Vegan Coconut Yogurt Recipe

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This easy Coconut Milk Yogurt has a thick, creamy consistency and a tangy taste for the best homemade vegan yogurt. Made with a base of 2 simple ingredients, it’s easy to make, budget-friendly, and better than store-bought yogurts! Keep a batch on hand for healthy gluten-free, dairy-free breakfasts and snacks throughout the week!

A glass jar labeled "coconut yogurt" full of homemade coconut milk yogurt.

We love a good yogurt bowl in the morning! Loaded up with all our favorite toppings like fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, and granola, they’re the best way to start the day. That said, we know dairy is a common allergen and can contribute to inflammation. So, we try to always keep dairy-free yogurt on hand to meet everyone’s needs.

However, store-bought vegan yogurt options aren’t super budget-friendly and can contain undesirable ingredients. So, in true scrappy Cotter Crunch fashion, we decided to just make our own! Turns out, it’s super easy to do and only requires two basic ingredients.

You’ll never go back to pre-made coconut yogurt again!

What Is Coconut Milk Yogurt?

Regular dairy milk yogurt is made by fermenting cow’s milk with a probiotic starter. Coconut milk follows a similar fermentation process, combining canned coconut milk with a probiotic starter. At its core, coconut yogurt will contain just two ingredients. However, some recipes also contain a starter or thickener like cornstarch or gelatin such as agar-agar to replicate the thick, creamy texture of Greek yogurt.

Put simply, coconut milk yogurt is a type of vegan yogurt that possesses the same probiotic benefits as regular dairy yogurt without the dairy.

Vegan Yogurt Ingredients

Below is an overview of the ingredients and recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details and nutrition information.

A bottle of mycrobiome women's probiotics and a can of coconut milk.

Coconut Milk – Use canned coconut milk, not refrigerated coconut from the refrigerated section! Full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream works best for a thick consistency and rich flavor.
Probiotic Capsules – We recommend using 50 billion CFU lab-certified probiotic capsules or probiotic powder (without prebiotics)
Optional Thickeners – Agar Agar, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch.
Mix-ins for a boost of flavor – Some of our favorite options include vanilla extract, unsweetened vegan protein powder or collagen, and sweeteners like agave or maple syrup.

How to Make Vegan Coconut Yogurt

Note – It’s best to start with a canned coconut milk at room temperature, not chilled or from the fridge.

Shake- Give the canned milk a good shake before opening.
Whisk. Add the coconut milk to a clean glass jar or bowl, and whisk (with a non-metal utensil) until it’s smooth. You don’t want to see any clumps!

Tip: If you are using a thickener, first heat the coconut milk by warming it in a saucepan to about 180°F, whisk in the thickener while heating, then let it cool to about 110°F or room temperature before adding the probiotic.

Add the Probiotics. Sprinkle the probiotic powder on top, and stir it into the yogurt.
Ferment. Loosely cover the jar or bowl with a cheesecloth or a breathable towel. Set it in a warm environment for 24-48 hours.

A glass jar full of coconut milk yogurt covered with a loose cloth to ferment.

Overhead image of homemade coconut milk yogurt fermenting.

Chill. Give it a stir, and transfer your coconut yogurt mixture to the fridge to thicken for a few hours before digging in. After that, add any mix-ins you want to include, and enjoy!

A wooden spoon in a jar of vegan coconut yogurt.

Tips for Success

With just two ingredients, the process for making this vegan coconut milk yogurt is admittedly pretty simple. However, there are a few extra tricks that guarantee your success.

Avoid Reactive Tools like Metal – When mixing, fermenting, and storing, it’s important to use non-metal spoons, bowls, and utensils. This is because metal is self-sanitizing which can potentially deactivate the probiotics and interfere with the fermentation process.
Whisk In a Glass Jar – For the best results, we recommend whisking and storing the yogurt in a clean sanitized glass jar like Weck jars. Bonus! They double as single-serving portions and are perfect for portable parfaits. To sanitize, first rinse with soapy water then run the jars through the dishwasher on hot and heat dry. Or rinse jars rinse again with boiling water and air dry.
Ferment Correctly – When setting your yogurt aside to ferment, you want to make sure to place it in a warm area like on a kitchen counter. Then, cover it loosely with a cheesecloth or a light cloth to prevent debris from entering the bowl while allowing moisture to circulate.

Note: Ideal fermentation takes place in 10-12 hours when the yogurt is kept at temperatures around 104°F/40°C. We don’t want to turn our house up to 104° F, though! So, instead, we recommend fermenting your yogurt at 75° F and leaving it longer (up to 48 hours). Or, if your house is cold, like in the wintertime, place the lightly covered yogurt in a warm (not hot or turned on!) oven, and leave the light on to provide extra heat.

Adjust the Taste -The longer your yogurt sits out the tangier its flavor. Give your yogurt a taste test after 24 hours. If you prefer a bolder, more Greek yogurt-like taste, leave it out a bit longer.
Use the Right Coconut Milk – The type of coconut milk you use is crucial to the success of learning how to make coconut milk yogurt. You want to make sure it is a canned variety (see recipe card), and be sure to shake the can well. In addition, it should be full-fat but not clumpy. Whisk it well before combining the ingredients.

Note: If you prefer a thicker yogurt with protein, add unsweetened plant-based protein powder after fermenting, as needed.

Serving Suggestions

As mentioned, we love to eat this homemade coconut yogurt in a bowl with toppings like fresh fruit, granola, orange or lemon zest, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or dairy-free chocolate chips! However, it’s also great with smoothies, oatmeal, used in dips, and in any recipe that calls for yogurt.

Overhead image of a bowl of coconut yogurt topped with blueberries, granola, and maple syrup.

More of Our Favorite

Gluten-Free Vegan Staples

Looking for more homemade gluten-free, dairy-free recipes? Try out more of our staple recipes below!

Common Questions

Is coconut homemade milk yogurt actually healthy?

Yes! Coconut milk is an excellent source of medium-chain fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, probiotics help feed the good bacteria in your gut assisting with digestion and improving overall gut health. When combined with coconut yogurt, the two are a powerful combination, creating a super healthy recipe!

Does coconut yogurt taste like Greek yogurt?

Yes, when kept plain, this coconut milk yogurt recipe has a similar tangy flavor as Greek yogurt.

How long does homemade coconut yogurt last?

When stored in a glass container covered with a lid, this vegan yogurt will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 7 days.

How do you know if it goes bad?

The easiest way to tell if your coconut milk yogurt has gone bad is to look for mold or signs of an unusual texture. Separation is normal (It should be easy to mix the yogurt together), curdling after fermentation is not. If your yogurt smells or looks off, discard it. It could be because you fermented it too long or improper sterilization processes occurred.