Homemade Coconut Yogurt (With 2 Ingredients)

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This homemade coconut yogurt is rich, creamy, and packed with healthy vegan probiotics! You only need 2 ingredients and a mason jar to make this tangy and refreshing treat. Serve it topped with fresh fruit or granola, in smoothies, in savory sauces, and more!

Table of Contents

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

No weird ingredients: By making your own coconut milk yogurt, you control what goes into it. There are no artificial preservatives or added sugars needed here!
Nutritious: This homemade coconut yogurt is full of beneficial probiotics, which aid in digestion and contribute to overall gut health.
Economical: No more expensive store-bought vegan yogurt! You’ll be amazed at how much you can save by making your own. And it tastes just as good, or even better!
Versatile: This coconut yogurt recipe serves as the perfect base for any flavor. You can leave it as-is, add a touch of maple syrup, or mix in some fresh mixed berries for a fruity kick.

If you love homemade coconut yogurt, you should really check out our coconut butter, vegan whipped cream, vegan tzatziki, and vegan condensed milk.

🥥 What is coconut yogurt?

Coconut yogurt is a delicious and dairy-free alternative to traditional yogurt. As its name suggests, it is made from coconut milk, which imparts a unique, slightly sweet, and tropical taste.

All you have to do is combine full-fat coconut milk and vegan-friendly probiotics to initiate the fermentation process. The result is a thick, creamy, and tangy coconut milk yogurt that can be enjoyed by everyone, especially those who are vegan or lactose intolerant.

Once it’s fermented to your liking, let it chill in the fridge to thicken up. Serve it straight from the jar on its own, make fruit and granola parfaits, add a dollop on top of pancakes, or use it as a sour cream replacement in taco bowls.

🥇 Best coconut milk brands

Selecting the right coconut milk has a huge effect on the outcome of homemade coconut milk. Here are the top coconut milk brands we recommend for their quality and taste:

Aroy-D Coconut Milk: Aroy-D offers an ultra-rich, creamy, and smooth consistency. It’s one of our favorites to use for its consistent results.
Savoy Coconut Cream: Another top choice for its incredibly rich and creamy texture. Savoy’s coconut cream is also unsweetened.
Chaokoh Coconut Milk: A Thai favorite known for its thick, creamy texture and rich flavor, making it perfect for making coconut yogurt.
Native Forest Simple Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk: Native Forest doesn’t provide the same richness and creaminess as the options above, but it will work in a pinch.
365 Everyday Value Organic Coconut Milk: This is Whole Foods’ brand, and it’s another solid choice. It offers a good balance of creaminess and coconut flavor.
Thai Kitchen Organic Coconut Milk: Offers a full-bodied, creamy texture and rich flavor. It’s also organic and comes in BPA-free cans.

As a general rule of thumb, we like to stick with Thai coconut milk brands as they are the richest, smoothest, and creamiest. When you’re looking at the store, try to stay away from coconut milk brands with long ingredient lists and lots of preservatives.

🦠 Which vegan probiotics to use

Since this recipe only contains two ingredients, choosing the right probiotic makes a significant difference in your homemade coconut yogurt’s taste and texture. It’s essential to select a high-quality probiotic for optimal results.

We’re partial to the brand Naturelo, but there are several great options for vegans out there. When you’re shopping around, look for probiotics that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Streptococcus thermophilus. Here are some top vegan-friendly probiotics:

Naturelo Probiotic: High-quality option packed with the essential bacteria strains required for successful fermentation.
Garden of Life Raw Probiotics: Offers a potent blend of several bacteria strains that work great for homemade coconut milk yogurt.
NOW Foods Probiotic-10: This is a more affordable option, but it still works!
Culturelle Daily Probiotic: Another popular brand that’s easily accessible and contains several of the required strains for yogurt fermentation.

If vegan-friendly probiotics aren’t available, don’t worry! You can still make delicious coconut yogurt by adding a few spoonfuls of store-bought vegan yogurt or trying a vegan yogurt starter kit.

Coconut milk and probiotics on a table. — Aroy-D is our go-to coconut milk brand

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

Full-fat coconut milk: Make sure you use coconut milk from a can. Coconut milk from a carton is too thin and won’t work. You can experiment with other plant-based milks, but we’ve only tested this recipe with coconut milk.
Vegan probiotics: Ensure your probiotics are vegan-friendly by checking that they aren’t made with gelatin capsules and don’t contain milk products. Also, try to avoid brands that also include prebiotics in their formula otherwise your coconut milk yogurt may spoil.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make coconut yogurt

Step 1: Clean the jar

It’s important to start with a clean jar so you don’t introduce other bacteria into the coconut milk as it ferments. To properly clean your jar, wash it thoroughly in very hot, soapy water.

Mason Jar And Wooden Spoon. — Use a clean glass jar and a wooden or plastic spoon

Then, rinse it in hot water and let it dry face down on a clean towel. Let your jar cool completely before pouring the coconut milk in.

Step 2: Add the probiotics

Add the coconut milk to the clean mason jar, then open both probiotic capsules and add the inside contents to the jar as well. Mix the two together thoroughly with a wooden, ceramic, or plastic spoon.

