fro-yo flavor for chocolate fanatics who just can’t get enough, made with only six simple ingredients . And by the way: Low fat? Check. All natural? Check. Gluten-free? Check. Chocolicious is the undisputed whole package!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Nutella, caramel turtles, double chocolate cookie dough, brownie bites, chocolate chips

3) Salted Caramel

Yes, you read that right. Our Salted Caramel flavor is completely fat-free. Better yet, it’s also gluten-free. Use this as an excuse to load it up with some of our favorite toppings. Salted Caramel was originally a limited-time-only flavor, but we had so many requests to keep it in our permanent recipe book that it’s still in the handles almost eight years later.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Cookie dough bites, Ghirardelli™ caramel sauce, chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs

4) Eurotart

Eurotart is our classic tart frozen yogurt, and we’ve had it in the handles since the day we opened back in 2008. It’s fat-free, gluten-free, and goes well by itself or with plenty of fruity toppings. Enjoy this tart fro-yo flavor wherever, whenever—we like to enjoy this flavor as a refreshing breakfast or lunch option!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Fresh berries, mochi, granola, coconut flakes, honey, raspberry sauce

5) Birthday Cake

Why choose between cake and ice cream when you can have them both in one delicious soft serve! Birthday Cake is a rich, creamy flavor that reminds us of classic cake batter ice cream. Since it’s fro-yo, it’s low fat., so you can celebrate any day!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Rainbow sprinkles, cheesecake bites, black & white cookies, chocolate chips

6) Cookies & Cream

Cookies & Cream is a staple in our fro-yo lineup. It’s a deliciously sweet and decadent soft serve that pairs well with almost every other flavor and topping, perfect for kids or those with a sweet tooth. If a crunchy, creamy profile is right up your alley, our Cookies & Cream flavor would like to have a word with you… and it’s bringing crushed OREO™ to the party, too.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Black & white cookies, crushed OREO™, chocolate rocks, Mini M&M’s, chocolate cookie crunch, Ghirardelli™ white chocolate sauce

7) So Fresh Mango Sorbetto

Craving something refreshing? Our So Fresh Mango Sorbetto is our most popular sorbet, and it also happens to be our founder’s all-time favorite flavor. Our recipe calls for Alphonoso mangoes from India—they’re considered to be the world’s most flavorful—and we don’t muddle their taste with any artificial colors or flavors. In fact, So Fresh Mango Sorbetto is made with only four simple, natural ingredients to create a vegan, dairy-free, fat-free, and gluten-free sorbet.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Fresh fruit, coconut flakes, strawberry bursting bubbles, mango bursting bubbles, coconut flakes, gummi bears

8) ¡Arriba Coffee!

Never without an iced coffee? Our ¡Arriba Coffee! flavor might just give you a reason to set down your cup and pick up a spoon. When it comes to coffee, we know there’s no substitute for the real thing. That’s why we use 100% Arabica coffee beans to make our signature java flavor.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Chocolate chips, Ghirardelli™ caramel sauce, whipped cream, cinnamon streusel

9) Peanut Butter Perfection

Attention peanut butter fans: this flavor is what you’ve been searching for. Peanut Butter Perfection, an Artisan, gluten-free soft serve made just for 16 Handles, brings the best of both peanut butter and dessert together with 100% real peanuts. This flavor is best paired with plenty of toppings, so don’t hold back!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Peanut butter cups, chopped HEATH bar, chopped Kit Kat, Reese’s Pieces, Nutella, peanut butter sauce

10) Made with Nutella®

We both know it: it’s hard not to adore Nutella. That’s why we totally expected our Made with Nutella flavor to make this list. It gets its name from our signature 16 Handles recipe: we take our Artisan Sweet Cream fro-yo base and swirl in real Nutella®. It’s that simple, and it will honestly change your life.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Nutella (we have it in a squeezable bottle!), hot fudge, hazelnut crunch, crushed peanuts, Ghirardelli™ chocolate sauce

11) Mint Chocolate Chip

This one is a no-brainer: who doesn’t enjoy fresh minty soft serve with chocolate pieces swirled in? It’s a classic ice cream flavor, and we’ve given it our fro-yo spin. 

