How to make breast milk yogurt with two ingredients

Breast milk yogurt is a fun way to experiment with recipes for your little one. I had some leftover breast milk in my freezer from my last baby and spent some time thinking about what I wanted to do with it.

I settled on trying many different things like breast milk ice cream, breast milk soap (for my expired milk) and even breast milk cheese! In the past I’ve made homemade yogurt from cow’s milk and even coconut milk. The process for breast milk yogurt is pretty much the same! 

If this is your first time making any kind of yogurt, I’ll walk you through the entire process. I’ll discuss two different ways to make this yogurt without any special yogurt maker or yogurt machine. 

Here are the details on making my breast milk yogurt recipe and my tips I learned along the way. 

FAQ

Is breast milk yogurt like regular yogurt?

There is a difference between breast milk yogurt and cow’s milk yogurt you get at the grocery store. The main difference is that yogurt made from breast milk will be much thinner than the yogurt you buy in the store that is typically made from cow milk. However, it will still have wonderful gut health benefits. 

Because the yogurt is much thinner, I like to mix it in with cooled cooked oatmeal, mashed up fruit, or use it for smoothies.  

It will taste slightly tangy, like yogurt but will have a mild sweet taste like breast milk. The longer the yogurt sits, the more tangy it will taste. 

How long is breast milk yogurt good for and how to store it

I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Since I prefer to make small batches, I use up this breast milk yogurt within 1-2 days.

How to make breast milk yogurt

It’s actually quite simple to make homemade breast milk yogurt. You really only need two ingredients and minimal equipment. 

Ingredients

Breast milk

I like to make small batches. Using small amounts (about 4-6 ounces) of milk at a time. That way, if something goes wrong, I’m not having to throw away a huge batch of breast milk (I would probably cry). 

Yogurt starter

I use full-fat yogurt. I would recommend plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt) that way there are no added sugar or flavors. Whole milk yogurt should not have any added gums or thickener either.

You can also use an alternative yogurt starter that is non-dairy for kiddos with food allergies or intolerances to dairy products. I will provide a link below to several options. 

Equipment

• Sterilized jar
• Thermometer
• Instant Pot or small cooler

Instructions

1. Warm 4-6 ounces of breast milk. I like to pour the breast milk into a small mason jar and place that jar in a warm water bath (usually in a bigger bowl). Use warm tap water. You don’t want to heat your breast milk or the yogurt starter too hot because it can disrupt the live cultures. 
2. Give your breast milk a swirl in the jar and add 2 tablespoons of yogurt and stir to incorporate it well. 
3. If you are using a cooler method, warm water to 120°F and pour enough into the cooler to surround the jar. Place the jar (with a lid)  in the cooler and close the cooler. Let the yogurt sit for about 4-8 hours. 
4. You can let the yogurt continue in the fermentation process for longer than 8 hours, however, I have never gone beyond 8 hours. The longer it sits, the more tangy it will become. Being as though I was using breast milk, I didn’t want to risk it going bad so I’ve always opted for a shorter time. 
5. Alternatively, an instant pot with a yogurt function is a great way to make yogurt too. Because I am using such a small amount of milk. I pour water in the bottom of the pot (enough to surround the milk in the jar).
6. Set the instant pot on it’s yogurt function for 4-8 hours. I think this is the easiest way and this is how I usually make my yogurt. 
7. Serve right away or store leftovers in the refrigerator. I generally follow these storage guidelines for breast milk. In general, I would use breast milk yogurt within 1-2 days. If it smells off or develops a bad taste, discard.

Once your baby starts solid foods, you can use this yogurt to mix in with all sorts things

• ​fresh fruit
• infant cereal
• oatmeal
• ​mash with sweet potatoes
• ​you can always add some sweetener like maple syrup, but I don’t usually

How did your first batch of yogurt go? Let me know! 

Dairy free options for a yogurt starter

Here is a link to other options for a dairy free yogurt starter. I’ve always used a cow’s milk yogurt for my starter, but I would love to hear if anyone else tries this with an alternative starter.