Barb Hodgens
Barb Hodgens

Barb Hodgens loves to cook with alternative, healthy whole food ingredients, with a focus on gut health. Barb has overcome her own gut health issues through healthy eating. Share your ideas, comments and photos at the end of this post :)

Mixed berry yogurt

Pretty pink yogurt that bursts with cultured berry juice in every mouthful!

Berries are loaded with vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that are great for your health. They are the perfect low sugar, high fibre fruit to add to homemade yogurt even before fermentation!

INGREDIENTS

1-2 cups of fresh or frozen organic mixed berries – (we used 2 cups of frozen)
Yogurt starter culture
Milk (quantity depends on the capacity of your yogurt maker)

Homemade mixed berry yogurt

METHOD

Please refer to; ‘how to make 24-hour yoghurt made with cow’s milk - step by step for more detailed yoghurt making instructions.

1.   Measure the appropriate quantity of milk to fill your yogurt maker and pour into a large, clean saucepan. We used 1.5 litres of milk in the Pure Plus yogurt jar.
2.   On the stovetop heat the milk to 180° F (82° C) and hold the milk at this temperature for 10 minutes. 
3.   Remove from the heat and let cool to below 110° F (43° C).
4.   Add the starter culture and gently whisk it in. Each starter culture will come with different instructions. Please follow the instructions unique to your starter culture and use the amount specified.

berry yogurt

5.   Place the (defrosted) berries into the yogurt making jar.
6.   Gently pour the milk (with starter culture added) over the berries. The berries will disperse and the juice will stain the milk pink.
7.   Secure the lid firmly on then place the jar into your yogurt maker.
8.
  Pour water slowly into the base. The water must not be filled over the ‘tall line’ indicated on the inside wall of the maker.

9.   Place the cover lid on top. The berry milk is now ready to begin fermentation.
10.  Use the digital control panel to set the temperature to 38° C (100° F), the time to 12 - 24-hours and then press ‘confirm’ to begin incubation.
11.When fermentation is complete, switch the yogurt maker off and remove the yogurt jar. Straight from the maker the yogurt will be runny and warm.
13.Place the jar in the fridge for at least 6 hours to chill and set. 

Please note that berry yogurt may not stay as firmly set in one mass as plain homemade dairy milk yogurt. The water content in berries causes the yogurt to separate. Don’t be alarmed by this – you have not done anything wrong nor has your yogurt curdled! Homemade yogurt is free from the additives and gums that often stabilise store bought berry yogurts. 

For more information please refer to  “Making Yoghurt - Fermentation time & temperature makes all the difference”.

PIN THIS RECIPE

mixed berry yogurt