1. DIY Yogurt – So Easy!
Did you know
that anyone can easily
make their own
yogurt? And given that
many store bought
yogurts have harmful
food dyes and
preservatives in them,
there is good reason to
make DIY yogurt.
Contrary to common
belief, you don’t need
a special yogurt-
making machine. And
you don’t need a cow
or goat, either. All you
really need are a few
common kitchen tools
and ingredients. Try it!
1. Gather together:
½ gallon of milk – any type will do as long as it’s not ultra-pasteurized (a.k.a., UHT,
or ultra-heat-treated)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
½ cup sweetener of your choice (real honey or pure maple syrup are good
choices)

2. ½ cup store bought yogurt (or yogurt starter, which can be purchased online)
Heavy pot
Cooking thermometer
2 three-quart glass jars (canning jars are perfect and least likely to break)
Another pot (for boiling water)
Mixing bowl
Spoon
2. Pour the milk into the pot. Add the honey or maple syrup and (if using) the
vanilla extract.
3. Over medium to medium-high heat, warm the milk until it reaches 180 degrees
F. It should bubble a bit and form a skin.
4. Remove the pot from the stove and let the milk cool to 120 degrees F. To speed
things up, you can place the pot in a sink of cold tap water.
5. Fill the second pot with water and bring to a
boil. Warm the jars with hot, running tap water,
then pour the boiling water over them to help
sterilize them. Pour out any water in the jars.
6. Pour 1 cup of the cooled milk into the mixing
bowl and add the yogurt or starter. Swirl with a
spoon. DON’T mix or stir.
7. Pour the milk and yogurt mixture back into
the pot. Swirl (again NOT mixing or stirring).
8. Pour the mixture into the jars. You should
already see chunks of yogurt. Divide these

3. chunks between the jars pretty evenly.
9. Screw the lids onto the jars and place them in the large pot. Pour enough hot
tap water into the pot that it comes to the rims of the jars. Allow to sit on the
counter for 10 – 18 hours, then remove the jars to the refrigerator. After chilling,
eat. The yogurt will last 1 – 2 weeks.
“But,” you may wonder, “what if I want flavors, like strawberry?” Just add a wee
bit of jam. Yes, really. Store bought yogurt is flavored with sugared fruit, so jam is
an easy DIY way of achieving a similar flavor.