Creamy, smooth, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, this homemade strawberry yogurt is a delicious treat for the whole family. Perfect served chilled in bottles, frozen into popsicles, or packaged in traditional African freezer sachets, it’s ideal for both home use and small business production.

Prep Time

30 minutes

Fermentation Time

8–12 hours

Chilling Time

6–8 hours

Total Time

16–20 hours

Yield

Approximately 3 liters

 

Ingredients

For the Yogurt Base

• 1 kg powdered milk
• 1 sachet yogurt starter culture or ½ cup (120 g) plain Greek yogurt with live active cultures
• 1 liter lukewarm water
• 1 liter hot water (to make the mixture warm, not boiling)

 

For the Strawberry Flavor

• 2 lbs (about 1 kg) fresh ripe strawberries
• Powdered sugar (icing sugar), to taste
• Milk flavoring (arôme lait), optional
• Vanilla extract or 1 packet vanilla sugar (optional)
• Strawberry flavoring (optional)

 

Instructions

1. Prepare the Yogurt Base

In a large bowl, add:

• Powdered milk

 

Add the 1 liter of lukewarm water and whisk until smooth.

Add the yogurt starter culture (or Greek yogurt)

Gradually pour in the 1 liter of hot water, whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. The mixture should be warm, not hot.

If necessary, strain the mixture.

 

2. Ferment the Yogurt

Cover the bowl tightly.

Wrap it with a clean towel and place it in a warm area of your home.

Allow the yogurt to ferment for 8–12 hours, or until thickened.

 

3. Prepare the Strawberries

Wash the strawberries thoroughly.

Remove the green tops.

Blend or juice the strawberries until smooth. Can add some water.

Strain well through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the seeds.

Pour the strawberry juice into a saucepan.

Cook over medium-low heat for several minutes.

Remove from the heat and allow it to cool completely.

Refrigerate the strawberry juice for 6–8 hours until well chilled.

 

4. Combine

Whisk the fermented yogurt until smooth.

Gradually pour the chilled strawberry juice into the yogurt while whisking continuously.

Mix until fully incorporated.

Add:

• Powdered sugar, to taste
• Milk flavoring (optional)
• Vanilla extract or vanilla sugar (optional)
• Strawberry flavoring

Mix well until smooth and creamy.

 

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy your homemade strawberry yogurt:

• Chilled in bottles
• Packaged in traditional African freezer sachets
• Frozen into popsicles
• As breakfast
• As a refreshing snack
• As a delicious dessert

 

Dedior’s Tips 

• Choose fully ripe strawberries for the sweetest, richest flavor.
• Cooking the strawberry juice before mixing helps preserve the yogurt’s smooth texture.
• Allow the strawberry juice to cool completely before adding it to the fermented yogurt.
• Add the strawberry juice gradually while whisking to maintain a creamy consistency.
• Red food coloring is optional and simply enhances the color.
• Refrigerate immediately after preparation.
• Shake bottled yogurt gently before serving if natural separation occurs.

 

Great for Home or Business

This recipe is perfect for:

• Home use
• Family gatherings
• Parties
• School snacks
• Popsicles
• Small yogurt businesses

Package it in:

• Plastic bottles for refrigerated sales
• Traditional African freezer sachets
• Popsicle molds for frozen treats

 

Commercial Production Tip 

For commercial production, you can use 3–4 liters of water for every 1 kg of powdered milk, depending on the consistency you want and your target market.

For large-scale production, preservation techniques, pasteurization, and commercial batch preparation, visit the Dedior Juice Masterclass at DediorCooking.com.