If you’ve ever wondered how to make homemade yogurt your kids will love, you’re in the right spot. I’ve learned a lot about making yogurt at home, and I’ve found how to flavor homemade yogurt to please a variety of tastes. From simple vanilla bean to berry and other fruit combinations, use this guide to learn the best way to flavor yogurt, yogurt-making mistakes to watch for, and other uses for yogurt beyond a delicious snack.
Why We Love Homemade Yogurt
When it comes to raising dairy animals for the homestead, we never planned on adding another dairy cow to the farm, but in 2024 we added a second cow and were able to continue to process raw milk at home to the tune of ten gallons a day!
What do we do with all that raw milk? We focus on recipes that use a lot of milk and make our own dairy products, featured in my Masterclass, Practical Homemade Dairy, like all kinds of cheeses, homemade butter, sour cream, milk, and kefir.
Yogurt is among my standard recipes. I enjoy providing a healthy alternative to store-bought yogurts, which often contain artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavors and colors, and unnecessary thickeners.
Our kids especially love it when we preserve yogurt long-term to make freeze-dried yogurt bites. (Not that they ever last long-term. Whenever we make them, they go fast!)
Why Homemade Yogurt Is Bland
Have you ever wondered why homemade yogurt tastes a bit boring? It’s all about the yogurt fermentation process. As yogurt develops, it changes lactose into lactic acid. Bacteria like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus do this, making the yogurt thick and tangy.
But without extra sugars or flavors, the taste can be rather bland and sometimes off-putting. This is why store-bought versions use artificial flavors, additives, and sugars to flavor yogurt.
These ingredients are profitable for manufacturers but are completely unnecessary. You can skip the unnecessary additives and choose affordable flavoring options, making your yogurt taste even better than its store-bought counterparts.
Common Yogurt Making Mistakes
Making yogurt at home can be tricky if you aren’t aware of these common yogurt making mistakes.
- Using the Wrong Milk – Picking the right milk is key for great yogurt. Full-fat milk makes your yogurt creamy and flavorful. Skim or ultra-pasteurized milk can make it too thin.
- Incorrect Temperature Control – Getting the temperature right is also crucial. You should keep it around 110°F (43°C). If the temperature changes, your yogurt might not set correctly and could be too runny or uneven. If you are new to yogurt making, a steady heat source from a yogurt maker or Instant Pot can increase your chances of success.
- Over-Fermentation – Allowing your yogurt to ferment for too long can make it too tangy or sour. Most people find 6-12 hours of fermentation perfect.
Uses for Homemade Yogurt
Homemade yogurt is great for many things, not just as a snack. It’s perfect for breakfast or adding nutrition to smoothies. Here are some creative ways to use it in your meals:
- As a breakfast option – Homemade yogurt for breakfast is a big win for your health. It’s full of probiotics that help your gut and naturally boost your immune system. You can mix it with fresh fruit, granola, or honey for a tasty, filling breakfast. (Source)
- In smoothies and shakes – Yogurt makes smoothies and shakes creamy and adds protein. Try adding it to your favorite protein shake or green smoothie recipe.
- As a baking ingredient – I love using yogurt in recipes because it makes baked goods moist and tender. Try it in muffins, cakes, or bread for a better texture and taste. Add a dollop of yogurt to your pancake batter, or swap sour cream with plain yogurt for a healthier option.
How to Flavor Homemade Yogurt
Flavoring homemade yogurt naturally couldn’t be easier. The versatility of yogurt allows you to customize it in a variety of flavors and textures to please just about anyone’s individual tastes.
- Adding Natural Sweeteners – I like using raw local honey for its added health benefits. (Source) Other natural options include homemade jam, maple syrup, sucanat, molasses, or agave nectar.
- Incorporating Fresh Fruits – Fresh fruit in yogurt is a great combination. Depending on what’s in season, you can use strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or mangoes. These fruits add sweetness and are full of vitamins and antioxidants. Homesteading Hack: If you don’t have fresh fruit in season, try freeze-dried berries!
- Try Vegetables – You read that right! Pumpkin can be used to make a sweet pumpkin pie-themed yogurt, or you can use curried vegetables like squash, carrots, and bell peppers for a tangy and savory yogurt.
- Using Flavor Extracts – Flavor extracts can make your yogurt taste amazing. Almond, coconut, and homemade vanilla extract are great choices. They add rich flavors without extra sugar. Just a little extract can turn plain yogurt into something special.
Popular Flavor Combinations to Try
Once you start flavoring your homemade yogurt, the combinations are seemingly endless. Below are popular measurements for adding to a one-cup serving of yogurt. Adjust according to your own preference, and feel free to play around with other combinations as you think of them:
| Flavor | Ingredients |
| Fruit and Cream | ½ cup fruit of choice (strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, mangoes etc.) and 1 Tablespoon of honey, maple syrup or homemade jam. |
| Vanilla (or other extract) | Add a few drops of your favorite extract (such as vanilla, orange, lemon, coconut, hazelnut, almond, etc.) and 1 Tablespoon of honey. |
| Coffee | Mix ¼ teaspoon of instant espresso powder with 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup and a few drops of vanilla extract. Allow the espresso powder to dissolve before adding to the yogurt. |
| Chocolate | Mix 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder with 1 Tablespoon of honey or maple syrup and a few drops of vanilla extract. Allow the cocoa powder to dissolve before adding to the yogurt. |
| Apple Pie | Add ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 Tablespoon of honey or maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon and granola. |
| Pumpkin Pie | Add ⅓ cup of pumpkin puree, 1 Tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. |
| Ginger Pear | Add 2 Tablespoons pear sauce and sprinkle with ginger and candied pecans. |
