Mocha Yogurt, Caffeine With A Probiotic Twist

Yogurt is packed with calcium, protein and good bacteria called probiotics. The calcium present in this dairy product helps build stronger bones and it can lower osteoporosis risks, the proteins in turn promote healthy cell and muscle growth while the probiotics help clear away your chances of acquiring colon cancer and promotes good digestion overall.

yoplait greek cafe mocha yogurt

Commercial made mocha yogurt by Yoplait

However, commercial yogurt or the kind that you see sold in your neighborhood grocery or the nearest supermarket is oftentimes packed with more preservatives, artificial additives and sugars than you can handle. You can make your own at home with clear glass jars, but for convenience, a yogurt maker will help you immensely.

Yogurt is first and foremost is a cultured dairy product and you can mix it with sweeteners like honey and agave or flavorings like pureed fruits of your choice, fresh fruit chunks or chocolate syrup. If you want to make home made DIY yogurt, you will have total control over your ingredients thus you can adjust the sweetness or tartness down to your taste.

Mocha Yogurt

Mocha Yogurt recipe (pinterest)

And it is going to be unprocessed, to boot. Here is a recipe for mocha yogurt that you can try out. Nothing fancy, just full of health and flavor.

Equipment

  • A stainless steel pot
  • A kitchen thermometer
  • A small bowl
  • A fork
  • A clean glass container
  • A yogurt maker

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of whole milk
  • 1/3 cup of powdered milk
  • 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt (with live cultures)
  • 3 tablespoons of coffee granules (instant)
  • 1/3 cup of honey
  • 1/3 cup of cocoa powder (unsweetened)

Procedure

  1. Scald the milk in the steel pot and bring the temperature up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir in the coffee granules. Sprinkle the powdered milk on top of the mixture and let it melt before blending it to the mix, making sure to lower the heat so as to prevent boiling.
  2. Combine the unsweetened cocoa powder and honey in a bowl, crushing lumps with a fork until smoothly blended into a paste. Add the chocolate and honey mixture to the warm milk and mix it well.
  3. Once everything is blended, remove the mixture from the heat.
  4. Cool the milk down around 110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
  5. Add the plain yogurt to the hot milk and stir until blended.
  6. Pour the mixture into the prepared glass container. Cover.
  7. Place the container into the yogurt maker then adjust the temperature and time as provided in the instructions.
  8. Leave the mixture undisturbed until set.
  9. Once it is set, refrigerate the mocha yogurt immediately until ready for serving.

Handy Tips:

  • Letting the powdered milk melt into the milk and coffee mixture before stirring will help avoid clumps from forming.
  • Keep the yogurt maker away from places with constant activity because this will affect the yogurt during the fermentation process. Avoid shaking or moving the yogurt maker once it’s been set.
  • If you want a tangier taste, you can let the mixture set for 24 hours.

Coffee lovers can take their addiction to a new level with mocha flavoured yogurt. No need to go anywhere but the kitchen to get your fix.

Chocolate Yogurt Recipe

Yogurt is a known super food because of the nutrients cramming its content. Produced plain or flavored in both eatable and drinkable forms, served frozen or straight from the pack, it is the number one choice of wellness-minded foodies.

The body’s digestive tract is a hot hub for bacteria and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt create a good balance between all thriving bacteria living in your gut. This balance in turn makes for better digestion. In addition, the probiotics present in yogurt lends a hand in making your body absorb and take in more of the nutrients it needs.

Yogurt is also packed with calcium and protein, elements needed in order to develop stronger bodies. Protein and the right amount of natural carbs and sugars make dairy products like yogurt into a healthy, filling snack. According to studies and tests, this particular food item made individuals who took it feel fuller a lot longer as compared with other calorie-packed snacks.

It is basically one of the easiest, fuss-free foods that can be made at home. It takes some time but the procedures only takes few steps to accomplish. Here is a recipe for chocolate yogurt that you can do right in your kitchen.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 quart of whole milk
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of chocolate syrup
  • 1/3 cup of instant powdered milk
  • 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt

Procedure

  1. Heat the 1 quart of milk and stir the chocolate syrup in.
  2. Once the milk and chocolate mixture are blended well, add in the instant powdered milk, letting it rehydrate. Once the powdered milk is dissolved, cool the mixture down up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Add the plain yogurt.
  4. Once the mixture has combined well, pour it in the container and place it inside the yogurt maker.
  5. Follow the time guidelines on the yogurt maker’s instructions. Leave the mixture to ferment for several hours and refrigerate immediately after fermentation.

Tips

  • chocolate yogurt fruit dipThe yogurt that you make will last for a good 8 to 10 days as long as you keep it in the fridge. However, if you are in doubt, use the milk’s expiration date as a guide. The yogurt that you will make is technically unprocessed thus it does not have any sort of preservatives to help lengthen its shelf life.
  • If the product that you made has a grainy texture, chances are the milk was overheated. The kitchen thermometer will help curb this issue so always check the temperature while scalding the milk.
  • You can also add in fresher flavors to the product by mixing fruits, preserves, chocolate syrup or shavings, honey or any kind of flavoring right before you serve the yogurt.
  • When it comes to the taste of yogurt, its tartness or tanginess can be regulated by the kind of bacteria provided, the quantity of culture added in the mix and the length of its fermentation.
  • Try to make other variations with chocolate yogurt: chocolate yogurt cake, chocolate frozen yogurt, chocolate yogurt muffins or chocolate yogurt pudding!

