Making Your Own a2 Milk Cheese at Home
What You Need
When prepping to make a2 Milk cheese at home, you need to be well-stocked on the most crucial ingredient - milk! Any type of milk will work well for a simple cheese recipe, as long as it’s not ultra-pasteurized. Using non-fat milk may result in a less creamy cheese, so most recipes call for 2% or whole milk. We recommend using a2 Milk® 2% or Whole to make cheese that may help you avoid discomfort.
Other than the star ingredient, you will need cheesecloth to drain and shape the cheese properly. If you don’t have cheesecloth, clean pillowcases, bandanas, coffee filters, pantyhose, or cloth napkins can work in a pinch.
Finally, some of the more advanced cheese recipes call for rennet and citric acid. Rennet is an agent that helps milk thicken during the cheesemaking process and generally comes in either liquid or tablet form. Avoid using junket rennet, which has a lower concentration than other types of rennet. Citric acid raises the acidity level of the milk, helping curds form in the milk. Both rennet and citric acid can be found online or at your local health food store. However, if you are unable to track down these ingredients, try one of the simple at-home a2 Milk cheese recipes instead!
The Simplest At-Home Cheese Recipes
These simple cheese recipes can be made at home with ingredients you likely already have in your fridge and pantry! If you are experimenting with making homemade cheese for the first time, these recipes can be a fun, easy way to dabble in the art of cheesemaking.
Homemade ricotta cheese can be made in an hour with two ingredients - buttermilk and a2 Milk® Whole. The creamy, delicious result can be enhanced by adding in chopped fresh herbs like mint, chives, scallions, garlic, or dill. Top it with a drizzle of olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice and smear it on toast for a fresh, irresistible appetizer.
Simple farmer’s cheese is also a breeze to create with ingredients in your kitchen. You will need one gallon of a2 Milk® 2% or a2 Milk® Whole, as it’s not ultra-pasteurized, as well as white vinegar and fine sea salt. The finished product can be crumbled over salads or served with pesto on toast. Picky kids may also love the simple taste of this homemade cheese!
More Advanced Cheese Recipes
If you are looking to expand beyond ricotta and farmer’s cheese, there are a range of tantalizing cheeses you can make with a few extra ingredients.
Homemade mozzarella balls can be whipped up with a2 Milk® 2% or a2 Milk® Whole, water, salt, rennet, and citric acid (mentioned in the “What You Need” section above). While this recipe is more in-depth than the easier recipes above, the payoff is worth it! Fresh mozzarella can be used on homemade pizzas, served in a caprese salad, or marinated with herbs and olive oil for a tasty snack.
Fromage blanc or chevre are versatile cheeses that can be prepared in less than an hour with five ingredients - a2 Milk® Whole (for fromage blanc) or goat’s milk (for chevre), heavy cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, and salt. The result is a creamy, subtle cheese that can be mixed with berries and granola for a hearty breakfast or stirred into mashed potatoes for a decadent side.
To enjoy cheeses that may be easier to tolerate and to experience making them at home, don’t forget to grab a carton of a2 Milk as a base for your cheese-making adventures! Find our 2% and whole milk in a grocery store near you today.