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Hot fudge, chocolate chips, dark polar bits, Ghirardelli™ chocolate sauce, chocolate cookie crunch

12) Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle, made with cashew milk

We’ve made sure to check all the boxes with this one. Our Artisan Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle soft serve is vegan and gluten-free thanks to our signature cashew milk base. If you’re all about that rich, creamy chocolate flavor but would prefer to skip the dairy, this flavor is your answer!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Crushed peanuts, carob chips, fresh strawberries

13) Graham Cracker

Graham Cracker fro-yo? It might sound a little out of the box, but this flavor has been one of our all-time most popular since we launched it! Think of that signature cracker taste combined with the smoothness of frozen yogurt. It tastes every bit as good as it sounds. And to add that familiar crunch, load up your cup with our graham cracker crumbs and some chocolate chips!

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Graham cracker crumbs, hot fudge, chocolate chips, marshmallow sauce (s’mores, anyone?)

14) Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream is 16 Handles’ signature ice cream flavor, developed with one of New York’s leading pastry chefs to taste just like the beloved dessert. We mix real strawberries and shortcake cookies into our ice cream base to create an ultra-rich, perfectly pink soft serve ice cream that combines all of your favorite things about dessert into one flavor.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Raspberry sauce, yogurt chips, cheesecake bites, graham cracker crumbs, fresh strawberries

15) Peanut Butter Cup

You already know Peanut Butter Perfection, but we took peanut butter a step further by adding its perfect pairing: CHOCOLATE! Our classic peanut butter fro-yo is swirled with milk chocolate and cocoa butter to create an indulgence unlike any other.

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: Peanut butter cups, chocolate cookie crunch, crushed Snickers, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter sauce, Ghirardelli™ chocolate sauce

16) Yo Soy Vanilla 

Yo Soy Vanilla, a vegan, soy-milk soft serve flavored with real Tahitian vanilla, was crafted by our chefs back in 2013. Our goal was simple: create a delicious, dairy-free soft serve that was just as decadent, creamy, and flavorful as our classic frozen yogurt. We must have done a pretty good job, because the flavor is still one of our most popular all these years later. Pair it with Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle for a classic sundae, just without the dairy! 

16 Handles Recommended Toppings: fresh fruit, carob chips, Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough by DŌ NYC

16 (Handles) Fun Facts About Frozen Yogurt 

We love frozen yogurt, and we hope you do too! If you happen to be a fanatic of the sweet deliciousness of fro-yo, you’re in for a treat. But if you’re on the fence, no worries, hopefully these facts (and the yummy selections at 16 Handles) will win you over! 

Now let’s get some brain stimulation going with 16 fun facts about frozen yogurt!

Fact #1: Yogurt Has Been Around For, Like, Forever

People have been eating plain yogurt for thousands of years, and its origins can be traced to the Middle East and India. Yogurt was brought to the United States in the 1900s and Dannon started selling it in the 1930s. That was when it became popular here in the US, and the rest is history!

Fact #2: Fro-Yo is Actually Pretty New

Yogurt has been around for a while, but frozen yogurt is actually pretty new. Since freezers haven’t been around for as long, it wasn’t possible to make frozen yogurt until the 1900s, when freezers were invented. Even still, the first commercial frozen yogurt wasn’t available until the early 1970s. A few decades later, you can find frozen yogurt in markets and specialty frozen yogurt shops across the globe because of the high demand for this delicious treat!

Fact #3: Frozen Yogurt Used to be Sold Only in Scoops

Back when Fro-yo was first invented and sold, it was sold only in scoops like ice cream. When soft-serve frozen yogurt was first invented in the 1980s, it quickly became popular, and stores have been serving it like that ever since!

