Making your own flavored whole milk yogurt is so easy and is much healthier, because you can avoid all of the refined sugar, “natural” flavorings and fillers. And the best part is, it tastes delicious!
It’s also more economical – it costs much less per serving to buy a large container of plain organic whole milk yogurt (or even better, make your own homemade yogurt), and then add a variety of healthy real foods to create your favorite flavors.
Homemade Yogurt Resource:
There are several different varieties of yogurt you can make at home and many educational resources online about how to make homemade yogurt. My personal favorite is Cultures for Health. They not only carry a wide-variety of starter cultures, but also include free online instructions, videos and troubleshooting tips. Happy yogurt making!
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain organic whole milk yogurt
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add yogurt, vanilla and maple syrup; gently stir to combine. Makes two half-cup servings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup *frozen organic strawberries, thawed
- 1/2 tbsp filtered water
- 3 tbsp pure organic maple syrup
- 1 1/4 cup plain organic whole milk yogurt
Instructions
- In your blender or VitaMix, add frozen strawberries, water and maple syrup. Puree for 1-2 minutes in blender until smooth (or until just slightly chunky, if you like fruit pieces in your yogurt).
- Pour into a small bowl and add yogurt. Thoroughly combine.
- Place in individual serving containers, cover, and refrigerate. Makes three half-cup servings. Tastes best when eaten within five days. (*We use frozen berries because we think they taste sweeter than fresh. But maybe it’s just us?)
Notes
More Flavor Variations: Enjoy blueberry yogurt by simply substituting the strawberries with frozen organic blueberries. Or make yummy “mixed berry” yogurt by using a combination of frozen organic strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Another variation my kids love is strawberry-banana. As you can see, the possibilities are endless! And because you are making it yourself, you can adjust the amount of fruit and natural sweetener used to suit your tastes. Try raw honey for added nutrients, I especially like raw honey combined with blueberries.
Budget Tip: When berries are in season they’re usually at the lowest price, so why not buy lots and freeze them for use in smoothies, yogurt and desserts! It’s also fun (and more economical) to find a local organic farm and enjoy a field trip to berry-pick together.
