Homemade Yogurt

Two things prompted me to make a couple of batches of homemade yogurt this week: I've been on a yogurt-and-fruit smoothie kick for several days, and I unintentionally bought a gallon of milk this week when we didn't need it yet.

I used to make homemade yogurt fairly often, but for some reason got away from the habit. I knew I'd probably want to make it again, so I kept the yogurt maker I picked up at a thrift store several years ago. It once had little white glass jars with snap-on plastic lids, but after losing one of the lids, I found out that a jelly-sized canning jar fits just right. I've used the jars ever since. Since you don't need the jars to seal, you don't necessarily have to use new flats or rings. Clean used ones work just fine.

Homemade yogurt, in my experience, is thinner than the store bought version (which sometimes has gelatin or food starch added as stabilizers). I generally don't mind the thinner texture, but sometimes, when adding flavorings, it becomes even thinner. If you find your yogurt too thin to eat, don't toss it out. Use it in smoothies, pancake batters, cake recipes, etc., for added flavor and moisture.

There is savings to be had by making your own yogurt. It works out to roughly half the price of commercially prepared yogurt. It's also preservative free, and for me, just something fun to do in the kitchen.

Here's my basic recipe for plain yogurt. I don't remember where I found it and I don't know if the addition of dry milk is to add body, but it does add calcium.


Homemade Yogurt

1 quart 2% milk
1/3 cup dry instant milk powder
1 heaping Tablespoon commercially prepared PLAIN yogurt

Combine liquid and dry milk. Mix well, scald by bringing just to a simmer over medium heat, being careful not to scorch the milk.

Let cool to between 110°F and 120°F. (My yogurt maker has a nifty measuring spoon with a built-in thermometer.)


Whisk in the yogurt, making sure it's well-combined with the milk.


Divide evenly between 5 jelly jars.


Close jars with flats and rings. Place in yogurt maker and let process for 7 to 10 hours. In my experience, a shorter processing time yields sweeter, but looser, yogurt. A longer processing time yields a firmer texture, but the yogurt may be more tart than you'd like.Once processed to your liking, remove jars from yogurt maker and refrigerate until needed.



Flavoring Yogurt

This recipe is for plain, unsweetened yogurt. I use it plain in smoothies and as substitute for sour cream on potatoes and in dips.

There are lots of ways to flavor your homemade yogurt. The easiest is to simply spoon it over fresh, canned or frozen fruit.

Some other ways I've flavored it include:

• Mixing 1/3 cup (a 4-serving pkg.) of any flavor of Jell-O with 1 cup boiling water until dissolved completely, then adding 6-8 ounces of plain yogurt. Blend well with handheld blender or whisk and pour into 2 clean jars. This will set up to a firm consistency.
• Adding 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 Tablespoon sugar to 6-8 ounces plain yogurt.
• Adding 2-3 teaspoons of sweetened drink mix (any flavor) to 6-8 ounces plain yogurt.
• Adding 1 teaspoon almond extract, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 canned apricot halves (diced) and a spoonful or two of the syrup from the canned apricots to 6-8 ounces plain yogurt.
• Stirring 1 tablespoon Jell-O, any flavor, into 6-8 ounces plain yogurt. Eat immediately.
• Adding 1/2 a package of dry ranch dressing mix or Italian dressing mix into 6-8 ounces plain yogurt. Use as a dip or potato topper.
• Make a smoothie or shake by blending 6-8 ounces plain yogurt, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup of any combination of fresh, canned or frozen fruit. Add a bit of vanilla extract and sugar as desired.