Fact #4: There Used to Be Popsicle Fro-Yo

Dannon was always a big player in the yogurt industry. Back when fro-yo was first being created, Dannon released “Danny,” a fruit-flavored frozen yogurt popsicle,  in 1979. It was the first frozen, perishable snack to be distributed in the United States.

Fact #5: Fro-Yo Contains (Good) Bacteria

Your beloved frozen yogurt contains bacteria, but don’t worry – it’s the good kind! Fro-yo is made by adding these good bacteria to milk and ferment, producing a lot of its unique qualities. After fermentation, lactose is turned into lactic acid, explaining the tart flavor in classic fro-yo, like our Eurotart flavor. These probiotics in fro-yo is actually really good for your digestive health. It has been shown to lower cholesterol and boost your immune system. 

Fact #6: Frozen Yogurt Leaves Your Mouth Smelling Fresh

In addition to helping out your digestive and immune systems, the active cultures in fro-yo are actually known to improve bad breath! So, if you ever feel the need to freshen up a little, stopping by a fro-yo shop might be the way to go!

Fact #7: Frozen Yogurt Doesn’t Necessarily Come From Cows

It depends on who’s making it, but it’s not always made from cow milk. In fact, lots of people make frozen yogurt out of milk from sheep, goats, and water buffalo. In parts of Asia, they might even use camels and yaks! 16 Handles sticks with cow’s milk for its classic fro-yos and ice creams, and we use cashew milk, soy milk, and fresh fruits for our non-dairy flavors.

Fact #8: Frozen Yogurt Has A Lot of Vitamins 

Usually things that taste good aren’t good for you, but frozen yogurt begs to differ. Fro-yo actually comes with a lot of healthy vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, B6, B12, and others! We all might need to eat some more fro-yo… for health reasons, of course 😉

Fact #9: Frozen Yogurt Can Become a Weight Loss Strategy 

Because of its high level of protein, fro-yo can actually make you feel full longer. Unlike a lot of other sweet-treats, frozen yogurt won’t leave you hungry. 

Fact #10: There is a Whole Month to Celebrate Frozen Yogurt

You heard that right! The month of June has been National Frozen Yogurt Month in the United States since 1993. That might be an extra reason to treat yourself, but at 16 Handles, every month is frozen yogurt month.

Fact #11: Frozen Yogurt Has Its Own Day Too

A month AND a day? Yes, that’s how special this treat is. February 6th is National Frozen Yogurt Day, which proves that fro-yo is the perfect year-round snack!

Fact #12: Fro-Yo Used to go by Fro-Gurt

Yeah, we have some mixed thoughts about that too… It used to be sold under the name “Fro-gurt” in New England in the 1970s when it was first created. 

Fact #13: Sakura Was the First-Ever Black Fro-Yo Flavor

What’s Sakura? It’s a cherry blossom flavor that made for the first black fro-yo flavor ever! The black color came from a naturally activated charcoal. Cool, right?

Fact #14: There is a Frozen Yogurt Machine in the Supreme Court Cafeteria 

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan was nicknamed the Frozen Yogurt Justice, and rightfully so. Her deep love for frozen yogurt led to the first installation of a frozen yogurt station in the Supreme Court cafeteria. Paired with a variety of toppings and sauces, Justice Kagan has been applauded for this great feat. She really changed the Supreme Court cafeteria for the better. 

Fact #15: Android Has a Codename Named Fro-Yo

Google has a habit of naming their codenames after tasty treats. Google Android’s 2.2 release in 2010 made an honorary mention to our fave dessert “Froyo.” Others have included ice cream, pie, and Oreos!

Fact #16: 16 Handles Offers the Best Fro-Yo Around

Okay, so this one might seem a little biased, but let us explain. In addition to a wide range of the most delicious and innovative flavors out there, our frozen yogurts are made with fresh, quality, natural ingredients. We also cater to your needs and restrictions by offering low-fat, fat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, and nut-free options! Pay us a visit; we always love to meet our fellow fro-yo lovers!

