Vanilla Yogurt Recipe
Delicious Vanilla Yogurt Recipe
Unbelievably, a vanilla yogurt recipe is easy and fun to make at home. It makes a smooth and creamy yogurt product that can be eaten as is, it can be flavored, it can be frozen, or it can be made into smoothies. It is as versatile as your imagination and it contains all the healthy live cultures you expect from your yogurt. It can also be regular or low in fat and sugar depending on the ingredient choices you make. Although a yogurt machine is called for in the final cooking phase, the same result can be obtained with a crock-pot; so there is no need for any special equipment that takes up your storage space.
The following vanilla yogurt recipe will make six servings. The ingredients you will need are: 4 cups of milk (whole or skim), ½ cup of powdered dry milk, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (use extract, not imitation vanilla), 4-6 tablespoons of sugar (you can substitute artificial sweetener or honey) and ½ cup of yogurt starter (this consists of unflavored plain yogurt containing live and active cultures).
First, you need to allow the starter to warm up to room temperature. Then you heat the milk until it almost boils (this can be done on the stove or in the microwave). Cool the milk until it is about the temperature of a baby bath (around 100 degrees). At this point you add the dry milk, the vanilla and the sweetener you have chosen. This mixture should be thoroughly stirred, then add the yogurt starter. This should be mixed well but never beaten or whipped. Pop it in the yogurt machine or crock-pot and cook for 12 hours. After cooking, chill it 4 hours in the refrigerator, and you have homemade vanilla yogurt. Although different recipes show altered amounts of the main ingredients, this is mainly due to the total amount you desire to realize from the recipe. It is possible to use less or more sugar or vanilla. The only ingredient that should never be altered is the starter. Use the appropriate amount for the ingredients you add.
If you want to add fruits or other flavorings to this vanilla yogurt recipe, you should wait until the yogurt has completely chilled. Ingredients can be stirred in by hand or added in the blender. Once you have added additional ingredients to your yogurt, it should be re-chilled in the refrigerator for at least another 45 minutes.
The yogurt you have made yourself lends itself well to recipes calling for yogurt or to making frozen yogurt. Freezing yogurt can be done in a large or individual sized plastic container, or popsicle molds directly in your freezer.
How about trying this idea for a new twist on an old favorite? It can also be frozen in an electric or hand-crank ice-cream freezer, just like your Mom’s homemade ice cream. How delicious would that be? How much better than that can a vanilla yogurt recipe be?