There are many reasons for making your own fruit yogurt, for example, you can avoid any added sugar and you can make it as healthy and fruity as you want. It is super adaptable. This is one of the easiest and most delicious recipes with fruit that you can make from scratch and then indulge in.
Top-notch fruit yogurt recipe to start your day
Ingredients
For homemade yogurt
- 40 oz of milk (you can use whole or skim, but skim could make your yogurt thinner)
- 1 tablespoon of yogurt starter or ½ cup of yogurt cultures
- Vanilla and natural sugar (optional)
For the fruit yogurt
- 500 ml of your homemade yogurt (you can also use natural Greek)
- 10 oz of seasonal and fresh fruit
- Strawberry puree or the fruit of your choice (use the amount you want)
- 1 teaspoon of maple syrup or honey (if the fruit is sour)
Procedure
If you are up to the task of making your own yogurt, don’t hesitate, and make your fruit yogurt even more delicious.
- Warm up the milk in a pan until it reaches a temperature of 37º to 40º C/ 90º to 104 ºF. Make sure to use a thermometer to get the right temperature.
- Add the yogurt starter or the active culture and stir well. At this point, you can add the optional ingredients.
- The following step is one of the most important since it is the moment in which the bacteria incubates. You’ll need to transfer the mixture very quickly into a coffee jar or a big glass jar and cover it with kitchen rags, or tablecloths, to isolate the jar and prevent the temperature from dropping.
- Depending on how firm you want your yogurt to be, let it sit overnight or for about 7 or 8 hours. Following this time, you can put it in the fridge to let it set.
If you want to make your own Greek yogurt, pour it into a colander with a cheesecloth and strain it until it dries completely.
When your homemade yogurt is ready, it’s time to assemble your fruit yogurt.
- Prepare your fruit, wash it, peel it and chop it into small chunks to give the fruit yogurt texture.
- Add the fruit puree and the chunks of fruit to your homemade or store-bought yogurt.
- Test the sweetness and add honey or syrup if it needs it. This is only recommended if you add sour fruits.
The greatest thing is that you can preserve fruit yogurt in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and have a great snack at any moment. You can add granola or chopped almonds and give it a twist.
4 common mistakes while making your fruit yogurt
Now, if you have tried but not achieved the perfect fruit yogurt, pay attention to these tips, they may help you to create the perfect yogurt.
1. Checking your incubation every 30 minutes
This mistake is very common since we can become very anxious while waiting for the yogurt to incubate. So, it is not recommended to move it or uncover it until the 7 or 8 hours have passed. By doing this you can ruin the whole process. Please, be patient.
2. Incubate your yogurt in an oven that has been previously used
You may not know how long it takes for an oven to cool down, so it is not recommended to let your yogurt incubate in a warm oven because it can kill the bacteria immediately.
3. Adding the yogurt too soon to the milk
Like the previous mistake, this single step can kill your whole yogurt project. So, make sure your milk is not too hot when adding the culture, as this can kill the bacteria or cause your yogurt to be too lumpy.
4. Using ultra-pasteurized milk
Since this type of milk is overheated to make it last longer, it can kill the bacteria. So, it is best not to use it when making your fruit yogurt. The recommendation is to buy pasteurized or raw milk. Now, you have a great recipe to try at home and the chance to indulge in a delectable treat. Once you have tasted this delicious homemade fruit yogurt, you won’t need to buy it from the store again.