Your very own chocolate yogurt may just be the best tasting you’ve ever had. After all, it is made with fresh ingredients – and love.

Check out our many other yogurt recipes, reviews of yogurt makers and ice cream makers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFnSrl7PSRg

Strawberry Yogurt Recipe

Yogurt is more than just a dessert treat or snack; it’s a powerhouse of nutrients other than calcium and protein. Studies and tests have shown that the humble dairy product has plenty of benefits that promote wellness and good health. It is full of probiotics, which are popularly known as “good bacteria”. This group of good bacteria help regulate the natural balance between organisms in our intestines, which makes the digestive system work in an efficient manner.

A lot of doctors also suggest eating yogurt if you’re under antibiotic treatment since those antibiotics can wipe out the good bacteria that already thrives in your stomach. The dairy product’s probiotics can help in replacing the good bacteria that were destroyed by the medicine.

strawberry yogurtIn addition, recent studies have shown that yogurt is also connected with weight loss and those who eat the stuff on the regular also get a boost of interferons, proteins that can make your immune system stronger.

Yogurt can be eaten plain or with fruit, frozen, drunk or even added in sauces, dips, marinades and other savory dishes. The most popular among products though is the flavored variety, however the store-bought kind is at times loaded with sugars, high levels of fructose, artificial sweeteners and flavorings and stabilizers. If you make your own yogurt, you will know exactly what goes into what you’ll be eating.

Here’s a homemade strawberry yogurt recipe that you can try out at home.

Equipment

  • A double boiler

  • A kitchen thermometer
  • A wire whisk
  • A glass container
  • A yogurt maker

Ingredients

  • 5 cups of milk
  • 1/2 cup of plain or regular yogurt
  • 2/3 cup of strawberry preserves (jam)
  • Strawberries, whole or in pieces, as garnish

Procedure

  • For this recipe you can use plain or regular yogurt from the store or make it at home with a yogurt maker. Check for for homemade yogurt makers here.
  • Make sure that you get the plain or regular yogurt out of the fridge to make it room-temperature ready. Heat the milk and strawberry preserves or jam in the double boiler until it reaches the ideal temp of 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Be careful not to boil it.
  • Let the milk and preserves mixture cool down to a good 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit before stirring the yogurt in.
  • When it finally cools down, mix the yogurt and use a wire whisk to blend until the mixture has a smooth consistency and there are no signs of lumps.
  • Pour the mixture into a container and then put it in the yogurt maker. Set the timer on according to the guidelines to set the mixture. Leave it undisturbed.
  • Once the fermentation process is done, put it in the fridge for a few hours until ready to serve. Garnish with the strawberries.

Extra Tips:

Remember that the longer you leave the mixture to set, the tangier the yogurt will be. You might find some yellowish stuff lying on top of the mix but you need not worry since this liquid is known as whey, a substance rich in the proteins yogurt is famous for. Stir it back into the mix.

You can serve your yogurt with nuts and cereals too. It’s quite versatile, and the kids are going to love the taste! Who says eating healthy have to be about bland, unflavorful foods? They haven’t heard about strawberry yogurt, obviously, that you can make in your own kitchen.

Summer tip:

When it’s really hot in summer, try out making frozen strawberry yogurt! Try out these recipes and surprise your kids! They will love it!

Books about yogurt

Check out this list of top books on yogurt making and recipes.

The Book Of Yogurt
by Sonia UzevianThis is one of the most popular books on yogurt.
It contains more than 300 flavor packed recipes. There is a special section on frozen yogurt. The international dishes listed include from India to Middle east to Carribean, French and European dishes amongst others.
The authentic recipes make it a must to accompany if you are buying a yogurt maker.
Natural Yogurt: How to Make Homemade Yogurt
by Liz VidalThe book describes an easy way to make thick, consistent yogurt. This will not need any cheesecloth or strainers.
The book is good if you are a novice as it contains pictures, illustrations which explain in detail.
The Yogurt Bible (…Bible (Robert Rose))
by Par CrockerThis has defined ways to make yogurt from soy, regular, coconut, rice, nut, fruit milks. It also shows you how to make yogurt from yogurt maker, slow cooker and oven.
It contains over 175 recipes, 35 of these are only yogurt dishes.
Homemade Living: Home Dairy with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Make Cheese, Yogurt, Butter & More
by Ashley EnglishIt is an elaborate book with illustrations which lists steps on making yogurt, kefir, cheese, keifer. A good guide if you want to learn more about making dairy products other than yogurt.
The Greek Yogurt Cookbook: Includes Over 125 Delicious, Nutritious Greek Yogurt Recipes
by Lauren KellyGreek yogurt is very healthy and eating it can become boring. The book lists some interesting recipes which marinades, sauces, dips that you can have anytime in the day. The other recipes are also quiet delicious and well explained with illustrations.
The Yogurt Cookbook: Recipes from Around the World (New Illustrated Edition)
by Arto Der HaroutunianThere are over 200 recipes. These include dishes from Armenia, India Europe, Russia, Greece and more.
You get all recipes from desserts, appetizers and main course.