I use this recipe about once a month and make my yogurt out of powdered milk. I usually half this recipe because it makes a lot of yogurt. But if you do make the whole batch, you can also make a taffy-like treat by drying the yogurt in a dehydrator. It makes a great snack!
You will need:
1 Gallon of milk (skim, 1%, 2%, whole, powdered; whatever you prefer)
1 Cup of Honey (or you can add any other sweetener you prefer to your taste)
8 teaspoons of gelatin (or 4 packets)
1 Cup Dannon Yogurt (or any other yogurt with LIVE bacterial culture)
1 large pot to boil
1 Medium sized mixing bowl
4 clean Quart jars with lids
1 small jar with a lid (a pint jar works fine)
1 warm blanket
1 Five Gallon bucket
Pour milk into a large pot and place heat on LOW. Bring to a boil. Occasionally stir and do NOT let the milk scald. Because milk doesn't really "boil" I make sure to bring the temperature to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the milk is coming up to temperature, put one cup of Dannon yogurt, your sweetener (honey or other), and gelatin to the mixing bowl. Wisk the ingredients and set aside.
When milk has reached the desired temperature, remove the pot from the heat and place it in the sink with ICE COLD water to cool quickly. Be sure to keep stirring the milk to keep it at an even temperature.
While the milk is still hot, but cool enough to put your finger into, remove 1 cup of milk from the pot and add to the mixing bowl containing the Dannon yogurt mixture. Wisk all ingredients in the mixing bowl together and add to the remaining milk in the pot. Mix everything in the pot together. Now, pour the yogurt into your four quart jars and 1 small jar. Put the lids on and wrap the jars in the blanket. Place the blanketed jars into the five gallon bucket to keep warm. Set aside for 8 hours. After 8 hours, place the jars into the fridge. Your yogurt is done!
*Notes:
*The small jar will be your starter for your next batch. Instead of using 1 cup of Dannon, you will use 1 cup of your starter.
*If you use the homemade starter yogurt, you do NOT need to use gelatin in your next batch.
*You will also only need to let your next batch set in the bucket for 4 hours instead of the original required 8 hours.
*To make a fruit yogurt, blend your favorite fruit and add it to the pot before pouring yogurt into the jars.