Man’s best friend often isn’t allowed to enjoy many of the delicious and delectable treats that we can. Even though we enjoy foods like pizza and chocolate, they are typically off limits for our furry companions. However, a tasty treat that may be an exception is frozen yogurt! There are a number of reasons that frozen yogurt is one of the few human treats that dogs can enjoy as well.

In fact, not only is frozen yogurt a treat that can be shared with dogs, but it may also benefit them. Fro-yo is known for its live and active cultures, which aid human digestion. These same cultures may benefit your dog’s digestion, as well! In fact, these active bacteria can serve as a probiotic for your dog.

A Great Alternative Treat to Ice Cream

The benefits of fro-yo make it the perfect snack alternative to ice cream for you and your dog to enjoy. Ice cream is actually not a good treat for dogs, since it is known to cause bloating, gas, and other issues associated with their inability to digest milk properly. Not to mention, ice cream is loaded with sugar, which can lead to all sorts of health issues for dogs (humans too!), such as obesity and diabetes. Often times, ice cream has xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in many products including gum, toothpaste, mints, and JELL-O.  Xylitol is used as an additive to improve taste, and it is actually toxic for dogs. As a result, you should make sure your dog steers clear of it.  

Doesn’t Frozen Yogurt Have Dairy In It? 

You may be thinking, “Gee, frozen yogurt has dairy in it as well, so, like ice cream, I probably can’t feed it to my dog.” It is true that frozen yogurt has dairy, specifically lactose, in it. But there’s a catch. Fro-yo is unique in that the fermentation process decreases the amount of lactose in the final product. This makes it much easier for dogs to digest it, to the point where most dogs can enjoy the treat without experiencing any adverse effects! 

This doesn’t mean that dogs can enjoy all types of frozen yogurt. It is important to make sure you are cautious when choosing a flavor and examining the ingredients. Certain flavors, like chocolate, can be bad for dogs, since chocolate is actually very bad for our canine friends. Human fro-yo, depending on the producer, can also contain additives that are not good for dogs and which can harm them, including xylitol. 

Some Dogs can’t Tolerate Lactose

As a result, it is recommended that if you are going to feed your dog frozen yogurt, you should buy special dog fro-yo from your local pet store. This way you can be confident that the fro-yo you are giving your dog is safe and designed for consumption by dogs. As an alternative option, you can buy plain, unsweetened yogurt from your local grocery store and put it in your freezer. This is definitely a feasible route for safely feeding your dog frozen yogurt, but make sure to check the ingredients list for anything that could be bad for your dog.

Additionally, while fro-yo can be eaten by dogs on account of its decreased lactose content, it still does contain lactose. As such, if your dog has never had frozen yogurt before, try giving it to him/her in small amounts at first and waiting to see how the dog’s system reacts. If your dog doesn’t experience any discomfort, such as bloating or constipation, fro-yo may be a great treat for them.

Remember, as with anything, moderation is key. It’s definitely not a good idea to feed your dog fro-yo, no matter how good it is, every single day. If you are unsure about whether or not it is a good idea to feed your individual dog frozen yogurt, reach out to your dog’s veterinarian. They will be able to provide you with the best information that is relevant to your dog and their health specifically. 

Stop by 16 Handles to Enjoy a Frozen Treat with Your Furry Friend! 

As for yourself, stop by one of our many locations and bring your dog’s fro-yo with you! Then, you and your dog can enjoy a great treat together. Don’t worry, you don’t need to eat just plain frozen yogurt. After all, your dog may not know the difference but you will! Instead, you can try one (or more!) of our over 100 different specialty, seasonal, low-fat, or vegan flavors! 

Don’t have a dog? Don’t worry, you can still stop by 16 Handles and try some of our great frozen yogurt! We promise you won’t regret it!