Yogurt in the Crock Pot

Yogurt can be really expensive. Especially when you are looking for the kind that doesn't have a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners in it. And then if you want organic yogurt you'd better go get a home equity loan. Of course, Doodlebug loves yogurt.

I was shocked to discover that you can make your own yogurt at home. And I was even more amazed to find out that you can make it in your crock pot. Who knew?

But it must be really complicated, right? Nope! It is so, so, so easy. The hardest part for me is remembering to start it in time.

Ingredients

--8 cups (1/2 gallon) of milk
--1/2 cup of store bought* plain yogurt with live and active cultures

Directions

Put the milk in the crock pot. Turn crock pot on low and let cook for 2 1/2 hours.

After the 2 1/2 hours unplug your crock pot and let sit for 3 hours.

After sitting scoop out 2 cups of warm milk, put the lid back on the crock pot and wisk the milk together with the store bought yogurt.*

Pour the milk/yogurt mix back in the crock pot and stir to combine. Put the lid back on the crock pot.

Wrap your entire crock pot in a bath towel to insulate it and leave 8-12 hours.

Presto, you have yogurt!

Put the yogurt in the fridge and it should last 7-10 days. You can also freeze excess yogurt. I ladel it into zip top sandwhich bags and store in the freezer. Even if you freeze it you can use it to start your next batch of yogurt.

If you freeze your yogurt it will separate. You can either mix it back together or pour off some of the clearish liquid (whey) if you want thicker yogurt.

When you first make this yogurt it will be very thin. If you want thicker yogurt you can line a collander with a coffee filter and spoon the yogurt inside. Let it sit over a bowl for a few hours. It will gradually thicken up.

The yogurt will be more tart than store bought since there is no added sugar. You can add honey, fruit or whatever else strikes your fancy.

* for future yogurt making you can use 1/2 cup of your crock pot yogurt instead of store bought

And I have not tried this variation, but I plan to next time I have a little leftover milk.

Boil one cup of milk and let it cool to room tempature. Stir in 1 tablespoon of yogurt and let it sit, without moving, overnight. In the morning you will have yogurt.