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HOMEMADE YOGURT

I have been meaning to post my recipe for making homemade yogurt a long time ago.

I have already shared with you all how easy it is to make your own Greek yogurt, so it’s about time I shared with you how easy it is to make your own regular plain yogurt.

How to make yogurt

HOMEMADE YOGURT

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PRINTABLE RECIPE AT BOTTOM OF POST

Making your own yogurt is quite easy, but you have to have patience – the results are worth it. I like to start the process right after supper so that it is done first thing the next morning.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3-quart size jars (or more smaller ones, any jars will do)
  • towels (or cloth diapers)
  • medium size pot
  • candy thermometer
  • funnel
  • 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (as a starter)
  • 8 cups milk (I find whole milk works best)

DIRECTIONS

  1. First, put 1/2 a cup of yogurt in a dish on the counter. You can just leave it there till later.
  2. Put your clean jars on a cookie sheet and place inside the oven, then turn the oven on to 225 degrees.
  3. Pour your milk into a pot and put the pot on an element on medium heat.
  4. Place the candy thermometer into the milk in the pot and wait till the milk gets to 190-200 degrees. Do not stir. I normally make a double recipe so it takes well over an hour, but I suggest just checking the temp every 10 minutes or so to see how it is going.
  5. Once the milk gets between 190-200 degrees, turn off the element and take the layer of skin off the top of the milk.
  6. Leave the hot milk on the element that you have turned off. The hot milk now needs to get down to 115-120 degrees. Again, just check on it every 10 – 15 minutes.
  7. This again can take quite a while. Do not stir.
  8. After you have waited the first 15 minutes or even half an hour, you can turn the oven off, just leave the jars inside and do not open the oven.
  9. Once the milk gets down to 115-120 degrees, take about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture out of the pot and add it to the 1/2 cup yogurt mixture that you have on the counter. Stir it very well and then slowly add that mixture to the milk in the pot.
  10. Stir it all together.
  11. Take the jars out of the oven and pour the milk into the jars not quite to the top. Place the jars back on the cookie sheet and wrap the sides up with a hand towel or cloth diapers. Do not close the jars.
  12. Place the cookie sheet with the wrapped jars back in the oven and put the oven light on. The oven should still be warm from sterilizing the jars, just make sure it is turned off.
  13. Leave the jars in the oven for 8-12 hours. (I like to leave mine for at least 10 hours)
  14. Then take them out of the oven, remove the towel/diapers and close the lids. You can now place it in the fridge.

homemade-yogurt

My yogurt usually last over a week. Sometimes the top will be a bit thicker on the top, so I stir it up. When I want really thick yogurt I just make this homemade yogurt into Greek yogurt which is super easy to do.

 

How to make yogurt

Homemade Yogurt

Making your own yogurt is quite easy, but you have to have patience - the results are worth it. I like to start the process right after supper so that it is done first thing the next morning.

Ingredients

  • oven
  • cookie sheet
  • 3 quart size jars (or more smaller ones, any jars will do)
  • towel (or cloth diapers)
  • medium size pot
  • candy thermometer
  • funnel
  • 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (as a starter)
  • 8 cups milk (I find whole milk works best)

Instructions

  1. First you will need to put 1/2 a cup of yogurt in a dish on the counter. You can just leave it there till later.
  2. Put your clean jars on a cookie sheet and place inside the oven, then turn the oven on to 225 degrees.
  3. Pour your milk into a pot and put the pot on an element on medium heat.
  4. Place the candy thermometer into the milk in the pot and wait till the milk gets to 190-200 degrees. Do not stir. I normally make a double recipe so it takes well over an hour, but I suggest just checking the temp every 10 minutes or so to see how it is going.
  5. Once the milk gets between 190-200 degrees, turn off the element and take the layer of skin off the top of the milk.
  6. Leave the hot milk on the element that you have turned off. The hot milk now needs to get down between 115-120 degrees. Again, just check on it every 10 - 15 minutes.
  7. This again can take quite a while. Do not stir.
  8. After you have waited the first 15 minutes or even half an hour, you can turn the oven off, just leave the jars inside and do not open the oven.
  9. Once the milk gets down to 115-120 degrees, take about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture out of the pot and add it to the 1/2 cup yogurt mixture that you have on the counter. Stir it very well and then slowly add that mixture to the milk in the pot.
  10. Stir it all together.
  11. Take the jars out of the oven and pour the milk into the jars not quite to the top. Place the jars back on the cookie sheet and wrap the sides up with a hand towel or cloth diapers. No not close the jars.
  12. Place the cookie sheet with the wrapped jars back in the oven and put the oven light on. The oven should still be warm from sterilizing the jars, just make sure it is turned off.
  13. Leave the jars in the oven for 8-12 hours. (I like to leave mine for at least 10 hours)
  14. Then take them them out of the oven, remove the towel/diapers and close the lids. You can now place it in the fridge.

how-to-make-yogurt

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR OWN GREEK YOGURT?

If you are interested in making your own Greek yogurt, check out our EASY DIY GREEK YOGURT RECIPE.    It only takes 2 minutes!!

making-yogurt

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The first time I made yogurt I used a recipe from heartland renaissance.  I adapted it to get it more to our desired texture and the whole family loves it. If you are looking for a crock-pot version of homemade yogurt you can find one on her blog too.

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Carol M (Lushka S)

Sunday 29th of June 2014

Thanks for the info, I've been meaning to try making homeade yogurt.

Christina Ferguson

Thursday 3rd of April 2014

We eat so much yogurt in my house but it had never occurred to me to make it myself. Thank you so much for the recipe. I am definitely going to give this a try.

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Thursday 3rd of April 2014

We love making our own yogurt - Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Shannon

Monday 31st of March 2014

I really should try this! We purchase yogurt weekly so this could help cut down on our grocery expenses :)

Renee

Thursday 6th of February 2014

I have been kicking around the idea of homemade yogurt lately because we eat so much of it in our house. This seems do-able!

Virginia

Tuesday 28th of January 2014

I am going to try this on the weekend... Having 4 kids who all love yogurt this seems like a great way for everyone to be involved in a healthy snack!

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Tuesday 28th of January 2014

Awesome!! I hope you enjoy it.

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