Coconut Milk and Probiotics in a Mason Jar. — Mix the probiotics and coconut milk together

It’s best to avoid metal spoons to prevent a negative reaction with the probiotics. Once the mixture is combined, cover your jar with a cheesecloth or thin tea towel and secure it with an elastic.

Step 3: Ferment the yogurt

Keep your jar in a warm place (in an oven with the light on is a prime spot) for 12-36 hours depending on how tangy you like it. We typically like ours after about 18-20 hours, but yours may need longer depending on the climate you live in.

Cheesecloth Covered Jar. — Use a cheesecloth or paper towel so the mixture can breath

When the coconut yogurt is to your preferred tanginess, switch out the cheesecloth for a lid and transfer it to your fridge to chill and thicken. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this coconut milk yogurt recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🫐 What to serve with homemade coconut yogurt

The great thing about homemade coconut yogurt is how versatile it is! Test some of these ideas out;

Fresh fruits: Top it with berries, kiwi, bananas, mango, peaches, or papaya.
Fruit compote: Mix in some swirls of strawberry compote or blueberry compote.
Granola: Add a handful of homemade vegan granola, nuts, or seeds on top.
Parfaits: Layer granola, fruit, and coconut yogurt for a light and refreshing breakfast. You can even swap out the cashew crema in our bionicos recipe.
Smoothies: Incorporate a scoop into your favorite smoothies and smoothie bowls. One of our favorites is our mango pineapple smoothie.
Pancakes: Pair your coconut milk yogurt with mini pancakes, vegan French toast, or sourdough French toast.
Oatmeal: Add a dollop to vegan oatmeal, high-protein overnight oats, or strawberries & cream overnight oats.

🌡️ Storage

Coconut yogurt is quite simple to store, which is why we always recommend having some on the go! Here’s what to do:

Fridge: Keep your coconut yogurt in a mason jar with the lid on in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Freezer: You can make DIY frozen coconut milk yogurt by transferring the recipe to the freezer where it will last for about a month. Keep it in a freezer-safe container to reduce the likelihood of freezer burn. Just note that if you thaw the yogurt, the texture may turn grainy.

Coconut Yogurt With Granola And Fruit. — Serve coconut yogurt with fruit and granola

♻️ Variations

Sweet: Maple syrup, agave, monk fruit, or stevia can be used if you prefer a sweeter yogurt.
Citrusy: Mix in some lemon or orange zest for a zesty and refreshing twist.
Vanilla: Add a splash of vanilla extract or a pinch of vanilla powder.
Spiced: Throw in a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg.
Chocolate: Mix in some cocoa powder or carob powder for a chocolaty version.
Protein-packed: Stir in a scoop of your favorite vegan protein powder.
Greek-style: Strain your yogurt for a few hours in a double cheesecloth layer to achieve a thicker, Greek-style yogurt.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

Use full-fat coconut milk: Don’t use anything other than full-fat coconut milk since it will yield the creamiest texture.
Cleanliness is key: Ensure the jar and spoon you use are thoroughly cleaned. Any bacteria present can interfere with the fermentation process.
Avoid metal utensils: Metal can react with the probiotics and prevent the yogurt from setting. Use a wooden, ceramic, or plastic spoon to stir the yogurt.
Use a good quality probiotic: Since probiotics are one of two ingredients, it’s important to use a quality brand. Refer to our recommendations above for ideas.
Temperature is important: The probiotics need a warm environment to do their work. Aim for a spot around 77F (25C). If you live in a hot climate, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you live in a colder area, your oven with the light on is the best spot.
Be patient: The longer you leave the yogurt to ferment, the tangier it will become. Just be careful not to let it go too long, or it might become too sour for your liking.
Chill it: Your homemade coconut yogurt will become thicker the longer it sits in the fridge. Let it chill for at least a few hours or overnight before serving.

💬 FAQ

Can I use lite coconut milk?

You can use lie coconut milk, but we don’t recommend it. Coconut yogurt gets its thick, rich, and creamy texture from the fat that’s found in full-fat canned coconut milk.

Can I use other types of milk?

While we haven’t tested this recipe with other types of plant milk, feel free to experiment. Just know that the overall taste and texture will vary.

What can I use if I don’t have vegan probiotics?

If you don’t have vegan probiotics, use some vegan yogurt from the store as a starter. Alternatively, you can purchase a vegan yogurt starter kit.

Why is my yogurt not thickening?

If your yogurt is not thickening, it’s likely due to the coconut milk being of poor quality or not being full-fat. Additionally, your probiotics may not be active. These are the two most common issues with making homemade yogurt.

Why is my yogurt grainy?

Grainy yogurt is usually the result of not thoroughly mixing the coconut milk and probiotics or using a poor-quality coconut milk brand. It’s completely fine to eat, but the texture will be off.

🍴 More vegan basics

If you loved this coconut yogurt recipe, we recommend you try these other vegan basics:

Dairy-Free Sour Cream: Thick, creamy, and vegan sour cream.
Mexican Crema: A Mexican sauce used for tacos, enchiladas, and more.
Vegan Cream Cheese: Smooth and delicious cream cheese made from tofu.
Vegan Heavy Cream: A rich and flavorful alternative to use in recipes.