True confession here friends: I’ve never made slow cooker yogurt before. Nor have I ever even made regular yogurt. Maybe because I’ve never been a huge yogurt fan. Until I tasted this Slow Cooker Maple Vanilla Bean Yogurt. You know it’s gotta be amazing with vanilla beans and maple syrup. We love all things maple here in New England.
But add vanilla bean paste and wow!
I first tasted this yogurt last year. A friend toted it along on Valentine’s Day. We had a quick little makeshift brunch at the kitchen counter, candle and all.
She brought this Slow Cooker Maple Vanilla Bean Yogurt, topped it with a drizzle of maple syrup and broken walnuts. Amazing.
Then she told me how easy it was to make in the slow cooker. And I was sold. Honestly I’m more and more amazed with my slow cooker every day. Part of that could be because I’ve not had an oven for the last four weeks. Yeah, you heard me right. But that’s a sad saga for another day. Back to the slow cooker. I’ve cooked so many things in the past month in my slow cooker. Things I would’ve never dreamed of before. Roasts, granola, Mexican Shredded Chicken….roasted tomatoes. Yeah. Slow cookers are the best invention. EVER. (Next to ovens.)
This yogurt takes a good sixteen hours to make from start to finish. No worries. It’s not hands on time. Mostly it’s just sitting around culturing all by its lonesome in that amazing slow cooker. And most of the time the slow cooker is actually turned off! Little energy savings there. 🙂 Ha. I suggest starting it in the afternoon, finishing the next morning. The last step is draining off the whey. You’ll be amazed how much will drain. It was over a quart with my batch. Leaves the yogurt so thick and creamy!
I hope you love this Slow Cooker Maple Vanilla Bean Yogurt. It’s the perfect touch for weekend brunch or a quick nutritious breakfast on the go.
Slow Cooker Maple Vanilla Bean Yogurt
Ingredients
- 8 cups milk 1%, 2% or whole
- 4 ounces plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste
- Optional: 1/8 teaspoon natural maple flavor extract or more
Instructions
- Cook milk in slow cooker, covered, for 2 and a half hours on low.
- Turn off slow cooker.
- Let sit, with the cover on, for 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
- Separately in a small mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla bean paste.
- Stir yogurt mixture into the milk in the crockpot.
- Cover, wrap slow cooker in a thick towel to insulate.
- Leave for 8+ hours to let the yogurt culture. (Overnight is fine.)
- Line a strainer with double paper towels or coffee filters and place over a significantly larger bowl.
- Add yogurt to strainer.
- Place in the refrigerator so yogurt can cool.
- The protein whey will strain out of the yogurt over several hours leaving a thick yogurt.
- Spoon yogurt into a container.
- Save the remaining protein whey in the bottom bowl for another use. (Smoothie.)
- Serve or refrigerate.
Notes
If you like it sweeter, add a bit more maple syrup. (I won't tell.)
Slow Cooker Maple Vanilla Bean Yogurt
You may also like: Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I have also never made slow cooker yogurt yet, but I have made regular yogurt. But this one here looks so rich, creamy and classic. Maple and vanilla bean yoghurt sounds and looks so DELICIOUS. No wonder you are amazed with slow cooker recipes — they are so good. Would love to give it a try sometime!
Catherine says
Dear Allie, I love this idea. I have never made my own yogurt and like you, I have not always been the biggest fan of it. Tammy on the other hand practically lives on yogurt and I know she would appreciate this. The maple and vanilla is a classic combination. Sounds delightful! xo, Catherine
David @ CookingChat says
sounds like a tasty adventure! and yes, we love our syrup here in New England!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Allie, I could not agree with you more–slow cookers are the BEST! I am in love with this maple vanilla flavor combo and can’t wait to try this out–maybe even today!
Laila says
Hi Allie. We love yogurt at my house and I make yogurt all the time. I do not use the slow cooker and it takes me about 6 hours all together. I can’t flavor my yogurt though. It would be nice to make the flavored yogurt, I think I will try it. Thanks for the recipe!
lindsay Cotter says
oh i need to try your version! slow cooker to the rescue! and maple, duh
Julia says
I sure love my slow cooker! This is such a great idea–I have to try it. We eat a ton of yogurt in my house.
