One day, while the earth turned and the blood of the birds, Lola passed a link to a Yogurt Crockpot recipe. I was intrigued enough to say “Hey! I need to do that!” I hate how exorbitantly expensive plain yogurt is, so I thought this would be a great inexpensive way to always have yogurt on hand.
My first batch turned out great. I shared my success with Vicky and it all ate. It was about as thick as a regular tub of store-bought nonfat yogurt, but I wanted my second batch to be a little thicker without having to do anything special like straining through cheesecloth or adding gelatin.
Below is the process I followed exactly for this second batch. Mix some more powdered milk into this. It tasted excellent and thickened wonderfully. Just perfect!
Ingredients
1 large electric pot with at least one low setting
3 quarts of milk, 2%
3/4 cup non-fat yogurt as a starter
1 1/4 cups dry milk powder (helps thicken)
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of honey
2 large THICK cotton blankets or bath towels.
1. Turn slow cooker to LOW. For the 3 quarts of milk in a crock pot. Cover with lid. Cook on LOW setting for 2.5 hours.
2. After 2.5 hours, UNPLUG the crockpot. Let it sit, with the lid on, for 3.5 hours.
3. After 3.5 hours, remove about 2.5 cups of hot milk from the crockpot and pour into a small plastic container.
4. Using a whisk, gently add 3/4 cup nonfat yogurt, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract, 1 1/4 cups dry milk powder, and 1 teaspoon honey.
5. After mixing that for about 30 seconds, add it back to the pot and mix the mixture for another 30 seconds.
6. Replace the cover. Spread the first blanket or towel on the counter or table where the yogurt can sit WITHOUT MOVING for 9 hours. CAREFULLY lift and place the ENTIRE crockpot in the middle of the spread blanket or towel. Hot milk splatters, so be careful. Wrap it up like a cute little package. Then do it again with the second thick cotton blanket or towel. Check the time and let it rest for 9 hours.
DO NOT TOUCH IT. DON’T CHECK IT. FORGET IT. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. LEAVE IT ALONE. 9 HOURS.
7. When 9 hours have passed, carefully unwrap the package and lift the lid. If you take a scoop it should behave as seen in the video here. Take the crockpot portion (not the base) and put it in the fridge if you have room, and let it continue to chill.
A clear “liquid” should rise to the top as you normally get in yogurt containers. Some people like to mix this into yogurt and eat it. I like to drain mine for a thicker yogurt. You can soak it up with a clean paper towel if you like.
Otherwise, after it cools down, you’re done! Divide into separate containers for storing and eating.
You just made yogurt in a crock pot 🙂
There are dozens of methods, dozens of recipes, and dozens of different ways that people make yogurt, and they will all offer advice. I’m just giving you the method that worked for me, no problem, less than 15 minutes of “contact time” and fuss. Do it this way at least once, learn how to do it, then try all the other great stuff.
CLUE: If you start this at 4:00 pm (as long as you go to bed around 11:00 pm and are home by 4:00 pm), you won’t be tempted to watch it while it rests for the 9 hours.
Contact me if you need me to explain something better… Happy yogurt making!