Crockpot Yogurt

A few friends of mine had mentioned months ago that they made their own yogurt at home in their crockpots of all places! I was intrigued so went online and did a search. The recipe I am posting is a result of that search. I've been making this for months now. Yeah I know - I could just as easily buy it - but I found it's much cheaper and cost effective to make it myself. I use this in place of sour cream or buttermilk in my baking recipes.

Crockpot Yogurt
You need at least a 4 quart crockpot

1. Turn on your crockpot to low. Pour in 1/2 gallon of milk. (8 cups)
2. Keep on low for exactly 2 hours and 30 minutes.
3. When the 2 hours and 30 minutes passes - turn off the crockpot and unplug it. Let the milk cool with the lid on for 3 hours.
4. After 3 hours passes - remove 2 cups of the warmed milk and place in a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of yogurt with live active cultures** and mix thoroughly.
5. Pour the yogurt-milk mixture back into the crockpot. Whisk thoroughly.
6. Place the lid back on the crockpot and wrap the entire pot in a thick bath towel.
7. Let it culture overnight.
8. In the morning - stir yogurt if desired and place in a container of your choice. This does make 1/2 gallon of yogurt so you will need a good size container.

**On the yogurt with active cultures - when I first start - I just use one of the 6 oz containers of store bought PLAIN yogurt. After the first batch of yogurt is made you can simply set aside 1/2 cup of this yogurt to make your next batch.

This is not a sweet yogurt. To sweeten - add favorite fruit and some honey. This is really good mixed in with granola. We also use it in fruit smoothies. I only add the fruit/honey to the little bit I will be using at that time - not to the whole batch.

Freezer jam would also work as a sweetener.