Linda Jenkins says
I am a true yogurt fan; I eat some almost every day. Therefore, I printed this recipe. It sounds absolutely yummy. And the crock pot, best invention yet. I use it so much more than my oven. Everything is always perfect in the crock pot. That is a help because I can’t ruin a meal with a crock pot.
Jessica says
Allie, I am so intrigued by this! I had no idea you could make yogurt in the slow cooker, but I love maple and vanilla together and I trust you 🙂
Aunt Pinkie says
Sounds good but I have a dumb question-how do you make vanilla bean paste?
Allie says
Dear Aunt P – if that’s a dumb question, I gotta dumb answer. I have no idea. (!) You buy vanilla bean paste in the baking aisle near the vanilla extract. I used Nielsen-Massey brand and it was delicious!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Everytime I look at that spoonful of vanilla maple yogurt – I begin to salivate! I’ve never made yogurt Allie – never ever! And what I am totally mesmerized by is the fact that you made it in your slow cooker – what a wonderful recipe this is! I’m pinning this and trying it when I’m home during the holidays – my daughter is gonna LOVE this!
Joanie @ Zagleft says
I have recently started using my slow cooker again after quite a long time and this sounds like a fun recipe to try. Homemade yogurt sounds so easy to make – I’ve never made yogurt before but you’ve inspired me to give it a go. Pinning to try soon!
Denise Q. says
This looks so good and I can use the whey for my protein shakes, no whey! I’ll be trying this soon.
Allie says
Whey! (just. couldn’t. resist.)
Carina says
I am a big yougurt fan, and those pictures make my mouth water!! Though I had no idea that one could make yogurt in a slow cooker… Amazing. Is there anything they can’t do?! I agree about slow cookers, and I will have to check out that shredded chicken recipe, too. Take care, Allie. Hope you are feeling all better from the flu now. Xoxo
Allie says
Thanks so much Carina, I’m feeling MUCH better! I’ve had flus before, but never THE flu. It was the pits. Hope you enjoy this recipe, friend. XO
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
No oven for a month? I feel your pain. When we did our kitchen addition, I cooked on a hot plate in the great room. It was not pretty. We ate out a lot. I’ve never tried anything like this…definitely tempting to try it after reading this!
Manila Spoon says
This looks so delicious and I love that it is made in the slow cooker! So perfect for breakfast, too!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
I would actually give up my oven for this beauty!!!!! Seriously, maple and vanilla with yogurt? Yum!
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
This looks DELICIOUS! Pinning this one for sure!
Barbara Child says
Sounds great!
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat says
I didn’t know you could make yogurt in a slow cooker. What a great idea! And I really love the flavor combination of the maple and the vanilla. I especially love seeing the specs of vanilla bean in the yogurt. Delicious!!
rachel @ athletic avocado says
i didn’t know it was possible to make yogurt in the slow cooker! I need to make this!
Emmie says
Hello there!
So glad to have stumbled upon this recipe as the photo looks exactly like my favorite yogurt from a now shuddered restaurant.
Two questions:
1) is it okay to use Greek yogurt?
2) how long will this keep for?
Thanks in advance!
Allie says
Hi Emmie – Glad you dropped by. I’ve not made this with Greek yogurt but I think that would work just fine too. And as to how long it lasts… we’ve never had it stick around very long at our house, but I’m guessing it would last a week or so. Hope you enjoy this and it tastes just like the one you remember.
Emmie says
You rock!
Thanks so much!!
-Emmie
Véronique says
Hello, maybe you can advise me? I made your lovely yogurt many many times now, and all of a sudden, I messed up the two last batches.’same ingredients, so unsure what is happening. Same slow cooker too, and of course same schedule. Did that ever happen to you? Could it possibly be the cooker? Two batches down the drain (doesn’t get thick enough and goes straight through the yogurt strainer at the end of the process). What could I possible be doing wrong? Thank you for any advices. All the best, Veronique